EP4052362A1

EP4052362A1 - Device for cooling segmented electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: EP4052362A1
Application number: EP20801339.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Romaric Lenoir; Vincent Bonnet
Original assignee: Nidec PSA Emotors SAS
Current assignee: Nidec PSA Emotors SAS
Priority date: 2019-10-31
Filing date: 2020-10-14
Publication date: 2022-09-07
Also published as: US20240088753A1; CN114616749A; FR3102895A1; WO2021084180A1; FR3102895B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device (3) for cooling one or more electrical conductors (22) of a stator (2) of a rotating electrical machine (1), said device (3) comprising at least one cooling circuit (31) for a coolant (32), intended to be disposed in thermal contact with at least part of the electrical conductor(s) (22) during a step involving the welding of said electrical conductors.

Description

SEGMENTED ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR COOLING DEVICE

The present invention claims the priority of the French application 1912299 filed on October 31, 2019, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated here by reference. The present invention relates to a device for cooling one or more electrical conductors to be welded of a stator of a rotating electrical machine.

Technical area

The invention relates more particularly to synchronous or asynchronous machines with alternating current. It relates in particular to traction or propulsion machines for electric motor vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicle) and / or hybrids (Hybrid Electric Vehicle - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), such as passenger cars, vans, trucks or buses. The invention also applies to rotating electrical machines for industrial and / or energy production applications, in particular naval, wind or aeronautical applications.

Prior art

The welding of several adjacent electrical conductors in a so-called raised edge configuration, that is to say with electrical conductors which are at the same height, leads to welds which are difficult to penetrate. In addition, the more the number of strands per electrical conductor increases, the more the welding energy required to solder the electrical conductors increases.

When the energy required for welding is very high, in order to increase the penetration of the weld, there is a risk of destruction of the electrical conductors by accumulation of energy in the end to be welded, then fusion and collapse of it. this.

This high energy input can also cause severe degradation of the insulation and wires and potentially of the stator notch insulation, which can lead to functional failures.

This can also result in the need for an increase in the height of the strands of the electrical conductors before soldering, which leads to a great height of the bun. There is a need for simply soldering electrical conductors together, without running the risk of damaging them during the welding operation. The invention aims to allow easy welding of electrical conductors by removing and channeling the excess energy through a cooling device.

Disclosure of the invention Cooling device

The subject of the invention is thus, according to one of its aspects, a device for cooling one or more electrical conductors of a stator of a rotating electrical machine, the device comprising at least one circuit for cooling a cooling fluid. cooling, intended to be placed in thermal contact with at least part of the electrical conductor (s) during a step of welding said electrical conductors.

Electrical conductors are in "thermal contact" if they are close enough that heat exchange can take place with the coolant. Such a device makes it possible to efficiently remove the heat transmitted to the electrical conductors to carry out the welding. It is thus possible to carry out welds involving electrical conductors with a passage section greater than those carried out traditionally. This cooling device also makes it possible to solder electrical conductors comprising a greater number of strands.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to limit the flow of molten material resulting from the welding. It is thus possible to better control the geometry of the weld.

The cooling device according to the invention also makes it possible to hold the electrical conductors in place during the welding step.

At least electrical conductors, if not a majority of electrical conductors, can be in the shape of pins, U or I.

At least 30% of the electrical conductors can be in thermal contact with the cooling device. At least 50% of the electrical conductors can be in thermal contact with the cooling device. In one embodiment, all of the electrical conductors of the stator are in thermal contact with the cooling device according to the invention.

The device may be of substantially flattened shape. It may have an upper face and a lower face. The lower face is for example intended to come opposite the stator during the welding step. Preferably the device may have an outline having a shape similar to that of a cross section of the stator. For example, the device has a circular shape. Advantageously, the cooling circuit can be configured to provide spaces for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be soldered.

In one embodiment, the spaces for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded formed by the cooling circuit are located above the notches of the stator of the electrical machine.

The spaces for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded may be of substantially rectangular and in particular rectangular shape. As a variant, the device may include a single receiving space having the shape of a ring. This ring-shaped receiving space can extend along the entire circumference of the device.

The cooling circuit can be arranged above the teeth, between the notches of the stator. Thus, the electrical conductors which are arranged in the notches can be easily inserted into the cooling device.

In an alternative embodiment, the cooling device has as many spaces for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded as there are notches in the stator.

Alternatively, the cooling device saves less space for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded than there are notches in the stator. In this case, the free ends of the electrical conductors present in different notches can be inserted in the same space for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded. For example, if the cooling device has half the space for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded than notches in the stator, then the free ends of the electrical conductors arranged in two adjacent slots can be inserted in the same one. space.

In one embodiment, the cooling device provides a single space for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors of all the notches of the stator. In this embodiment, the electrical conductors arranged in the notches of the stator are all inserted into the single space provided by the cooling device.

The lower face of the device may have a bevelled shape at the level of the reception spaces of the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded. These introduction bevels make it possible to facilitate the positioning of the device on the stator of the electric machine on which the welding step is carried out. In particular, these bevels facilitate the insertion of the electrical conductors into the device.

The cooling circuit can be configured to be traversed by a cooling fluid circulating circumferentially and / or radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating electrical machine.

The coolant can for example contain water, oil, air or glycol, this list not being exhaustive. The device's cooling circuit may have several cooling fluid inlet points.

The device can be configured to ensure cross circulation of the cooling fluid in the cooling circuit. For example, the cooling circuit has two entry points. Alternatively, the cooling circuit has more than two entry points.

In one embodiment, the coolant circulates radially from the inside to the outside above all or part of the teeth of the stator. Alternatively, the coolant flows radially from the outside to the inside over some or all of the stator teeth. In another embodiment, the cooling fluid circulates radially from the inside to the outside above a first tooth of the stator then radially from the outside to the inside above a second tooth, for example adjacent to the first.

Advantageously, at least one of the radial sides and / or one of the circumferential sides of the electrical conductors arranged in the same notch of the stator is in thermal contact with the cooling circuit.

By "radial side" is meant a side of an electrical conductor which extends in the radial direction of the machine. By "circumferential side" is meant a side of an electrical conductor which extends in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the machine.

In one embodiment, all of the radial sides and all of the circumferential sides of each of the electrical conductors of the stator are in thermal contact with the device. Alternatively, all of the radial sides of each of the electrical conductors of the stator are in thermal contact with the device and none of the circumferential sides of each of the electrical conductors are in thermal contact with the cooling device. Alternatively, all of the circumferential sides and only one radial side of each of the electrical conductors are in thermal contact with the cooling device.

As a further variant, only one radial side of each of the electrical conductors is in thermal contact with the cooling device.

In another variant, only a radial side and a circumferential side of each of the electrical conductors are in thermal contact with the cooling device. In another embodiment, some electrical conductors are in thermal contact with the cooling device through their circumferential side only and the remainder of the electrical conductors are in thermal contact through a radial side and a circumferential side.

The cooling circuit may include a duct for the circulation of the cooling fluid. The conduit can meander between the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded.

By "meandering" is meant the fact of developing by forming undulations. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling circuit winds regularly, for example between all the electrical conductors. Thus each corrugation surrounds electrical conductors arranged in the same notch of the stator.

As a variant, it winds around electrical conductors arranged in different notches. For example, each corrugation surrounds electrical conductors arranged in two adjacent notches. For example, each corrugation surrounds the electrical conductors arranged in three adjacent notches.

As a variant, the cooling circuit winds irregularly between the electrical conductors.

The cooling circuit may have two concentric portions arranged radially on either side of the electrical conductors of the stator. The two portions can communicate by radial channels arranged between the electrical conductors, above all or part of the teeth of the stator.

A first portion of the cooling circuit is arranged inside the stator, in the space delimited by the electrical conductors. A second portion of the cooling circuit is arranged outside the stator, outside the space delimited by the electrical conductors. There may be one or more coolant entry points for each portion of the cooling circuit. The entry point (s) can be connected to the portion of the cooling circuit arranged outside. The coolant then flows from the outside to the inside.

Alternatively, the entry point (s) may be connected to the portion of the cooling circuit disposed therein. The coolant then flows from the inside to the outside.

As a further variant, there may be one or more entry points located on the two portions of the cooling circuit.

The cooling circuit may have two concentric non-communicating portions, arranged radially on either side of the electrical conductors of the stator. The cooling fluid can flow in each of said portions in opposite directions.

