GB2583131A - Cooling method and apparatus - Google Patents
Cooling method and apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2583131A GB2583131A GB1905541.7A GB201905541A GB2583131A GB 2583131 A GB2583131 A GB 2583131A GB 201905541 A GB201905541 A GB 201905541A GB 2583131 A GB2583131 A GB 2583131A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- driveshaft
- rotor
- housing
- inner volume
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 79
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000012809 cooling fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000010791 quenching Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- NBVXSUQYWXRMNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N fluoromethane Chemical compound FC NBVXSUQYWXRMNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 1
- -1 gycol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000020169 heat generation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002480 mineral oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000037361 pathway Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000171 quenching effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002545 silicone oil Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K5/00—Casings; Enclosures; Supports
- H02K5/04—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
- H02K5/20—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
- H02K5/203—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K1/00—Details of the magnetic circuit
- H02K1/06—Details of the magnetic circuit characterised by the shape, form or construction
- H02K1/22—Rotating parts of the magnetic circuit
- H02K1/32—Rotating parts of the magnetic circuit with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K3/00—Details of windings
- H02K3/04—Windings characterised by the conductor shape, form or construction, e.g. with bar conductors
- H02K3/24—Windings characterised by the conductor shape, form or construction, e.g. with bar conductors with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K9/00—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating
- H02K9/19—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K9/00—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating
- H02K9/19—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
- H02K9/193—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil with provision for replenishing the cooling medium; with means for preventing leakage of the cooling medium
Abstract
A rotary machine cooling system 10 comprising a housing 12 that defines a longitudinal axis X, a cylindrical inner surface 14 and an inner volume 16; a stator 26 assembly located radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis within the inner volume of the housing; a driveshaft 18 which extends into the inner volume along the longitudinal axis and is operable to rotate with respect to the stator assembly, the driveshaft defining a fluid channel 20 therethrough; and a rotor located radially outwardly of the driveshaft within the inner volume of the housing and mechanically coupled to the driveshaft, wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the inner volume, the rotor and the stator assembly. The fluid channel may comprise a fluid inlet 21 to receive fluid from outside of the housing and a fluid outlet 32 for the egress of fluid from the driveshaft, wherein the fluid outlet is located adjacent a surface of the rotor, and wherein the fluid outlet may comprise a plurality of apertures 22. The housing may comprise a fluid collection reservoir 28. The fluid may comprise oil. The present invention may also include a method of cooling the aforementioned machine.
Description
COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS
The present invention relates to the cooling of a rotary machine such as, but not limited to, a radial flux electrical machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During use of rotary machines, generation of heat takes place within the electric machine itself. Due to this heat generation, it is important to control the temperature within the electric machine. This is typically achieved using either air-cooling or liquid cooling. An example of conventional air cooling may involve forced air blowing over the outer surface of the electric machine. Alternatively, one example of a conventional liquid cooling system would involve providing the stator with a cooling jacket, typically in the form of multiple tubes, that that circulates cooling fluid. However, although such a system operates to cool the stator, the circulating fluid would not efficiently cool the rotor. An alternative conventional liquid cooling approach involves a closed-loop system where the engine is partially filled with cooling fluid and the motor rotated to agitate the fluid, thereby cooling the motor by sloshing the fluid around the motor interior. However, such a method only equalises the temperature in an electric machine and does not allow heat to be transferred from the electric machine to a cooler body, namely a transmission or any other body that is applicable to be mechanically connected to the electric machine There is therefore a need for an improved cooling system and method to cool both the rotor 20 and the stator of a rotary machine, without the need for additional fans and the like.
Embodiments of the present invention seek to address the problems of the existing designs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the present invention are set out in the attached claims.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary machine cooling system comprising: a housing that defines a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrical inner surface and an inner volume; a stator assembly located radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis within the inner volume of the housing; a driveshaft which extends into the inner volume along the longitudinal axis and is operable to rotate with respect to the stator assembly, the driveshaft defining a fluid channel therethrough; and a rotor located radially outwardly of the driveshaft within the inner volume of the housing and mechanically coupled to the driveshaft, wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the inner volume, the rotor and the stator assembly.
In this way, cooling fluid is supplied throughout the rotary machine to cool not only the stator, but also the rotor. The cooling fluid transfers out of the fluid channel within the driveshaft and onto the rotor where it drops out of the rotor thereby quenching the front and rear face of the rotor as well as spraying upwards out of the rotor to also quench-cool the stator assembly.
In one embodiment, the fluid channel comprises a fluid inlet to receive fluid from outside of the housing and a fluid outlet for the egress of fluid from the input driveshaft. Preferably, the 10 fluid inlet is fed by gravity. Alternatively, the fluid inlet may be fed by a pressurised system or any other suitable means known to the skilled person.
Preferably, the fluid outlet is located adjacent a surface of the rotor. This allows immediate cooling of the rotor as the cooling fluid exits the driveshaft.
