Abstract

To enhance worldwide environmental conditions, the air transport industry must drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Electrification of aircraft propulsion systems is one way to meet this demand. In particular, the focus is on obtaining single-aisle aircraft with partial turbo-electric propulsion and approximately 150 passenger seats by the 2030s. To develop a single-aisle aircraft with partial turbo-electric propulsion, an air-cooled interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor with an output of 2 MW is desired. One of the most difficult problems in air cooling is that air-cooling performance decreases with increasing altitude because the air density decreases. To investigate the effect of altitude on air-cooling performance in the IPM motor, the authors formulated mathematical system equations to describe heat transfer inside the target air-cooled IPM motor, and mathematical analytical solutions were obtained. The most severe condition is the top-of-climb condition. For this condition, a designer should choose cooling air mass flow rates that keep the temperature of the permanent magnets below the maximum temperature limit of 100 °C and the temperature of the coils below the maximum temperature limit of 250 °C. Here, the sizes of the air-cooling channels strongly affect air cooling with the IPM motor. In this paper, the authors briefly review the mathematical formulations and their solutions, investigate the effect of channel size on air-cooling performance in an IPM motor, and explore the optimum configuration and settings for the air cooling channels.

1 Introduction

The Air Transport Action Group published a vision “Waypoint 2050X” [1], which stated the commercial aviation industry plans to decarbonize and achieve worldwide complete net-zero emissions by 2050. The International Air Transport Association including aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers, airports, and air traffic management, declared adoption of this goal [2,3] to support the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). One of the innovations to decarbonize technology is electrification of aircraft propulsion systems. Felder at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration presented six promising types of aircraft electric propulsion systems [4].

  • Type 1: All-electric, in which batteries drive electric motor-powered fans.

  • Type 2: Parallel hybrid, in which battery-powered electric motors assist turbofans.

  • Type 3: Turbo-electric, in which gas turbines generate electricity and their electricity drives electric motor-powered fans.

  • Type 4: Series hybrid, in which gas turbines generate electricity, batteries provide electricity, and both electricity sources drive electric motor-powered fans.

  • Type 5: Partial turbo-electric, in which turbofans generate electricity and their electricity drives additional electric motor-powered fans.

  • Type 6: Series/partial hybrid, in which turbofans generate electricity, batteries provide electricity, and both sources drive additional electric motor-powered fans.

Currently, many companies are developing short-range aircraft with all-electric propulsion systems, such as those in Refs. [57], because all-electric systems are the simplest propulsion devices. The power density of cutting-edge batteries was 400 Wh/kg in 2021 [8], which is less than the 12,000 Wh/kg of kerosene. Thus, all-electric propulsion devices can be used only for short-range aircraft due to weight limitations for flight; in 2021, there are no aircraft with all-electric propulsion flying regional or longer ranges. Even by the 2030s, it would be difficult to realize single-aisle aircraft with all-electric propulsion and approximately 150 passenger seats.

However, single-aisle aircraft with partial turbo-electric propulsion will be possible in the 2030s, so there are many concepts for developing single-aisle aircraft with partial turbo-electric propulsion by the 2030s. One of the promising single-aisle aircraft with partial turbo-electric propulsion is the STARC-ABL [9]. Figure 1 shows the targeted single-aisle tube- and wing-configuration with attached generators and with a ducted, electrically driven, boundary layer-ingesting tailcone fan. Boundary layer ingestion realizes a high propulsive efficiency ηpro. Here, an electric motor used to drive the tailcone fan must output approximately 2 MW. In addition, this electric motor must be a lightweight and high-power density (= output/mass, W/kg) motor to enable flight. Furthermore, the electric motor must be air-cooled because there is no oil-lubricated gas turbine engine near the tail, unlike cases with attached generators. We have two choices in selecting the electric motor: superconductive motors and normal conductive motors. Although a superconductive motor is extremely lightweight and can operate at a gradually higher temperature than before [10], cryogenic cooling is required, and air cooling is not sufficient. Thus, superconductive motors look promising, but unfortunately, they are still a future technology at this time in the early 2020s. Among normal conductive motors, an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor is presumed to be the best choice because of its simpler structure, higher efficiency, and higher power density.

Fig. 1
Partial turboelectric with boundary layer ingestion by air-cooled IPM motor-driven tailcone fan to achieve higher propulsive efficiency, ηpro
Fig. 1
Partial turboelectric with boundary layer ingestion by air-cooled IPM motor-driven tailcone fan to achieve higher propulsive efficiency, ηpro
Close modal

Here, when the temperature of a permanent magnet exceeds its own maximum temperature limit, its magnetic flux density gradually decreases and does not recover. It is called “thermal demagnetization.” Aircraft fly at a high altitude of 13,000 m (42,650 ft), where the ambient pressure decreases to 16 kPa (2.3 psi) in an intercontinental cruise, and aircraft can take off from an airport in a desert during summer at a high temperature of 50 °C (122 °F). Under any conditions, a reliable design method for thermal management of an air-cooled electric motor is essential to prevent permanent demagnetization.

Many researchers have studied thermal management of electric motors with experimental approaches [11], with numerical approaches [12,13], and with both [14]. These approaches are very important and effective, but they are overly time-consuming for the early design phase; instead, theoretical approaches are very convenient and provide results quickly with changing design parameters.