The two concentric portions of the cooling circuit can be traversed by counter-rotating cooling fluids. As a variant, they can be traversed by cooling fluids flowing in the same direction, for example in the direct counterclockwise direction around the axis of rotation of the electric machine. For example again, they are traversed by cooling fluids circulating in the indirect counterclockwise direction around the axis of rotation of the electric machine.

A first portion of the cooling circuit is disposed inside the stator, in the space delimited by the electrical conductors. A second portion of the cooling circuit is disposed outside the stator, outside the space delimited by the sets of electrical conductors.

In one embodiment, the outer portion may be traversed by a cooling fluid flowing in the direct counterclockwise direction and the inner portion may be traversed by a cooling fluid flowing in the indirect counterclockwise direction. As a variant, the outer portion can be traversed by a cooling fluid flowing in the indirect counterclockwise direction and the inner portion can be traversed by a cooling fluid flowing in the direct counterclockwise direction.

The device can be at least partially manufactured by additive manufacturing, for example using a 3D printer.

Such a manufacturing method makes it possible to manufacture a cooling device specifically adapted to the stator on which the welding operation is carried out.

Together The subject of the invention is also an assembly comprising a cooling device as defined above and a stator of a rotating electrical machine, the stator comprising a stator mass comprising notches formed between teeth, each notch receiving one or more electrical conductors.

The stator can include at least electrical conductors, or even a majority of electrical conductors, in the shape of pins, U or I.

The device is held above the stator at a non-zero distance d when welding the electrical conductors of the stator.

Winding

The electrical conductors can form a single coil, in particular whole or fractional. By "single winding" is meant that the electrical conductors are electrically connected together in the stator, and that the connections between the phases are made in the stator, and not outside the stator, for example in a terminal box. .

The electrical conductors can form a distributed coil. The winding is not concentrated or wound on tooth.

The winding is in the invention whole or fractional. The winding can be full in pitch with or without shortening, or in a fractional variant. In one embodiment, the electrical conductors form a fractional winding, in particular with a shortened pitch. The number of notches in the stator can be between 18 and 96, better still between 30 and 84, being for example 18, 24, 27, 30, 36, 42, 45, 48, 54, 60, 63, 72, 78 , 81, 92, 96, better still being 60 or 63. The number of poles of the stator can be between 2 and 24, or even between 4 and 12, being for example 6 or 8.

The winding can have a single winding path or several winding paths. In an "electrical conductor" flows the current of the same phase by winding. By "winding path" is meant all the electrical conductors of the machine which are traversed by the same electric current of the same phase. These electrical conductors can be connected to each other in series or in parallel or in series-parallel. In the case where there is only one channel, the electrical conductors are connected in series. In the case where there are several channels, the electrical conductors of each channel are connected in series, and the channels are connected in parallel.

Electric conductors In an "electrical conductor" flows the current of the same phase of a winding track. Several electrical conductors in series form a "coil". The number of coils per phase is at most equal to the number of poles of the stator or to the number of pairs of poles.

In each notch there can be one or more layers. The term “layer” denotes the electrical conductors in series belonging to the same phase arranged in the same notch. In each layer of a notch, there are electrical conductors of the same phase. In general, the electrical conductors of a stator can be distributed in one layer or in two layers. When the electrical conductors are distributed in a single layer, each notch only accommodates electrical conductors of the same phase.

In the invention, the electrical conductors can be divided into only two layers. In this case, one or more notches can accommodate electrical conductors of two different phases. This is always the case for a short pitch winding. In one embodiment, the coil may not have more than two layers. In one embodiment, it is notably devoid of four layers.

At least a first electrical conductor housed in a first notch can be electrically connected to a second electrical conductor housed in a second notch, at the outlet from said notches.

By “electrically connected” is meant any type of electrical connection, in particular by welding, with different possible welding methods, in particular laser, TIG, induction, friction, ultrasound, vibrations, or soldering, or by mechanical clamping, in particular by crimping, screwing or riveting for example.

The first and second notches are preferably non-consecutive.

