Systems and methods for regulating fluid flow for internal cooling and lubrication of electric machines
First Claim
1. An electric machine comprising:
- a rotor fixed to a rotatable shaft and supported by one or more bearings;
a stator stationary in relation to the rotatable shaft with a gap between the rotor and the stator; and
one or more fluid flow passages within the machine, wherein at least one fluid flow passage directs fluid to contact the one or more bearings, wherein the at least one fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with an exhaust sump, and wherein the exhaust sump functions as a heat exchanger configured to;
(i) collect a volume of fluid within the exhaust sump prior to exiting the electric machine through one or more outlets, wherein at least one of the outlets is in fluid communication with a recirculation pump; and
(ii) cool the volume of fluid remained in the exhaust sump for a period of time via one or more cooling fins, thereby reducing the operating temperature requirement of the recirculation pump.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides systems and methods for cooling and lubrication of high power density electric machines with an enhanced fluid injection system. Multiple fluid flow passages may be provided within the electric machine, which may include one or more bearing fluid flow pathways and one or more rotor fluid flow pathways. The bearing fluid flow pathway may comprise one or more passages which may direct a fluid to contact one or more bearings for lubrication and cooling of the one or more bearings. The rotor fluid flow pathway may comprise one or more passages which may direct a fluid along the rotatable shaft toward the rotor and stator for cooling of the rotor and stator. The electric machine may also include a fluid flow passage leading to a junction, wherein the fluid flow pathway may split between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway. Additionally, the electric machine may include a fluid flow metering device at the junction between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway, wherein the metering device is configured to determine the relative amount of fluid that flows to the bearing and fluid that flows toward the rotor and stator.
46 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electric machine comprising:
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a rotor fixed to a rotatable shaft and supported by one or more bearings; a stator stationary in relation to the rotatable shaft with a gap between the rotor and the stator; and one or more fluid flow passages within the machine, wherein at least one fluid flow passage directs fluid to contact the one or more bearings, wherein the at least one fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with an exhaust sump, and wherein the exhaust sump functions as a heat exchanger configured to; (i) collect a volume of fluid within the exhaust sump prior to exiting the electric machine through one or more outlets, wherein at least one of the outlets is in fluid communication with a recirculation pump; and (ii) cool the volume of fluid remained in the exhaust sump for a period of time via one or more cooling fins, thereby reducing the operating temperature requirement of the recirculation pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for cooling an electric machine comprising:
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providing a rotor fixed to a rotatable shaft and supported by one or more bearings; providing a stator stationary in relation to the rotatable shaft with a gap between the rotor and the stator; and providing one or more fluid flow passages within the machine, wherein at least one fluid flow passage directs fluid to contact the one or more bearings, wherein the at least one fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with an exhaust sump, and wherein the exhaust sump functions as a heat exchanger configured to; (i) collect a volume of fluid within the exhaust sump prior to exiting the electric machine through one or more outlets, wherein at least one of the outlets is in fluid communication with a recirculation pump; and (ii) cool the volume of fluid remained in the exhaust sump for a period of time via one or more cooling fins, thereby reducing the operating temperature requirement of the recirculation pump. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification