Cooling arrangement of an electrical machine

• US 8,487,500 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Cullen, John James Anthony, Powell, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tran
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, NAISHADH N
• Application Number:
  US12/010,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 310/215, 310/216.081, 310/82, 310/119, 310/125, 310/192, 310/254.1, 310/214, 310/216.069, 310/216.071, 310/216.072, 310/216.073, 310/44, 310/58
• US Class Current: 310/215
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/00 Arrangements for cooling or ventilating channels or ducts in parts of the magnetic circuit H02K1/20, H02K1/32; channels or ducts in or between conductors H02K3/22, H02K3/24

Abstract

A component of an electric machine 46, the component comprising a core 10; two or more teeth 14 extending radially therefrom; at least one electromagnetic winding 12, each winding 12 around at least one of the teeth 14; wherein the core 10 having a cooling arrangement including at least one cooling insert 48 located between adjacent windings 12 and whereby in use a cooling fluid being arranged to flow through the at least one cooling insert 48 to facilitate heat transfer and dissipation from the electromagnetic windings 12. The cooling inserts providing improved cooling, structural support to the windings, and electrical insulation between the windings and the core.

Claims

1. A component of an electric machine, the component comprising:

a core;

two or more teeth extending radially from the core;

at least one electromagnetic winding, each winding being arranged around at least one of the teeth;

wherein

the core has a cooling arrangement comprising at least one cooling insert being bonded to the core and located between adjacent windings, the at least one cooling insert defining a cooling fluid flow duct, the at least one cooling insert including only a single material with high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity; and

a cooling fluid is arranged to flow through the at least one cooling insert to facilitate heat transfer and dissipation from the electromagnetic windings.

2. A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cooling insert is located between circumferentially adjacent windings.

3. A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cooling insert is located between radially adjacent windings.

4. A component of an electric machine, the component comprising:

a core;

two or more teeth extending radially from the core;

at least one electromagnetic winding, each winding being arranged around at least one of the teeth;

wherein

the core has a cooling arrangement comprising at least one cooling insert located between circumferentially adjacent windings, the at least one cooling insert defining a cooling fluid flow duct, the at least one cooling insert including only a single material with high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity; and

a cooling fluid is arranged to flow through the at least one cooling insert to facilitate heat transfer and dissipation from the electromagnetic windings.

5. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is an annular array of teeth.

6. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is at least one annular array of cooling inserts.

7. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert comprises a ceramic.

8. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert is a casting.

9. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert comprises aluminium nitride.

10. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert comprises silicon carbide.

11. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert is generally tapering in cross section.

12. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert is bonded to the windings.

13. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert is hollow and the cooling fluid flow duct is arranged for a flow of cooling fluid.

14. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one cooling insert is porous to allow a flow of cooling fluid therethrough.

15. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of the teeth has a winding around it.

16. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least two cooling inserts are in fluid communication with a cooling fluid inlet manifold to provide a constant flow of cooling fluid to the at least two cooling inserts.

17. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least two cooling inserts are in fluid communication with a cooling fluid outlet manifold to facilitate heat dissipation from the at least two cooling inserts.

18. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein a metering arrangement is provided upstream of the at least one cooling insert to optimise the flow rate of cooling fluid for a given running condition.

19. A component as claimed in claim 4 further comprising an air source that supplies the cooling fluid.

20. A component as claimed in claim 19 wherein the air source is a bypass duct or a compressor of a gas turbine engine.

21. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the component is a stator component of an electric machine.

22. A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein the component is a rotor component of an electric machine.

23. An electric machine comprising the component as claimed in claim 4.

24. A component of an electric machine, the component comprising:

a core;

two or more teeth extending radially from the core;

at least one electromagnetic winding, each winding being arranged around at least one of the teeth;

wherein

the core has a cooling arrangement comprising at least one cooling insert located between radially adjacent windings, the at least one cooling insert defining a cooling fluid flow duct, the at least one cooling insert including only a single material with high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity; and

a cooling fluid is arranged to flow through the at least one cooling insert to facilitate heat transfer and dissipation from the electromagnetic windings.

25. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein there is an annular array of teeth.

26. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein there is at least one annular array of cooling inserts.

27. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert comprises a ceramic.

28. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert is a casting.

29. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert comprises aluminium nitride.

30. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert comprises silicon carbide.

31. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert is generally tapering in cross section.

32. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert is bonded to the windings.

33. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert is hollow and the cooling fluid flow duct is arranged for a flow of cooling fluid.

34. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one cooling insert is porous to allow a flow of cooling fluid therethrough.

35. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein each of the teeth has a winding around it.

36. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein at least two cooling inserts are in fluid communication with a cooling fluid inlet manifold to provide a constant flow of cooling fluid to the at least two cooling inserts.

37. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein at least two cooling inserts are in fluid communication with a cooling fluid outlet manifold to facilitate heat dissipation from the at least two cooling inserts.

38. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein a metering arrangement is provided upstream of the at least one cooling insert to optimise the flow rate of cooling fluid for a given running condition.

39. A component as claimed in claim 24 further comprising an air source that supplies the cooling fluid.

40. A component as claimed in claim 39 wherein the air source is a bypass duct or a compressor of a gas turbine engine.

41. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the component is a stator component of an electric machine.

42. A component as claimed in claim 24 wherein the component is a rotor component of an electric machine.

43. An electric machine comprising the component as claimed in claim 24.