The first and second electrical conductors can be electrically connected to the output of the first and second notches, that is to say that the electrical connection is formed on the electrical conductors just after their exit from the two notches, at an axial end of the stator mass. The electrical connection can be made in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the machine. The plane of the electrical connection can be away from the stator mass by less than 60 mm, better still by less than 40 mm, for example 27 mm or 38 mm approximately. A majority of the electrical conductors housed in a first notch can each be electrically connected to a respective second electrical conductor housed in a second notch, at the exit from said notches. At least one notch, better still a majority of the notches, or even more than half of the notches, better still more than two-thirds of the notches, or even all of the notches, may include first electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective second electrical conductor housed in a second notch, at the exit of said notches.

In one embodiment, all the electrical conductors having a free end located at the same circumferential position around the axis of rotation of the machine, regardless of their radial position, are electrically connected together.

The first and second electrical conductors can each have an oblique portion. The oblique portions may extend in a circumferential direction, around the axis of rotation of the machine. The two oblique portions can be configured to converge towards each other and thus allow the electrical connection to be made.

An electrical conductor can have two oblique portions, one at each of its two ends. The two oblique portions of the same electrical conductor can extend in opposite directions. They can diverge from each other. They can be symmetrical to each other.

A majority of the electrical conductors can include one or more oblique portions as described above.

The electrical conductors can be arranged in the notches in a distributed manner. By “distributed”, it should be understood that the outgoing and return electrical conductors are each housed in different and non-consecutive notches. At least one of the electrical conductors can pass successively through two non-consecutive notches. The electrical conductors can be arranged in a row in the notches. The term “row” is understood to mean that the electrical conductors are not arranged in the notches in bulk but in an orderly manner. They are stacked in the notches in a non-random manner, being for example arranged in a row of electrical conductors aligned in the radial direction. As a variant, they are arranged in a row of electrical conductors aligned in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the machine. In one embodiment, the strands of one or more electrical conductors are arranged in a row of strands of electrical conductors aligned in the direction. radial. As a variant, they are arranged in a row of strands of electrical conductors aligned in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the machine.

The electrical conductors may have a generally rectangular cross section, in particular with rounded edges. The circumferential dimension of an electrical conductor can correspond substantially to the width of a notch. Thus, a notch may have only one electrical conductor in its width. The width of the notch is measured in its circumferential dimension around the axis of rotation of the machine.

Electrical conductors can be adjacent to each other by their long sides, otherwise called the flat.

The optimization of the stack can allow to have in the notches a greater quantity of electrical conductors and thus to obtain a stator of greater power, at constant volume.

Each notch can include two to 36 electrical conductors, in particular two to 24, better still 2 to 12 electrical conductors. Each notch may include two to eight electrical conductors, in particular two to four electrical conductors, for example two or four electrical conductors. In an alternative embodiment, each notch has two electrical conductors. In another variant embodiment, each notch has four electrical conductors.

Pins

Electrical conductors at least, see a majority of electrical conductors, can be in the shape of pins, U or I. The pin can be U-shaped ("U-pin" in English) or straight, being in form of I ("I-pin" in English).

The hairpin and flat electrical conductors increase the fill factor of the notch, making the machine more compact. Thanks to a high filling coefficient, the thermal exchanges between the electrical conductors and the stator mass are improved, which makes it possible to reduce the temperature of the electrical conductors inside the slots.

In addition, the manufacture of the stator can be facilitated by the electrical conductors in the form of pins. In addition, the winding with pins can be easily modified by changing only the connections between the pins at the coil heads. Finally, since the pins do not need to have open notches, we can have closed notches which make it possible to hold the pins and it is therefore possible to eliminate the step of inserting the stator shims.

Electrical conductors, or even a majority of electrical conductors, extend axially into the notches. The electrical conductors can be introduced into the corresponding notches through one or both axial ends of the machine.

An I-shaped electrical conductor has two axial ends each placed at one of the axial ends of the stator. It passes through a single notch, and can be welded at each of its axial ends to two other electrical conductors, at the axial ends of the stator. The stator may for example comprise six or twelve electrical conductors in the shape of an I, the other electrical conductors possibly all being in the shape of a U.

A U-shaped electrical conductor has two axial ends both placed at one of the axial ends of the stator. It passes through two different slots, and can be welded at each of its axial ends to two other electrical conductors, at the same axial side of the stator. The bottom of the U is located on the other axial side of the stator.