In early designs of electric motors, thermal analyses using a thermal circuit model were most common, such as in Ref. [15]. On the other hand, in early designs for heat exchangers, several differential equations were formulated for heat balancing with all fluid flows, this system of differential equations was mathematically integrated, and the results (i.e., temperature distributions, heat flow rates, pressure losses, etc.) were obtained as in Refs. [1620]. Tao et al. also applied the latter approach to perform thermal management of entire electric automobiles, including an electric motor, but they used matlab/simulink and amesim to solve this system of differential equations [21].

The authors and colleagues have advanced the latter approach using differential equations to analyze an air-cooled electric IPM motor driving an aviation fan and obtained transient solutions of the mathematical analytical equations instead of numerical solutions [22]; the mathematical analytical equations instantaneously derive the solution values without iterations, unlike numerical solutions. Then, the authors and colleagues obtained steady solutions with numerical time integration of the transient solutions. These solutions can be useful in allowing engineers to design air-cooled IPM motors early in design because steady solutions can be obtained quickly by using Microsoft Excel on a personal computer. Using this method, the authors discussed the capability and limitations of air cooling for the target IPM motor. From the results, the following predictions were made [22]: (1) internal recirculating air and external air should be separated inside and outside of the motor casing so electric parts in the casing also remain safe. (2) The internal air should move heat from the rotor to the outer heat exchanger, the heat exchanger should collect heat from the stator, and the external air should move all heat from the heat exchanger to the surroundings. (3) In the heat exchanger, the external air should flow between a stator and the internal air, and the flow direction of the external air should be opposite that of the internal air. (4) The internal air mass flowrate should be chosen to maintain turbulent internal flow through the heat exchanger. (5) There is the optimum flowrate of the internal air to minimize the rotor temperature. (6) The rotor temperature increases with decreasing internal air mass flowrate below the optimum value. (7) The rotor temperature increases with increasing internal air mass flowrate beyond the optimum value. (8) The rotor and stator temperatures are linearly proportional to the ambient temperature. (9) The rotor temperature increases with decreasing ambient pressure. (10) An increase in altitude causes a decrease in power consumption for both external air and internal air. (11) The most severe condition is the top-of-climb condition, and external and internal air mass flow rates should be chosen to keep the temperature of the permanent magnets below the maximum temperature limit of 100 °C and the temperature of the coils below the maximum temperature limit of 250 °C.

The above predictions were obtained for constant air-cooling channel sizes; however, the authors noticed that the sizes of air-cooling channel strongly affected air-cooling performance in the IPM motor. A designer has several choices for air-cooling channel sizes in the heat exchanger for internal and external air and choices for inner air-cooling channel sizes in the rotor. In this paper, the authors first briefly review the mathematical formulations and their solutions, then investigate the effect of channel size on air-cooling performance in the IPM motor, and finally explore the optimum configuration and settings for the air-cooling channels.

2 Targeted Air-Cooled Electric Motors Driving Aviation Fans

This section describes a targeted air-cooled IPM motor driving an aviation fan. Assumptions used to derive mathematical formulations and their solutions are defined.

2.1 Interior Permanent Magnet Motors Using Normal Conductors.

The IPM motor is an alternating current synchronous electric motor. Figure 2 shows a schematic of the IPM motor. In general, a rotor is located inside a stator with a cylindrical shape. In the rotor, permanent magnets are placed inside a yoke made of a pile of magnetic steel sheets, from which the name “IPM” is derived. Permanent magnets do not require electricity. This method has many merits: there is no Joule heating loss, no electrical wiring, and no brush, and the system features a simple structure. The yoke concentrates its magnetic force on the surface of the rotor. Therefore, the rotor efficiency of the IPM motor is increased, and the rotor can be very compact. In addition, compared with surface permanent magnetic motors, the IPM motor can operate at a higher rotational rate because the permanent magnets are held tight by the yoke against a centrifugal force. Furthermore, the IPM motor rotor rotates synchronously with the frequency of a rotating magnetic field composed of electric coils under a wide range of loads. Thus, the rotation rate is highly controllable.

Fig. 2
Schematic of an air-cooled IPM motor
Fig. 2
Schematic of an air-cooled IPM motor
Close modal

As a permanent magnet, a “neodymium magnet” made of Nd2Fe14B is the best choice because it has the strongest magnetic flux of approximately 1.3 T, which is the value for a mass-produced neodymium magnet. The most advanced neodymium magnet with an EH or VH suffix can be used at a temperature of approximately 200 °C (392 °F), which is given as the catalog value [23]. However, this catalog value corresponds to the maximum allowable temperature when a neodymium magnet is positioned without a magnetic field, but the maximum allowable temperature must be lower to prevent demagnetization when a neodymium magnet is placed in a strong magnetic field such as a rotor in an IPM motor. Therefore, we set the maximum operating temperature of the neodymium magnet to 100 °C based on the experiences of our colleagues. In the rotor, heat is generated by hysteresis loss and eddy-current loss. The generated heat from the hysteresis loss and the eddy-current loss is relatively small compared with the Joule heating loss in the target condition, although these losses depend on operating conditions such as the rotational speed, power, voltage, current, and shape of each component.

In the stator, there are electromagnetic coils and a yoke, and heat is generated by Joule heating loss, hysteresis loss, and eddy-current loss. The Joule heating loss is dominant. To maintain the material health of the thermal insulators, we set the maximum operating temperature of the coils below a temperature of 250 °C (482 °F).