The fluid outlet may comprise a plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures will assist in the fluid exiting the driveshaft under pressure and spraying onto the rotor to effect quench-cooling of the rotor. Preferably, the plurality of apertures comprises radial drill holes, although it is to be appreciated that the apertures may be provided by any suitable means known to the skilled person in addition to, or as an alternative to, drilled holes. The apertures may be any suitable size and desired number to allow a sufficient flow of fluid through the driveshaft into the inner volume of the housing to cool the stator and rotor.
In a further embodiment, the housing further comprises a fluid collection reservoir where cooling fluid is collected after contacting and cooling the rotor and stator. The collected cooling fluid can then be removed from the system or cooled and recirculated. In one embodiment, the cooling fluid is circulated in a closed system such that collected cooling fluid collects in the fluid collection reservoir where it is removed from the housing, cooled and recirculated back through the driveshaft to cool the rotor and stator. Such a continuous circulation of cooling fluid allows for constant cooling of the rotary machine rotor and stator.
Thus, the cooler may share cooling fluid with the electric machine. In such an arrangement the coolant passes from the transmission to the electric machine and then circulates back 30 again to the transmission. Fluid cooling occurs as a result of radiation of heat from the transmission casing during fluid circulation through the transmission.
In a rotary machine of the present invention, preferably the fluid comprises oil. However, it is to be understood that any other suitable cooling fluid known to the skilled person and fit for the function of cooling the rotary machine could be used in addition to or as an alternative to oil. Examples of suitable cooling oil include, but are not restricted to water, gycol, mineral oils, silicone oils, and fluorocarbon oils.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of cooling a rotary machine comprising the steps of a) providing a rotary machine according to a first aspect of the present invention, b) operating the rotary machine to rotate the rotor about the driveshaft; and c) supplying cooling fluid into the fluid channel via the fluid inlet such that the fluid passes through the driveshaft, exits the fluid channel and is sprayed onto the rotating rotor and distributed within the inner volume to quench cool the rotor and stator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a rotary machine according to a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the driveshaft of the embodiment of figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the driveshaft of figure 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a stator element of the stator assembly of the rotary machine of figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a rotary machine 10 in accordance with the present invention. Rotary machine 10 comprising a housing 12 defining a longitudinal axis X otherwise known as the drive axis. Housing 12 defines a substantially cylindrical inner 25 surface 14 and an inner volume 16.
Driveshaft 18 (also shown in figures 2 and 3) is located with housing 12 and extends into inner volume 16 along the longitudinal axis X. Driveshaft 18 is rotatable with respect to housing 12.
A stator assembly 26 is located within the inner volume and is arranged around an inner surface of the housing 12 radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis X. Stator assembly 26 is in fixed position relative to housing 12.
The stator assembly 26 comprises a plurality of stator elements 25 (see figure 4) arranged around an inner surface of the housing 12. Each stator element 25 comprises a stator winding 29 wound around a stator core 31 attached to the housing 12 and extending into the inner volume of the housing 12. Each stator winding 29 is of electrically conductive material, such as copper, wire or bar, which is wound in a coil structure that encircles the stator core 31 of the stator element 25 concerned. Each stator winding is connected electrically to a power and control unit, in a manner known to the person skilled in the art.
A rotor 24 is located radially outwardly of the driveshaft 18 within inner volume 16 of housing 12. The rotor 24 is mechanically coupled to the driveshaft and is rotatable within and with 10 respect to the stator assembly 26.
Rotor 24 comprises a rotor body mounted for rotation with respect to stator assembly 26. The rotor 24 also includes a plurality of permanent magnetic elements 27. It is to be appreciate that the rotor 24 may also be provided by an inductive rotor.
As is well known, when operating a motor, alternating current electrical power is supplied to the stator windings 29 which induce an alternating magnetic field within the inner volume of the housing 12. The magnetic elements 27 of the rotor 24 interact with the alternating magnetic field, in a known manner, to generate a force on the magnetic elements 27. This induced force serves to rotate the rotor 24 with respect to the stator assembly 26.
Driveshaft 18 defines a fluid channel 20 therethrough. Fluid channel 20 has an inlet 21 through which fluid enters the fluid channel 20 and a plurality of radial drill holes 22 through which fluid can exit fluid channel 20 and enter inner volume 16 of housing 12. Further, fluid channel 20 of driveshaft 18 is in fluid communication with the inner volume 16 of housing 12 and therefore also in fluid communication with the rotor 24 and stator 26 which are located within inner volume 16.
Fluid collection reservoir 28 is located at the base of inner volume 16 of housing 12 and is arranged to collect fluid within inner volume 16 after contacting and cooling rotor 24 and stator 26. Fluid collection reservoir 28 comprises a fluid channel 30 with fluid outlet 32 through which cooling fluid passes out of housing 12.
On operation of the rotary machine 10, cooling fluid is circulated to dissipate heat generated 30 at rotor 24 and stator 26.
The circulation pathway of the cooling fluid is indicated by arrows in figure 1. The fluid is fed by gravity into shaft 18. The action of spinning the shaft forces the fluid down to the plurality of radial holes and out onto rotor 24.