Strands

In the invention, each electrical conductor has one or more strands ("wire" or "strand" in English). By "strand" we mean the most basic unit for electrical conduction. A strand can be of round cross section, we can then speak of "wire", or flat. The flat strands can be shaped into pins, for example a U or an I. Each strand is coated with an insulating enamel.

The fact that each notch can include several electrical conductors and / or several strands makes it possible to minimize losses by induced currents, or Joule AC losses, which evolve with the square of the supply frequency, which is particularly advantageous at high frequency and when the operating speed is high. It is thus possible to obtain better efficiency at high speed.

The presence of the closed notches can make it possible to obtain a reduction in the flow of leaks seen by the electrical conductors, which results in a reduction in eddy current losses in the strands.

In one embodiment, each electrical conductor may include several pins, each forming a strand, as explained above. All the strands of the same electrical conductor can be electrically connected to each other at the output of the notch. The strands electrically connected to each other are placed in short circuit. The number of strands electrically connected together may be greater than or equal to 2, being for example between 2 and 12, being for example 3, 4, 6 or 8 strands.

Several strands can form the same electrical conductor. The same electric current of the same phase flows through all the strands of the same electrical conductor. All the strands of the same electrical conductor can be electrically connected to each other, especially at the exit of the notch. All the strands of the same electrical conductor can be electrically connected to each other at each of their two axial ends, in particular at the exit from the notch. They can be electrically connected in parallel.

All strands of all electrical conductors having a free end located at the same circumferential position around the axis of rotation of the machine, regardless of their radial position, can be electrically connected to each other.

In another embodiment, each electrical conductor has three strands.

In the case where a notch has two electrical conductors, a notch can therefore accommodate six strands, for example, distributed between the two electrical conductors.

As a variant, a notch has four electrical conductors. Each electrical conductor can have two strands. The notch then accommodates eight strands, distributed between the four electrical conductors.

The strands can be positioned in the notch so that their circumferential dimension around the axis of rotation of the machine is greater than their radial dimension. Such a configuration allows a reduction in eddy current losses in the strands.

A strand may have a width of between 1 and 5 mmm, being for example of the order of

2.5 or 3 mm. The width of a strand is defined as its dimension in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the machine.

A strand may have a height of between 1 and 4 mmm, being for example of the order of

1.6 or 1.8 mm. The height of a strand is defined as its thickness in the radial dimension.

A ratio of the width of a strand to its height can be between 1 and 2.5, better still between 1.2 and 2, or even between 1.4 and 1.8, being for example 1.56 or 1 , 66. Such a ratio allows a reduction in eddy current losses in the strands. The electrical conductors can be made of copper or aluminum.

Insulators

The electrical conductors are electrically insulated from the outside by an insulating coating, including enamel. The electrical conductors can be separated from the walls of the notch by an insulation, in particular by at least one sheet of insulation. Such a sheet insulator allows better insulation of the electrical conductors with respect to the stator mass. The use of closed notches can improve the retention of insulation around electrical conductors in the notches.

Notches

The notches can be open or at least partially closed. A partially closed notch makes it possible to provide an opening at the level of the air gap, which can be used, for example, for the placement of the electrical conductors for filling the notch. A partially closed notch is in particular formed between two teeth which each have pole shoes at their free end, which close the notch at least in part.

Alternatively, the notches can be completely closed. By "fully closed notch" is meant notches which are not open radially towards the air gap.

The presence of the closed notches makes it possible to improve the performance of the electric machine in terms of the quality of the magnetic field in the air gap, by minimizing the harmonic content and the eddy current losses in the electric conductors, and the leakage fluxes in the air gap. the notches, as well as the fluctuations of the magnetic field in the air gap and heating of the machine. In addition, the presence of these closed notches improves the mechanical rigidity of the stator, mechanically strengthening the stator and reducing vibrations.

The stator mass can be produced by stacking magnetic sheets, the notches being formed by cutting the sheets. The stator mass can also be produced by cutting from a mass of sintered or agglomerated magnetic powder.

Machine and rotor

Another subject of the invention is a rotating electrical machine, such as a synchronous motor or a synchronous generator, comprising a stator. The stator may include a stator mass comprising notches formed between teeth, each notch receiving one or more electrical conductors. The machine can be synchronous or asynchronous. The machine can be reluctance. It can constitute a synchronous motor. The maximum speed of rotation of the machine can be high, being for example greater than 10,000 rpm, better still greater than 12,000 rpm, being for example of the order of 14,000 rpm at 15,000 rpm. min, or even 20,000 rpm or 25,000 rpm. The maximum speed of rotation of the machine may be less than 100,000 rpm, or even 60,000 rpm, or even less than 40,000 rpm, better still less than 30,000 rpm.

The rotating electric machine may include a rotor. The rotor can be permanent magnet, with surface magnets or buried. The rotor can be in flux concentration. It can include one or more layers of magnets arranged in I, U or V. Alternatively, it can be a wound rotor or squirrel cage, or a variable reluctance rotor.

The diameter of the rotor may be less than 400 mm, better still less than 300 mm, and greater than 50 mm, better still greater than 70 mm, being for example between 100 and 200 mm.

The rotor may have a rotor mass extending along the axis of rotation and disposed around a shaft. The shaft may include torque transmission means for rotating the rotor mass.

The rotor may or may not be cantilevered.

The machine can be inserted alone in a housing or inserted in a gearbox housing. In this case, it is inserted in a housing which also houses a gearbox. Thus, the cooling device does not rest on the teeth of the stator mass. The distance d is small enough to allow thermal contact between the cooling device and the electrical conductors of the stator. For example, the distance d is less than 60 mm, better still less than 40 mm, for example equal to 27 mm or approximately 38 mm.

Welding process

The subject of the invention is also a method of welding electrical conductors of an electric machine stator, comprising at least the following steps:

(a) place a cooling device according to the invention on the stator, in order to establish thermal contact between the cooling circuit of the cooling device and the electrical conductors of the stator,

(b) circulating a cooling fluid through the cooling device, (c) cause the electrical conductors to melt in order to weld them together.

The steps (b) of circulating a fluid and (c) of melting can be completely simultaneous. As a variant, the steps (b) of circulating a fluid and (c) of melting can be partially simultaneous. For example, step (b) of circulating a fluid can be initiated before step (c) of melting. Alternatively, step (b) of circulating a fluid can be initiated after step (c) of melting and continue thereafter.

Melting step (c) can be carried out using a heat source, in particular a laser or an electric arc.

The welding process using a tungsten electrode can be TIG welding (in English “Tungsten Inert Gas”). In this welding process, the electric arc is produced from a tungsten electrode and a plasma. The use of a heat source allows the free ends of the strands to melt without degrading the assembly of the strands of the electrical conductor (s). A single heat source can be used to produce the same weld. As a variant, several heat sources can be used to produce the same weld.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention may be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment thereof, and on examining the appended drawing in which: [Lig 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic and partial view of a stator intended to be manufactured in accordance with the invention,

[Lig 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, schematic and partial, of the stator of FIG.

1,

[Lig 3] FIG. 3 is a detail view, in perspective, of the stator of FIG. 1,

[Lig 4] Figure 4 is a diagram of the free ends of two electrical conductors to be welded in thermal contact with an example of a cooling device according to the invention,

[Lig 5] FIG. 5 is a top view of an example of a cooling device according to the invention arranged opposite a stator of a rotating electrical machine,

[Lig 6a] FIG. 6a is a top view of an example of a cooling device according to the invention arranged opposite a stator of a rotating electrical machine, [Fig 6b] FIG. 6b is a top view of an example of a cooling device according to the invention arranged opposite a stator of a rotating electrical machine,

[Fig 7a] Figure 7a is a detail view of the cooling device of Figure 6a, [Fig 7b] Figure 7b is a detail view of an alternative embodiment,

[Fig 8a] Figure 8a is a detail view of electrical conductors arranged in the same notch of a stator, in thermal contact with the cooling device of Figure 6a,

[Fig 8b] Figure 8b is a detail view of electrical conductors arranged in the same notch of a stator, in thermal contact with the cooling device of Figure 6b,

[Fig 9] FIG. 9 is a top view of an example of a cooling device according to the invention arranged opposite a stator of a rotating electrical machine,

[Fig 10] Figure 10 is a detail view of electrical conductors arranged in the same notch of a stator, in thermal contact with the cooling device of Figure

9.

detailed description

There is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 a stator 2 of a rotating electrical machine 1 also comprising a rotor not shown. The stator generates a rotating magnetic field that drives the rotating rotor, as part of a synchronous motor, and in the case of an alternator, the rotation of the rotor induces an electromotive force in the electrical conductors of the stator.