Consequently, more heat is generated in the stator than in the rotor of an IPM motor. Thus, the stator temperature is higher than the rotor temperature in general. In addition, the annular air layer between the rotor and stator is narrow due to electromagnetic performance, and direct heat transfer (DHT) via the annular air layer should count. Thermal barrier coatings on the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the stator are effective in reducing direct heat transfer via the annular air layer.

For a targeted IPM motor, we presume the following factors:

  • Assumption 1. The output of the IPM motor is 2 MW. In a practical flight, the required output of the motor at the top-of-climb could be less than that at the takeoff. However, this design allows pilots to access the maximum output power at the top-of-climb; this constitutes safe redundancy.

  • Assumption 2. The rotational rate is 8000 rpm (i.e., 838 rad/s). In motor-driven fans, the rotation rate could be determined to suit the target thrust and flying velocity different from gas turbine-driven fans; thus, the rotation rate at the maximum output power was selected.

  • Assumption 3. The outer diameter of the rotor, dRL, is 0.25 m, the outer diameter of the permanent magnets, dPML, is 0.245 m, the inner diameter of the permanent magnets, dPMM, is 0.20 m, the inner diameter, dRM, of the rotor's yoke is 0.15 m, and the shaft diameter, dA, is 0.10 m. The yoke of the rotor is made of magnetic steel, and its thermal conductivity, λsteel, is 50 W/(m·K). A thermal barrier coating (TBC) with a thickness, δTBC,R, of 0.0005 m is placed on the outer surface of the rotor, a TBC with a thickness, δTBC,S, of 0.0005 m is placed on the inner surfaces of the stator, and their thermal conductivities, λTBC,S and λTBC,R, are 0.025 W/(m·K).

  • Assumption 4. An air layer with a thickness, δAir, of 0.001 m is between the TBCs. The inner diameter of the stator, dSM, is dRL + 2(δTBC,R + δAir + δTBC,S), the outer diameter of the coils' section, dSCL, is 0.30 m, and the outer diameter of the stator's yoke, dSL, is 0.40 m. The length of both the stator and rotor, , is 0.50 m. The yoke of the stator is made of magnetic steel with λsteel of 50 W/(m·K).

  • Assumption 5. A heat exchanger is placed outside of the stator, which has a two-story structure. External air flows through the channels on the floor closer to the stator, and internal air flows through the channels on the floor farther from the stator. Both channels of the heat exchanger, for internal and external air, have square shapes of a × b mm2, and the number of channels is n. The channels are made of aluminum alloy, and the thermal conductivity of the heat exchanger, λAl, is 200 W/(m·K). The thickness, δf, of the floor of the heat exchanger attached on the outer surface of the stator is 0.005 m, and the thickness, δb, of the bulkhead between the external and internal air of the heat exchanger is 0.0005 m.

  • Assumption 6. The efficiency is 99% or higher, so the rotor produces a heat rate, QR, of 1 kW and the stator produces a heat rate, QS, of 15 kW. These values were derived by electromagnetic analyses corresponding to the maximum output and the worst case scenario. Other cases indicated lesser values of QR and QS even when the efficiency decreased because the output decreased more. With direct heat transfer, QS→R, from the stator via the annular air layer to the rotor, cooling air flows should remove QR + QS→R from the rotor, and cooling air flows should remove QS − QS→R from the stator.

  • Assumption 7. The temperature of the rotor embedding permanent magnets never exceeds 100 °C, and the temperature of the stator does not exceed 250 °C.

2.2 Air-Cooling Configuration Schemes for Interior Permanent Magnet Motors.

The rotor is isolated from the motor casing, so internal air should cool the rotor. The outer shape of the rotor is fully cylindrical in a fixed stator. Many conventional motors undergo air cooling, in which air flow between the rotor and the stator cools the rotor. Such configurations that flow onto the outer surface of the rotor are Taylor–Couette or Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flows [24]. However, there are several problems, which are described below.

Problem 1: The cylindrical channel between the rotor and stator is generally narrow to ensure electromagnetic performance; thus, the pressure loss is relatively large, and it is difficult to achieve a sufficiently large mass flowrate for the internal air flow through the cylindrical channel. A motor driving an aviation fan should have a small aspect ratio of its diameter/length to keep an airflow channel downstream of the fan; thus, the temperature of the internal air gradually increases in the axial direction until it reaches the rotor temperature, which occurs at the halfway point along the axial direction. At this point and beyond, the internal air does not cool the rotor because the air temperature is the same or higher than the rotor temperature.

Problem 2: In the targeted IPM motors, the stator generates heat, QS, larger than the heat, QR, generated by the rotor; thus, the temperature on the inner surface of the stator may be larger than the temperature on the outer surface of the rotor. In this case, the internal air no longer cools the rotor.

Instead, the inner surface of the rotor is useful in cooling, and the authors presume this air-cooling method for the rotor. The authors determined which air-cooling configuration is best for an IPM motor in a previous paper [22]. Based on these results, the air-cooling configuration shown in Fig. 3 is best; first, internal recirculating air moves heat from the rotor to the heat exchanger attached outside of the stator, then the heat exchanger collects heat from the stator; next, the heat exchanger moves all heat to the external air, and finally, the external air moves all heat to the surroundings.

Fig. 3
Air-cooling schemes of IPM motors that drive aviation fans: (a) air-cooling scheme of the target IPM motor and (b) heat-transfer diagram of the target IPM motor
Fig. 3
Air-cooling schemes of IPM motors that drive aviation fans: (a) air-cooling scheme of the target IPM motor and (b) heat-transfer diagram of the target IPM motor
Close modal

2.3 Air Physical Properties at an Arbitrary Temperature and Pressure.

Aircraft operate in all places across the Earth and must continue to operate even in severe conditions, such as in taking off from a desert in summer, which corresponds to an inlet temperature of 50 °C, or cruising at a high altitude of 13,000 m, where the air pressure is 16 kPa.

In this article, we presume that air is a perfect gas with a molar mass mmol of 28.8 × 10−3 kg/mol and a specific heat ratio of 1.4. In the pressure range 16–110 kPa (corresponding to an altitude range of 0–13,000 m) at which almost all civil aircraft operate, the effects of pressure on viscosity and thermal conductivity are negligible, so viscosity μair (Pa·s) and thermal conductivity λair (W/(m K)) are estimated with Sutherland's equations [25]. Additionally, we presume that air is incompressible over each air channel in the rotor or heat exchanger; namely, the physical properties of air are the same as values at the inlet of each air channel, and thus we presume:

  • Assumption 8. For internal air, the inlet pressure to the rotor is kept at ambient pressure. The outlet pressure from the rotor (corresponding to the inlet pressure to the internal compressor) is less than the ambient pressure due to pressure loss. The internal compressor compresses the internal air, and the outlet pressure from the internal compressor (corresponding to the inlet pressure to the heat exchanger) is the highest pressure in the system. The outlet pressure from the heat exchanger (corresponding to the inlet pressure to the rotor) returns to the ambient pressure.

  • Assumption 9. The fan and external compressor compress the external air, and the outlet pressure from the external compressor (corresponding to the inlet pressure to the heat exchanger) reaches the highest pressure. The outlet pressure from the heat exchanger decreases to ambient pressure due to pressure loss by the heat exchanger.

3 Mathematical Analytical Solutions for Temperatures of the Air-Cooled Interior Permanent Magnet Motor

This section derives the mathematical formulations for each heat-transfer process in the air-cooled IPM motor.

3.1 Direct Heat Transfer From the Stator Coils to the Rotor Permanent Magnets Via the Annular Air Layer.

Direct heat transfer, from the hot coils in the stator, via the inner surface of the stator, the thermal barrier coatings on the inner surface of the stator, the annular air layer, the thermal barrier coatings on the outer surface of the rotor, the outer surface of the rotor, and the electromagnetic steel to the cold permanent magnets in the rotor cannot be ignored. The heat transfer consists of conduction, convection, and radiation. In cases of the target temperature range, the effect of the radiation is less than the conduction and convection (see Appendix A1); here, the direct heat transfer by the conduction and convection is estimated.

First, the coefficient for heat transfer through the annular air layer between the stator coating and the rotor coating is estimated. Tachibana and Fukui performed extensive experiments on convective (including conductive) heat transfer between a stationary outer cylinder and a rotating coaxial inner cylinder [26]. They derived a correlation between Taylor number Ta and clearance Nusselt number NuCL
(1)
(2)
where ρair and μair are the density and viscosity of air, respectively, which are the average values of TS and TR. ωR is the rotational rate of the rotor, and δC is the difference in diameter between coaxial cylinders of dSM − 2δTBC,S − 2δTBC,R − dRL. NuCL is defined as
(3)

where λair is the thermal conductivity at the average temperature of TS and TR. Kair is the coefficient for overall heat transfer via the annular air layer between two thermal barrier coatings. Kair is defined at dRL + 2δTBC,R of the outer surface of the rotor coating.

Second, the coefficient for overall heat transfer KSR from the coils, via the thermal barrier coating, the annular air layer, the thermal barrier coating, and the yoke, to the permanent magnet is estimated. KSR is defined at dRL of the outer surface of the rotor
(4)
Thus, the rate of heat flow QSR between the coils and the permanent magnets is
(5)

3.2 Heat Transfer Between the Internal Air and the Rotor.

The rotor and shaft are mechanically connected, so they both rotate at the same rate ω (rad/s), as shown in Fig. 4. The rotor generates heat of QR (W), and the direct heat QS→R is added; the internal air recirculating in a motor case removes all heat via the inner surface of the rotor. This type of heat transfer was experimentally investigated by Seghir-Ouali et al. [27].

Fig. 4
Convective heat transfer between a rotating cylinder inner surface of the rotor and the internal air flowing axially inside the rotor
Fig. 4
Convective heat transfer between a rotating cylinder inner surface of the rotor and the internal air flowing axially inside the rotor
Close modal
The peripheral length contacting the internal air with the rotor PIR (m) normal to the axis is
(6)

where dRM (m) is the diameter of the inner surface of the rotor.

The axial velocity UA through the rotor and tangential velocity UR of the inner surface of the rotor are
(7)

where ω (rad/s) and X (rpm) are rotational rates of the rotor.

