Convection Heat Transfer and Flow Calculations Suitable for Electric Machines Thermal Models

This paper deals with the formulations used to predict convection cooling and flow in electric machines. Empirical dimensionless analysis formulations are used to calculate convection heat transfer. The particular formulation used is selected to match the geometry of the surface under consideration and the cooling type used. Flow network analysis, which is used to study the ventilation inside the machine, is also presented. In order to focus the discussion using examples, a commercial software package dedicated to motor cooling optimization (Motor-CAD) is considered. This paper provides guidelines for choosing suitable thermal and flow network formulations and setting any calibration parameters used. It may also be considered a reference paper that brings together useful heat transfer and flow formulations that can be successfully applied to thermal analysis of electrical machine

TEFC Induction Motors Thermal Models: A parameter Sensitivity Analysis

With the increasing pressures on electric motor manufacturers to develop smaller and more efficient electric motors, there is a trend to carry out more thermal analysis in parallel with the traditional electromagnetic design. It has been found that attention to thermal design can be rewarded by major improvements in the overall performance. Thus, there is a requirement for accurate and reliable thermal analysis models that can be easily incorporated into motor design software. In this paper, emphasis is given to thermal sensitivity analysis of totally enclosed fan-cooled induction motors. In particular, thermal parameters are modified and their effects on the temperature rise shown. The results are useful for identifying the most important thermal parameters and enable robust designs to be developed that are insensitive to manufacturing tolerances

Torque prediction using the flux-MMF diagram in AC, DC, and reluctance motors

This paper uses the flux-MMF diagram to compare and contrast the torque production mechanism in seven common types of electric motor. The flux-MMF diagram is a generalized version of the flux-linkage versus current (ψ-i) diagram for switched-reluctance motors. It is illustrated for switched-reluctance, synchronous-reluctance, induction, brushless AC, brushless DC, interior PM and commutator motors. The calculated flux-MMF diagrams for motors with the same electromagnetic volume, airgap, slotfill, and total copper loss are shown and are used to compare the low-speed torque and torque ripple performance. The motor designs used were reasonably optimized using a combination of commercially available motor CAD packages and finite-element analysis

Computational fluid dynamics modelling of an entire synchronous generator for improved thermal management

This study is the first in a series dedicated to investigating the airflow and thermal management of electrical machines. Owing to the temperature dependent resistive losses in the machine's windings, any improvement in cooling provides a direct reduction in losses and an increase in efficiency. This study focuses on the airflow which is intrinsically linked to the thermal behaviour of the machine as well as the windage power consumed to drive the air through the machine. A full computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been used to analyse the airflow around all major components of the machine. Results have been experimentally validated and investigated. At synchronous speed the experimentally tested mass flow rate and windage torque were under predicted by 4% and 7%, respectively, by the CFD. A break-down of torque by component shows that the fan consumes approximately 87% of the windage torque

Assessment of Fractional and Small Power Three Phase Induction Motors for Conveyor Applications

on conference CD-RO

End space heat transfer coefficient determination for different induction motor enclosure types

In this paper, the determination of the end space induction motor heat transfer coefficients is presented, and the methodologies used are examined closely. Two "ad hoc" prototypes have been built and a test bench completed. This paper reports the setup of the test procedures and results obtained in detail. As the end windings are the hottest points of the motor, particular care has been devoted to the determination of the heat transfer coefficient concerning the end-winding structure. The results obtained are of fundamental importance for the determination of the thermal resistances between end windings and end caps. These can then be used in thermal networks usually adopted in thermal model analysis