The examples illustrated below are schematic and the relative dimensions of the various constituent elements have not necessarily been observed.

The stator 2 comprises electrical conductors 22, which are arranged in notches 21 formed between teeth 23 of a stator mass 25. The notches 21 are closed.

The electrical conductors 22 have strands 33. The strands 33 have a generally rectangular cross section, in particular with rounded corners. The strands 33 are in the example described superimposed radially in a single row.

The thickness e of a strand 33 is its dimension in the radial direction of the machine. The width 1 of a strand 33 is defined as its dimension in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the machine. The width L of the section to be welded corresponds to the sum of the thicknesses e of each strand.

The electrical conductors 22 are mostly pin-shaped, i.e. U or I, and extending axially into the notches. A first electrical conductor housed in a first notch is electrically connected to a second electrical conductor housed in a second notch, at the outlet from said notches.

The first and second notches are non-consecutive. In the example shown, they are separated by 7 other notches. Alternatively, the first and second notches are separated by 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11 other notches, for example.

The electrical connection is formed on the electrical conductors just after they exit the two notches, at one axial end of the stator mass. The two electrical conductors each have an oblique portion 22b, which converge towards each other. The electrical connection between two conductors is made in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the machine, causing the free ends 22a of the strands of the two electrical conductors to merge.

FIG. 4 illustrates the free ends of two electrical conductors 22 to be welded in thermal contact with a cooling device 3 according to the invention.

The cooling device 3 comprises a cooling circuit 31. In the latter circulates a cooling fluid 32, for example a mixture of water and glycol. The lower face 37 of the device has a bevel shape which makes it easier to insert the electrical conductors 22 into the device 3.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a cooling device 3 arranged above a stator 2 of a rotating electrical machine. In this example, the conduit winds between the free ends of the electrical conductors 22 to be welded. The cooling circuit of the device 3 winds regularly between the electrical conductors 22. Each corrugation surrounds electrical conductors 22 arranged in the same notch 21 of the stator 2. The cooling circuit thus provides spaces for receiving the free ends of the conductors. electric 22 to solder. The reception spaces 35 are for example superimposed on the notches 21 of the stator 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, all the circumferential sides 34a and a single radial side 34b of each of the electrical conductors 22 are in thermal contact with the cooling device. In this embodiment, the circuit of cooling 31 has a single entry point 36 for the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid 32 circulates radially from the inside to the outside above a first tooth 23 of the stator 2 then radially from the outside to the inside above a second tooth 23 adjacent to the first .

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate a cooling device 3 according to an embodiment of the invention arranged opposite a stator 2 of a rotating electrical machine.

The cooling device 3 shown comprises two concentric portions 301, 302 disposed radially on either side of the electrical conductors 22 of the stator 2. The two portions 301, 302 communicate by radial channels arranged between the electrical conductors, for example at- above all the teeth 23 of the stator 2.

The cooling circuit provides reception spaces 35 for the free ends of the electrical conductors 22 to be welded. The reception spaces 35 are for example superimposed on the notches 21 of the stator 2.

A first portion 302 of the cooling circuit is arranged inside the stator 2, in the space delimited by the electrical conductors 22. A second portion 301 of the cooling circuit is arranged outside the stator 2, outside of the space delimited by the electrical conductors 22.

In the example shown in Figure 6a, the entry point 36 of the cooling fluid is connected to the cooling circuit portion 302 disposed therein. The coolant then flows from the inside to the outside.

In the example shown in Figure 6b, the entry point 36 of the coolant is connected to the portion 301 of the cooling circuit disposed outside. The coolant then flows from the outside to the inside.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6a, 7a and 8a and that shown in Figures 6b, 7b and 8b, all the radial sides 34b and all the circumferential sides 34a of each of the electrical conductors 22 of the stator 2 are in thermal contact with the device 3. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8a, the receiving spaces 35 are of substantially rectangular shape.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the cooling device 3 according to the invention arranged opposite a stator 2 of a rotating electrical machine.