The axial Reynolds number ReA and the rotational Reynolds number ReR of the internal air through the rotor are
(8)
In cases of flows dominated by rotating flow compared with axial flow (2.77 × 105 ≤ ReR), the experimental correlation between Nusselt and rotational Reynolds numbers proposed in Ref. [27] is
(9)
In cases of flows affected by both axial flow and rotating flow (1.6 × 103 < ReR < 2.77 × 105 and 0 < ReR < 3 × 104), another experimental correlation was proposed in Ref. [27]
(10)
The heat transfer coefficient hR is
(11)
where λIR (W/(m K)) is the thermal conductivity of the internal air. KR is the coefficient for overall heat transfer via the yoke and heat resistance on the inner surface of the rotor because the permanent magnets are placed inside the yoke. KR is defined at dRM of the inner surface of the rotor
(12)
Figure 5 shows the temperature distribution in the axial direction through the rotor. The rotor is composed of magnetic steel sheets; thus, the thermal conductivity in the axial direction is much greater than that in air, and the temperature of the rotor can be presumed to be constant in the axial direction at TR,t (K). On the other hand, the temperature TIRx (K) of the internal air is increased by heat received from the inner surface of the rotor. At position x (m) in the axial direction from the inlet of the rotor, the local heat flux qIRx (W/m2) for an infinitesimal region in the axial direction with a length of dx (m) is
(13)
where Cp (J/(kg K)) is the specific heat of the internal air. Then
(14)
Fig. 5
Schematic of temperature distributions in the axial direction through the rotor
Fig. 5
Schematic of temperature distributions in the axial direction through the rotor
Close modal
Integrating both sides gives
(15)
where c0 is an integration constant. By applying the boundary condition TIRx = TIRin at x =0
(16)
Then, another boundary condition TIRx = TIRout is applied at x = R; finally, the outlet temperature TIRout of the internal air is solved analytically
(17)
Next, the energy balance of the internal air through the rotor is considered
(18)
In addition, the energy balance of the rotor is considered
(19)

where mR (kg) is the mass of the rotor, CP,R (J/(kg·K)) is the specific heat of the rotor, and TR,t (K) is the temperature of the permanent magnets at time t (s). TR,t can be calculated over time; thus

  • Case 1: In cases of QR + QS→R > QI←R, TR,t increases with time.

  • Case 2: In cases of QR + QS→R < QI←R, TR,t decreases with time.

  • Case 3: In cases of QR + QS→R = QI←R, TR,t is steady.

3.3 Heat Transfer Among the Stator, External Air, and Internal Air in the Heat Exchanger Attached Outside of the Stator.

Figure 6 shows a schematic for the configuration with a stator-external air-internal air heat exchanger. This heat exchanger is directly attached on the outer surface of the stator yoke. This heat exchanger consists of two-story structures: channels for the external air are located on the floor closer to the stator, and channels for the internal air are located further away on the floor. The stator generates heat of QS (W), and the direct heat of QS→R is subtracted. Solid structures of the stator yoke and the heat exchanger directly conduct heat generated by the stator to the external air from the bottom side. At the same time, the bulkhead of the heat exchanger passes heat from the internal air to the external air from the top side.

Fig. 6
Configurations of the stator-external air-internal air heat exchanger outside of the stator
Fig. 6
Configurations of the stator-external air-internal air heat exchanger outside of the stator
Close modal
The axial velocities VI and VE of internal and external air passing through the heat exchanger are
(20)

where m˙I and m˙E (kg/s) are mass flow rates, ρI and ρE (m3/kg) are densities, nI and nE (m) are the numbers of channels, aI and aE are the heights, and bI and bE (m) are widths of the internal and external air channel, respectively.

Hydraulic diameters dI and dE (m) are
(21)
where SI and SE (m2) are the cross section and PI and PE (m) are the peripheral lengths of the internal and external air channel, respectively. Pipe Reynolds numbers ReP,I and ReP,E of the internal and external air through each channel in the heat exchanger are
(22)
Prandtl numbers PrI and PrE of the internal and external air passing through each air channel in the heat exchanger are
(23)
The pipe Nusselt number NuP,I of the internal air with fully developed temperature fields in laminar flow (ReP,I < 3000) or turbulent flow (3000 ≤ ReP,I < 107) in a pipe with a constant wall temperature is
(24)
(25)
The pipe Nusselt number NuP,E of the external air is
(26)
(27)
Heat transfer coefficients hI and hE are
(28)
where λI and λE (W/(m K)) are the thermal conductivities of the internal and external air, respectively. The heat transfer coefficient between the stator and the external air is hE, and the overall heat transfer coefficient between the external air and the coil via the yoke is KS (W/(m2 K)). Here, KS is defined at dSL + 2δF for the floor closer to the stator of the heat exchanger
(29)
The coefficient for overall heat transfer between the internal air and the external air via the bulkhead, KB (W/(m2 K)), is
(30)

where δB (m) is the thickness and λAl (W/(m K)) is the thermal conductivity of the bulkhead between the internal and external air.

