Heat pipe based thermal management of electrical machines – A feasibility study

In this paper the use of off-the-shelf heat pipes (HPs) are assessed for thermal management electrical machines. The stator-winding assembly has been selected to assess suitability and effectiveness cooling systems based upon HPs. proposed approach targets main source in machines, which is generally associated with winding subassembly. Two investigated from a conceptual point view. first one uses HPs improve removal machine conventional cooling, e.g. liquid or air-cooled housing. second variant as transfer route, fully enclosed no integrated, actively cooled Both active- end-winding regions considered direct body using analysis electromagnetic compatibility HP-based via three-dimensional (3D) finite element analyses (FEAs). It theoretically shown that active region better suited effective management, compared alternative. Also, results suggest allow considerable improvement body, up 43% 25% concepts two respectively (applied region) respectively, more system. overall performance gains course depend specific manufacture processes used construction stator-winding. initial tests on hardware subassemblies confirm validity theoretical methods employed feasibility study.