The cooling device 3 shown comprises two concentric portions 301, 302 disposed radially on either side of the electrical conductors 22 of the stator 2. The two portions 301, 302 do not communicate with each other. The cooling circuit therefore does not pass between the electrical conductors 22, above the teeth 21 of the stator 3.

The cooling circuit provides a single space 35 for receiving the free ends of the electrical conductors 22 to be welded.

The portion 301 of the cooling circuit has an entry point 36 for the cooling fluid. And the portion 302 of the cooling circuit has an entry point 36 ’for the coolant.

The two concentric portions 301, 302 of the cooling circuit can be traversed by counter-rotating cooling fluids. In the embodiment shown, the outer portion 301 is traversed by a cooling fluid circulating in the indirect counterclockwise direction and the inner portion 302 is traversed by a cooling fluid circulating in the direct counterclockwise direction.

In the example shown in Figures 9 and 10 all the radial sides 34b of each of the electrical conductors 22 of the stator 2 are in thermal contact with the cooling device 3. None of the circumferential sides 34a of each of the electrical conductors 22 are in contact. thermal with the cooling device 3.

In the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10, the cooling device comprises a single receiving space 35 which has the shape of a ring. This receiving space is arranged between the two concentric portions 301, 302 of the cooling circuit. The receiving space 35 extends over the entire circumference of the device. When the device is placed opposite the stator, the free ends of all the electrical conductors 22 are all inserted into the receiving space 35.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, and the rotor associated with the stator described can be wound, with a squirrel cage or with permanent magnets, or else with variable reluctance.

Claims

1. Device for cooling (3) one or more electrical conductors (22) of a stator (2) of a rotating electrical machine (1), the device (3) comprising at least one cooling circuit (31) of a cooling fluid (32), intended to be placed in thermal contact with at least part of the electrical conductor (s) (22) during a step of welding said electrical conductors.

2. Device according to claim 1, the device (3) being of substantially flattened shape, comprising an upper face and a lower face (37), the lower face being intended to come opposite the stator (2) during the step of welding.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the cooling circuit (31) being configured to provide reception spaces (35) of the free ends of the electrical conductors (22) to be welded.

4. Device according to the two preceding claims, the lower face (37) of the device (3) having a bevelled shape at the level of the receiving spaces (35) of the free ends of the electrical conductors (22) to be welded.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the cooling circuit (31) being configured to be traversed by a cooling fluid (32) circulating circumferentially and / or radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the electrical machine. rotating (1).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one of the radial sides (34b) and / or one of the circumferential sides (34a) of the electrical conductors (22) arranged in the same notch (21) of the stator being in contact. thermal with the cooling circuit (31).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the cooling circuit (31) comprising a conduit for the circulation of the cooling fluid, the conduit meandering between the free ends of the electrical conductors to be welded.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the cooling circuit (31) comprising two concentric portions (301, 302) disposed radially on either side of the electrical conductors (22) of the stator (2), both portions communicating by radial channels arranged between the electrical conductors (22), above all or part of the teeth (23) of the stator (2).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the cooling circuit comprising two concentric portions (301, 302) not communicating, disposed radially on either side of the electrical conductors (22) of the stator (2). , the cooling fluid (32) circulating in each of said portions in opposite directions.

10. Device according to the preceding claim, at least partially manufactured by additive manufacturing, for example using a 3D printer.

11. An assembly comprising a cooling device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims and a stator (2) of a rotating electrical machine, the stator comprising a stator mass comprising notches (21) formed between teeth (23), each notch (21) receiving one or more electrical conductors (22).

12. Assembly according to the preceding claim, the stator (2) comprising electrical conductors (22) at least, see a majority of the electrical conductors, in the form of pins, U or I.

13. Assembly according to one of the two preceding claims, the device (3) being held above the stator (2) at a non-zero distance d during welding of the electrical conductors (22) of the stator.

14. A method of welding electrical conductors (22) of an electric machine stator, comprising at least the following steps:

(a) fitting on the stator (2) a cooling device (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in order to establish thermal contact between the cooling circuit (31) of the cooling device ( 3) and the electrical conductors (22) of the stator (2),

(b) circulating a cooling fluid (32) in the cooling device (3),

(c) causing the electrical conductors (22) to melt in order to solder them together.

15. Method according to the preceding claim, step (c) of melting being carried out by means of a heat source, in particular a laser or an electric arc.