Figure 7 shows a schematic for temperature distributions in the axial direction through this stator-external air-internal air heat exchanger. At position x (m) in the axial direction from the left end of the heat exchanger, for an infinitesimal region in the axial direction with a length of dx (m), local heat flux dqSEx (W/m) is exchanged between the stator and the external air, and local heat flux dqIEx (W/m) is exchanged between the internal air and the external air. The coils are made of copper; thus, the thermal conductivity in the axial direction is much greater than that in air, and the temperature of the heat exchanger can be presumed to be constant in the axial direction at TS,t (K). The internal air flows in the opposite direction against the external air flow because this configuration increases the heat exchange efficiency. Namely, the internal air flows from the right end to the left end in Fig. 7. The temperature TIx (K) of the internal air decreases as heat dqIEx is released to the external air via the bulkhead. On the other hand, the external air receives dqSEx from the stator and dqIEx from the internal air via the bulkhead at the same time. Thus, the temperature TEx (K) of the external air increases. Based on these characteristics, the energy balances of the internal and external air are
(31)
(32)
Fig. 7
Schematic of temperature distributions in the axial direction through the “stator-external air-internal air” heat exchanger
Fig. 7
Schematic of temperature distributions in the axial direction through the “stator-external air-internal air” heat exchanger
Close modal
These equations are simultaneously solved for TEx and TIx; thus, we apply boundary conditions of TI0 = TIout and TE0 = TEin at x =0 and TIℓR = TIin and TEℓR = TEout at x = R (see Ref. [22] for details). Then, the analytical solutions are obtained from [22]
(33)
(34)
where the combined variables are
(35)
Here, energy balance among the internal air, the external air, and the stator are considered. The exchange heat QI→E transferred from internal to external air is equal and opposite to the heat QI received by the internal air; thus
(36)
The sum of the exchange heat QI→E and exchange heat QS→E from the stator to external air equals the heat QE received by the external air; thus
(37)
The sum of the exchanged heat QS→E and heat generation rate QS in the stator changes the stator temperature TS,t; thus
(38)

where mS (kg) is the mass of the stator, CP,S (J/(kg K)) is the specific heat of the stator, and TS,t (K) is the temperature of the coils at time t (s). Therefore, TS,t can be calculated over time, so

  • Case 1: In cases of QS − QS→R > QI + QE, TS,t increases with time.

  • Case 2: In cases of QS − QS→R < QI + QE, TS,t decreases with time.

  • Case 3: In cases of QS − QS→R = QI + QE, TS,t is steady.

4 Pressure Loss and Power Consumption of Cooling Air in the Air-Cooled Interior Permanent Magnet Motor

This section estimates the pressure difference for each air-cooling channel contained in the targeted air-cooled IPM motor.

4.1 Pressure Loss and Power Consumption of Internal Air Passing Through the Rotor.

As mentioned in Sec. 3.2 and as shown in Fig. 4, the rotor and shaft are mechanically connected, and they rotate at the same rate. Here, pressure loss through the rotor is considered. Yamada and Watanabe performed extensive experiments with this kind of flow, and they evaluated the pressure loss coefficient fIR with coaxial Reynolds number ReC and rotational Reynolds number ReR [28]. The definition of ReR is the same as in Eq. (8), but coaxial Reynolds number Red,C is newly defined. Here, the inner diameter of the rotor is dRM, the outer diameter of the shaft is dA, and the difference between dRM and dA is δC. By considering a hydraulic diameter dC (m) of the channel between the coaxial cylinders
(39)
where S (m2) is the cross section of the channel and P (m) is the peripheral length of the channel. Namely, the hydraulic diameter dC of the channel between the coaxial cylinders equals the difference δC between dRM and dA. Thus, the coaxial Reynolds number ReC for the internal air passing through the rotor is
(40)
Yamada and Watanabe mentioned that fIR is almost the same as fIR for no rotation even in laminar and turbulent flows in cases where ReC is not very small and both cylinders rotate at the same rate [28]. Therefore, the pressure loss coefficient fIR is
(41)
for laminar flows, and
(42)

for turbulent flows.

Yamada and Watanabe also mentioned that a transient ReC changes with ReR as laminar flow changes to turbulent flow [28]; however, we presume laminar flows in cases of 0 < ReC < 2000 and turbulent flows in cases of 2000 ≤ ReC based on experimental results reported by Yamada and Watanabe [28]. Here, the total pressure loss ΔplossIR (Pa) is
(43)

4.2 Pressure Loss and Power Consumption of the Internal and External Air Passing Through the Heat Exchanger Attached Outside of the Stator.

As shown in Fig. 6, the channels for internal air and external air are rectangular with a height of a and width of b; thus, hydraulic diameters dI and dE and pipe Reynolds numbers ReP,I and ReP,E were defined in Eq. (22). The total pressure loss is estimated with the Hargen–Poiseuille and Blasius equations in association with the Darcy–Weisbach equation.

Pressure loss coefficients fI and fE are
(44)
for laminar flows (ReP,I < 3000 or ReP,E < 3000), and
(45)

for turbulent flows (3000 ≤ ReP,I or 3000 ≤ ReP,E).

Total pressure losses ΔplossIH and ΔplossEH (Pa) are
(46)

4.3 Effect on the Energy Balance of Power Consumption by Compressors for Internal and External Air.

As shown in Fig. 3, a fan and external compressor force the external air through the heat exchanger with power consumption WE
(47)
where ρEin is the density at the fan inlet and ηcompE is the adiabatic efficiency of the fan and external compressor. Power WE increases the temperature TEin at the inlet of the heat exchanger
(48)
As shown in Fig. 3, another internal compressor recirculates the internal air. The power WI consumed to force the internal air through the rotor and the heat exchanger is
(49)
where ρIRout is the density at the inlet of the internal compressor and ηcompI is the adiabatic efficiency of the internal compressor. Power WI increases the temperature TIin at the inlet of the heat exchanger and also increases the heat QI→E exchanged from the internal to external air because this power WI is ultimately converted into heat; thus
(50)
(51)

Equation (51) indicates that the power consumption WI affects the rotor temperature TR.

5 Effect of Direct Heat Transfer and Heat Resistance on Air-Cooling Performance

This section evaluates the current model used to consider direct heat transfer from the coils to permanent magnets and heat resistance in the stator and rotor compared with those of the conventional model described in Ref. [22]. Validation of the current model is described in Appendix A2.

5.1 Difference Between the Current Model and the Authors' Conventional Model.

To obtain mathematical analytical solutions that maintain the maximum temperature limits for permanent magnets in the rotor and coils in the stator, the authors and colleagues introduced a mathematical model that describes heat transfer inside the targeted air-cooled IPM motor [22]. The solutions indicated many characteristics and provided considerable knowledge regarding the targeted IPM motor under severe operational conditions, such as top-of-climb.

However, as shown in Table 1, the temperature in the entire rotor at the permanent magnets and the inner heat-transfer surface were assumed to be constant in the conventional model. The temperature over the entire stator at the coils and the outer heat-transfer surface were also assumed to be constant. In practical situations, temperatures at the permanent magnets and coils must be higher than that in the isothermal stator and rotor because both the rotor and stator have internal heat resistance. In addition, in the model in Ref. [22], the rate of direct heat transfer from the stator coils via the annular air layer to the rotor permanent magnets was implied for the constant heat generated from the stator and rotor. In practical situations, the rate of direct heat transfer must be altered based on the temperature difference between the coils and permanent magnets.

Table 1

Characteristics of models used to estimate air-cooling performance for the targeted IPM motor

PhysicsCurrent modelConventional model in Ref. [22]
Heat resistance of electromagnetic steel between the rotor inner surface and the permanent magnets when calculating the heat exchange rate between the permanent magnets and the internal airConsideredNot considered
Heat resistance of electromagnetic steel and aluminum between the coils and the air channel surfaces of the heat exchanger when calculating the heat exchange rate between the coils and the external airConsideredNot considered
DHT between the coils and the permanent magnets in the rotorConsideredNot considered
Heat resistance of the thermal barrier coating on the stator inner surface when calculating DHTConsideredNot considered
Heat resistance of the thermal barrier coating on the rotor outer surface when calculating DHTConsideredNot considered
PhysicsCurrent modelConventional model in Ref. [22]
Heat resistance of electromagnetic steel between the rotor inner surface and the permanent magnets when calculating the heat exchange rate between the permanent magnets and the internal airConsideredNot considered
Heat resistance of electromagnetic steel and aluminum between the coils and the air channel surfaces of the heat exchanger when calculating the heat exchange rate between the coils and the external airConsideredNot considered
DHT between the coils and the permanent magnets in the rotorConsideredNot considered
Heat resistance of the thermal barrier coating on the stator inner surface when calculating DHTConsideredNot considered
Heat resistance of the thermal barrier coating on the rotor outer surface when calculating DHTConsideredNot considered

Instead, in this paper, the authors introduce Eqs. (12) and (29) to describe the internal heat resistance in the rotor and stator and Eqs. (1)(5) to describe the variable rate for direct heat transfer based on the temperature difference between the coils and permanent magnets.

5.2 Effect of the Air Mass Flow Rate on Temperatures of the Permanent Magnet and Coil.

Figure 8 compares the results estimated with the current model (solid curves) and with the conventional model (dashed curves). The left figures show the temperature changes in permanent magnets TR (in blue) and coils TS (in red) with changes in the mass flowrate of a focused air flow in the horizontal axis, and the right figure shows the power consumption needed to drive the external air WE (in green) and the internal air WI (in orange) corresponding to TR in the vertical axis. Refer to Ref. [22], where the detailed tendencies were explained. Differences between the results of the current model and the conventional model are considered in Sec. 5.

Fig. 8
Permanent magnets and coil temperature as well as power consumption with changing air mass flow rates estimated with the conventional model and the current model (dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm): (a) cases with a constant external air mass flow rate m˙E of 1.4 kg/s and (b) cases with a constant internal air mass flow rate m˙I of 0.28 kg/s
Fig. 8
Permanent magnets and coil temperature as well as power consumption with changing air mass flow rates estimated with the conventional model and the current model (dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm): (a) cases with a constant external air mass flow rate m˙E of 1.4 kg/s and (b) cases with a constant internal air mass flow rate m˙I of 0.28 kg/s
Close modal

Figure 8(a) shows the results for cases with a constant external air mass flowrate of 1.4 kg/s. The coil temperature TS (red solid curve) estimated by the current model is higher than the TS (red dashed curve) estimated by the conventional model because of heat resistance from the coils to the external air via the magnetic steel and the heat exchanger. In the region where m˙I0.07 kg/s (solid curve) or m˙I0.045 kg/s (dashed curve), the internal air flow is turbulent in the heat exchanger, and heat is exchanged well. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the inlet temperature TIRin of the rotor sufficiently decreased, and the permanent magnets were well cooled, so TR was always lower than TS. Instead, in the region where m˙I<0.07 kg/s (solid curve) or m˙I<0.045 kg/s (dashed curve), the internal air flow is laminar in the heat exchanger, and heat is not exchanged sufficiently. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the inlet temperature TIRin of the rotor is relatively high, and the permanent magnets are not sufficiently cooled, so TR has a gap within this region of m˙I.

Direct heat transfer QS→R flows from the hotter part to the colder part. In the turbulent region of m˙I, the coil temperature TS is higher than the permanent magnet temperature TR; thus, QS→R is positive, and the temperature difference of TS (red solid curve) − TR (blue solid curve) estimated by the current model is greater than that of TS (red dashed curve) − TR (blue dashed curve) estimated by the conventional model. On the other hand, in the laminar region of m˙I, the coil temperature TS is lower than the permanent magnet temperature TR; thus, QS→R is negative, and the temperature difference of TR (blue solid curve) − TS (red solid curve) estimated by the current model is smaller than that of TR (blue dashed curve) − TS (red dashed curve) estimated by the conventional model.