Radial drill holes 22 are located adjacent rotor 24 within housing 12 such that fluid exiting the fluid channel 20 exits driveshaft 18 under pressure through the plurality of radial drill holes 22 and sprays onto the adjacent surface of rotor 24, thereby cooling the adjacent surface of rotor 24. Fluid then drops out of the rotor and quench cools the front and back face of rotor 24 and adjacent stator 26 before passing into fluid channel 30 of the fluid collection reservoir 28 and leaving the inner volume 16 of housing 12 via fluid outlet 32.
The fluid is then cooled before being passed back into fluid channel 20 in driveshaft 18 and through the radial drill holes 22 back into inner volume 16 of housing 12 to repeat the cooling operation and cool both the stator and the rotor.
Cooling is achieved by passing coolant through a connected by external body (e.g. transmission) which has a lower operating temperature. Thermal energy is transferred out of the external body by radiation from the case of the external body. Alternatively, or in addition, the coolant could be cooled by circulation through a radiator or cooling device prior to feeding into the shaft.
It will be appreciated that the embodiment described is presented as a non-limiting example of how the claimed invention may be carried out and that further modifications may be included 20 without deviating from the scope of the claims.
Claims (7)
- CLAIMS: 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.A rotary machine cooling system comprising: a housing that defines a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrical inner surface and an inner volume; a stator assembly located radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis within the inner volume of the housing; a driveshaft which extends into the inner volume along the longitudinal axis and is operable to rotate with respect to the stator assembly, the driveshaft defining a fluid channel therethrough; and a rotor located radially outwardly of the driveshaft within the inner volume of the housing and mechanically coupled to the driveshaft, wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the inner volume, the rotor and the stator assembly.A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the fluid channel comprises a fluid inlet to receive fluid from outside of the housing and a fluid outlet for the egress of fluid from the driveshaft.A rotary machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fluid outlet is located adjacent a surface of the rotor.A rotary machine as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the fluid outlet comprises a plurality of apertures.A rotary machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing further comprises a fluid collection reservoir A rotary machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid comprises oil.A method of cooling a rotary machine comprising the steps of: a. Providing a rotary machine as claimed in any preceding claim; b. Operating the rotary machine to rotate the rotor about the driveshaft; and c. Supplying cooling fluid into the fluid channel via the fluid inlet such that the fluid passes through the driveshaft, exits the fluid channel and is sprayed onto the rotating rotor and distributed within the inner volume to quench cool the rotor and stator assembly.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1905541.7A GB2583131A (en) | 2019-04-18 | 2019-04-18 | Cooling method and apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1905541.7A GB2583131A (en) | 2019-04-18 | 2019-04-18 | Cooling method and apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201905541D0 GB201905541D0 (en) | 2019-06-05 |
| GB2583131A true GB2583131A (en) | 2020-10-21 |
Family
ID=66810232
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1905541.7A Withdrawn GB2583131A (en) | 2019-04-18 | 2019-04-18 | Cooling method and apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2583131A (en) |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012176052A2 (en) * | 2011-06-24 | 2012-12-27 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Cooling structure of rotary electric machine |
| EP2667486A2 (en) * | 2012-05-25 | 2013-11-27 | Deere & Company | Electric machine rotor cooling method |
| DE102012022453A1 (en) * | 2012-11-09 | 2014-05-15 | Getrag Getriebe- Und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer Gmbh & Cie Kg | Electrical machine for use in hybrid drive strand of motor vehicle, has rotor with driveshaft, where rotor is turnably mounted concerning to machine housing, and driveshaft has shaft channel through which cooling fluid is conductable |
| EP3028888A1 (en) * | 2014-12-04 | 2016-06-08 | Atieva, Inc. | Motor cooling system |
| CN109256902A (en) * | 2018-10-29 | 2019-01-22 | 西安交通大学 | A kind of hydronic high-speed permanent magnet motor of rotor integration and its cooling means |
| US20190097482A1 (en) * | 2016-08-17 | 2019-03-28 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Electrical Machine and Vehicle Equipped with the Electrical Machine |
-
2019
- 2019-04-18 GB GB1905541.7A patent/GB2583131A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012176052A2 (en) * | 2011-06-24 | 2012-12-27 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Cooling structure of rotary electric machine |
| EP2667486A2 (en) * | 2012-05-25 | 2013-11-27 | Deere & Company | Electric machine rotor cooling method |
| DE102012022453A1 (en) * | 2012-11-09 | 2014-05-15 | Getrag Getriebe- Und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer Gmbh & Cie Kg | Electrical machine for use in hybrid drive strand of motor vehicle, has rotor with driveshaft, where rotor is turnably mounted concerning to machine housing, and driveshaft has shaft channel through which cooling fluid is conductable |
| EP3028888A1 (en) * | 2014-12-04 | 2016-06-08 | Atieva, Inc. | Motor cooling system |
| US20190097482A1 (en) * | 2016-08-17 | 2019-03-28 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Electrical Machine and Vehicle Equipped with the Electrical Machine |
| CN109256902A (en) * | 2018-10-29 | 2019-01-22 | 西安交通大学 | A kind of hydronic high-speed permanent magnet motor of rotor integration and its cooling means |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201905541D0 (en) | 2019-06-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |