ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINE HAVING ROTOR AND STATOR COOLED BY MEANS OF HEAT PIPES

• US 3,801,843 A
• Filed: 06/16/1972
• Issued: 04/02/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James C. Corman, Michael H. Mclaughlin, Robert F. Edgar, Russell E. Tompkins
• Original Assignee: James C. Corman, Michael H. Mclaughlin, Robert F. Edgar, Russell E. Tompkins
• Inventors: Corman, James C., McLaughlin, Michael H., Edgar, Robert F., Tompkins, Russell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skudy, R.
• Application Number:
  US05/263,665
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 310/52,53,54,55,56,57,58,64 29/605
• US Class Current: 310/52
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/225 Heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/19 in a dynamo-electric machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/32 having means for cooling

Abstract

A polyphase induction motor having a rotor and a stator, each having heat pipes incorporated therein, is disclosed. The stator is comprised of a stack of laminations having radial slots therein which contain heat pipes as well as electrical conductors. The stator heat pipes are located in the stator slots and extend axially to a remote location beyond the stator and the rotor. The stator heat pipes contain wicks and contain a twophase fluid coolant. The rotor is also comprised of a stack of laminations with radial slots located in the outer periphery thereof. Heat pipes are incorporated in the rotor slots and, like the heat pipes in the stator slots, extend axially to a remote location beyond the rotor and the stator. The rotor heat pipes also serve as electrical conductors as well as heat exchangers for cooling the rotor. Thus, all of the rotor heat pipes are electrically interconnected by end rings located at the axial extremities of the rotor. The rotor heat pipes also contain a two-phase fluid coolant. However, because centrifugal force promotes condensate return within the rotor heat pipes wicks need not be used in the rotor heat pipes. Cooling fins are provided on those sections (condenser sections) of the heat pipes which extend axially beyond the rotor and the stator thereby forming air heat exchangers. Moreover, the fins on the moving rotor heat pipes act as moving fan blades and, being located proximate to the cooling fins on the stator heat pipes, effectively form a single-pass, forced-convection, air heat exchanger.

Claims

1. In combination, a rotor, a plurality of rotor heat pipes, each rotor heat pipe including an evaporator section and a condenser section, said plurality of rotor heat pipes being distributively arranged on said rotor so that their evaporator sections may receive heat from the region of said rotor and transport the heat to their respective condenser sections which are remotely located from said rotor, said rotor heat pipes being electrically conductive, and end ring means for electrically interconnecting said rotor heat pipes.

2. In combination, a stator including a plurality of slots distributively included therein, a plurality of stator heat pipes, each stator heat pipe including an evaporator section and a condenser section, each slot containing an evaporator section of one of said heat pipes with a condenser section of the same heat pipe being outside the slot and remotely located from said stator, and an electrical stator winding comprising a plurality of electrical conductors, each said stator slot including some of said conductors as well as an evaporator section of a stator heat pipe.

3. In combination, a stator including a plurality of slots distributively included therein, a plurality of stator heat pipes, each stator heat pipe including an evaporator section and a conDenser section, each slot containing an evaporator section of one of said heat pipes with a condenser section of the same heat pipe being outside the slot and remotely located from some stator, an electrical stator winding comprising a plurality of electrical conductors, each said stator slot including some of said conductors as well as an evaporator section of a stator heat pipe, and potting compound in each said stator slot contacting said evaporator section and said conductors, said potting compound comprising an epoxy resin including therein non-metallic particles whereby said compound has relatively low electrical conductivity and at least relatively moderate thermal conductivity.

4. In combination, a rotor including a plurality of slots distributively included therein, a plurality of rotor heat pipes, each rotor heat pipe including an evaporator section and a condenser section, each slot containing an evaporator section of one of said heat pipes with a condenser section of the same heat pipe being outside the slot and remotely located from said rotor, said rotor heat pipes being electrically conductive, and end ring means electrically interconnecting said rotor heat pipes.

5. In combination, a stator including a plurality of slots distributively included therein, a plurality of stator heat pipes, each stator heat pipe including an evaporator section and a condenser section, each slot containing an evaporator section of one of said heat pipes with a condenser section of the same heat pipe being outside the slot and remotely located from said stator, and cooling fin means on said condenser sections, said cooling fin means being comprised of a plurality of annular members comprising a plurality of segments of relatively high thermal conductivity material, each said thermal conductivity segment being separated by a dielectric segment, each said condenser section being connected to at least one of said segments of high thermal conductivity.

6. In combination, a rotor, a plurality of rotor heat pipes, each rotor heat pipe including an evaporator section and a condenser section, said plurality of rotor heat pipes being distributively arranged on said rotor so that their evaporator sections may receive heat from a region of said rotor and transport the heat to their respective condenser sections which are remotely located from said rotor, said rotor heat pipes being electrically conductive, end ring means for electrically interconnecting said rotor heat pipes, a stator including a plurality of slots distributively included therein, a plurality of stator heat pipes, each stator heat pipe including an evaporator section and a condenser section, each slot containing an evaporator section of one of said stator heat pipes with a condenser section of the same stator heat pipe being outside the stator slot and remotely located from said stator, and an electrical stator winding comprising a plurality of electrical conductors, each said stator slot including some of said conductors as well as an evaporator section of a stator heat pipe.

7. The combination, according to claim 6, further comprising a potting compound in each said stator slot contacting said evaporator section and said conductors, said potting compound comprising an epoxy resin including therein non-metallic particles whereby said compound has relatively low electrical conductivity and at least relatively moderate thermal conductivity.