CFD optimisation of the thermal design for a vented electrical machine

Bersch, Kevin; Connor, Peter H.; Eastwick, Carol N.; Galea, Michael; Rolston, Rob

Abstract

Optimisation algorithms hold the potential to dramatically reduce computational time whilst ensuring the optimal solution is found. Within this paper, the feasibility of using this novel approach on complex 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamics models, which are required for thermal management of electrical machines, is proven. A model of a simplified generator is parameterised with the aim of minimising the peak stator temperature by varying the axial location of a single stator vent. By generating a single parameterised case, and automating the optimisation, the simulations are run independently after initial setup, hence reducing both computational and user time. Locating a vent in the optimal position reduced the peak stator temperature by 9.4 K. A sensitivity study linking peak temperature to vent position has been carried out developing a polynomial relationship between them for the aforementioned geometry. Mass flow and pressure distribution in the vent have been analysed in detail.

Citation

Bersch, K., Connor, P. H., Eastwick, C. N., Galea, M., & Rolston, R. (2017). CFD optimisation of the thermal design for a vented electrical machine. In 2017 IEEE Workshop on Electrical Machines Design, Control and Diagnosis (WEMDCD) (39-44). https://doi.org/10.1109/WEMDCD.2017.7947721

• Conference Name: 2017 IEEE Workshop on Electrical Machines Design, Control and Diagnosis (WEMDCD)
• Conference Location: Nottingham, UK
• Start Date: Apr 20, 2017
• End Date: Apr 21, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Mar 10, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 21, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2018
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 39-44
• Book Title: 2017 IEEE Workshop on Electrical Machines Design, Control and Diagnosis (WEMDCD)
• ISBN: 978-1-5090-5854-9
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/WEMDCD.2017.7947721
• Keywords: Alternator, CFD, Computational fluid dynamics, Cooling, Electrical machine, Stator vent, Synchronous generator, Optimization, Thermal management
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/857123
• Publisher URL: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7947721/
• Additional Information: ISBN 978-1-5090-5853-2.; doi:10.1109/WEMDCD.2017.7947721 ; © 2017 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.