A Feasibility Study of Heat Pipes for Thermal Management of Electrical Machines

Abstract

This theoretical feasibility study explores the use of heat pipes (HPs) in thermal management of electrical machines. The research focus has been placed on the statorwinding assembly to assess suitability and effectiveness of HP- based heat removal systems. The proposed approach targets the main heat source in electrical machines, which frequently is associated with the winding subassembly. Two generic concept thermal management systems are investigated. The first one uses HPs to enhance heat removal for a machine with conventional cooling, e.g. a liquid or air-cooled housing. The second concept uses HPs as the main heat transfer path, e.g. a fully enclosed machine with no integrated, actively cooled housing. The electromagnetic and thermal compatibility of the proposed HP-based thermal management systems is analysed by means of three-dimensional (3D) finite element analyses (FEAs). The theoretical findings show that the proposed thermal management systems allow for a considerable improvement in heat removal from the machine body, up to 43% and 25% for the concept one and two respectively, as compared with a more conventional heat removal system. The overall performance gains are subject to the specific manufacture and assembly processes used in construction of the stator-winding.