Electric Machine FMCW Radar Through Stator Opening for Air Gap Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric machines with monitoring devices are complex in design and lack the capability to effectively monitor both air gap and vibration behavior, necessitating a simpler and more integrated solution.
Innovation Solution
An electric machine equipped with a Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar system that can detect parts of the stator and rotor through an opening, allowing for air gap and vibration monitoring, with a vibration decoupling system to ensure undistorted detection and minimal intervention in the machine's design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a microwave radar system with antenna in ventilation slot is used to monitor air gap, then air gap monitoring capability is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is designed to perform multiple functions: air gap monitoring and vibration behavior monitoring. By making the monitoring device universal, it eliminates the need for separate monitoring systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision for both air gap and vibration parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines air gap monitoring and vibration monitoring into a single integrated radar-based monitoring unit. This merging of functions into one device reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall system architecture, directly addressing the complexity issue while preserving both monitoring capabilities
2Reliability
If monitoring device is integrated into electric machine, then monitoring capability is improved, but intervention in machine design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device is designed as a separate, modular unit that can be added to the electric machine without fundamentally altering its core design. This segmentation allows the monitoring functionality to be integrated while minimizing intervention in the original machine structure, making the solution easier to manufacture and install
3Measurement precision
If vibration decoupling is added to radar system, then vibration measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration decoupling element is introduced as an intermediary component between the radar system and the electric machine. This intermediary absorbs or isolates vibrations, preventing them from interfering with the radar measurements. By using this mediator, the system achieves accurate vibration measurements without requiring complex internal modifications to the radar unit itself
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The FMCW radar system enables accurate monitoring of air gap width and vibration levels, generating warnings or initiating shutdowns when thresholds are exceeded, thereby ensuring reliable operation with a simpler and more integrated monitoring device.
Implementation Method 1
the monitoring unit includes a radar system (1), characterized in that, radar system (1) is designed as an FMCW-radar system which is arranged so that it can detect a part of stator (2) and a part of rotor (3)
Implementation Method 2
the beams penetrate an air gap between the radial outer edge of rotor (3) and the radial inner edge of stator (2) in radial direction
Implementation Method 3
between radar system (1) and foundation (4) a vibration decoupling (5) is arranged
Data Source
AI summary
An electric machine includes: a stator, which includes a radial inner edge and an opening; and a rotor, which defines a rotational axis and which includes a monitoring unit and a radial outer edge, the monitoring unit including a radar system, the radar system being a frequency-modulated continuous wave radar system which is configured for detecting a part of the stator and a part of the rotor, the radar system being configured for emitting a plurality of beams, the electric machine being configured such that the plurality of beams emitted by the radar system (i) impinge upon the rotor through the opening and (ii) penetrate an air gap between the radial outer edge of the rotor and the radial inner edge of the stator in a radial direction.