An increase in m˙I causes a decrease in the permanent magnet temperature TR in a smaller m˙I region because the pipe Reynolds number ReP,I and Nusselt number NuP,I increase and the internal air is cooled better through the heat exchanger. Then, in a larger m˙I region, an increase in m˙I causes a rebound in the permanent magnet temperature TR because the pressure loss used to recirculate the internal flow increases and the power consumption WI increases. WI is finally converted into heat in the internal air, and this heat should be transferred from the internal air to the external air. Therefore, the permanent magnet temperature TR gradually increases.

Figure 8(b) shows the results for cases with a constant internal air mass flowrate of 0.28 kg/s. Under this condition, the flow of internal air through the heat exchanger is always turbulent so the coil temperature TS is higher than the permanent magnet temperature TR; thus, QS→R is positive, and TS (red solid curve) estimated by the current model is higher than TS (red dashed curve) estimated by the conventional model.

Although the internal air mass flowrate m˙I is constant, the power WI (orange curves) consumed by the internal air decreases with increasing m˙E (corresponding to decreasing TR). This is because an increase in m˙E causes a decrease in the temperature of the entire system; thus, the internal air is cooled better, its density increases, its velocity decreases and WI decreases.

5.3 Effect of Ambient Temperature on Air-Cooling Performance.

Figure 9 shows the effect of the ambient temperature Tamb on air-cooling performance, i.e., the results for TR (light gray curves) and TS (dark gray curves) and the power consumed by internal air flow WI (light gray curves) and external air flow WE (dark gray curves) with Tamb in the case of constant volume flow rates V˙E of 1.4 m3/s and V˙I of 0.32 m3/s, which correspond to m˙E = 1.7 kg/s and m˙I = 0.34 kg/s at the ambient temperature Tamb of 15 °C and the ambient pressure pamb of 101.3 kPa. The reason why volume flow rates V˙E and V˙I are fixed is that a compressor operating at a constant rotational rate generally discharges a constant volume flowrate when the inlet temperature and pressure change. For practical flight, the temperature at takeoff has a wide range, from −40 °C (at an airport in a polar region in winter) to 50 °C (at an airport in a desert region in summer), so we estimate TR and TS in this temperature range. As expected, a higher Tamb results in higher TR and TS. Both TR and TS are linearly proportional to Tamb.

Fig. 9
Permanent magnets and coil temperature, and power consumption with changing ambient temperature estimated by conventional model and current model (pamb = 101.325 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 9
Permanent magnets and coil temperature, and power consumption with changing ambient temperature estimated by conventional model and current model (pamb = 101.325 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

5.4 Effect of Ambient Pressure on Air-Cooling Performance.

Figure 10 shows the effects of ambient pressure pamb on TR, TS, WE, and WI in the case of constant V˙E and V˙I. Civilian aircraft usually fly at altitudes ranging within 0 m and 13,000 m, so ambient pressures pamb range between 101.3 kPa and 16 kPa based on the ISA. We estimate TR and TS in this pressure range at a constant temperature of 15 °C because we first want to know the effect of pressure alone on air-cooling performance.

Fig. 10
Permanent magnets and coil temperature, and power consumption with changing ambient pressure estimated by the conventional and current models (Tamb = 15 °C, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 10
Permanent magnets and coil temperature, and power consumption with changing ambient pressure estimated by the conventional and current models (Tamb = 15 °C, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

TS increases with decreasing pamb because ρE decreases and m˙E decreases at a constant volume flowrate V˙E of 1.4 m3/s.

TR increases with decreasing pamb. This is because the density ρIR, rotating Reynolds number ReR in Eq. (8), and pipe Nusselt number NuP,R in Eq. (9) between the rotor and the internal air decrease. This is also because the density ρI, pipe Reynolds number ReP,I in Eq. (22), and pipe Nusselt number NuP,I in Eq. (25) of the internal air passing through the heat exchanger decrease. When pamb values are between 56 kPa and 54 kPa, the flow of the internal air through the rotor is switched from the rotation-dominant flow to the rotation-inertia-affected flow. Thus, NuP,R is switched from in Eq. (9) to in Eq. (10), and there is a gap in TR when pamb values are between 56 kPa and 54 kPa. In addition, when pamb values are between 28 kPa and 26 kPa, the flow of the internal air through the heat exchanger is switched from turbulent flow to laminar flow. Thus, NuP,I is switched from in Eq. (25) to in Eq. (24), and there is a gap in TR when pamb values are between 28 kPa and 26 kPa.

Here, we consider the effect of pressure pamb on power consumption WE. Power consumption WE is proportional to pressure loss ΔplossEH. From Eq. (46), ΔplossEH is proportional to ρEfE. From Eq. (44), fE is inversely proportional to ReP,E in a laminar flow, and from Eq. (45), fE is inversely proportional to ReP,E to the power of 1/4 in a turbulent flow. From Eq. (22), ReP,E is proportional to m˙E, and m˙E is proportional to ρE because of the constant volume flowrate V˙E. From air characteristics, the density ρE is proportional to pamb under a constant temperature. Consequently, WE is almost independent of pamb in a laminar flow region, and WE is almost proportional to pamb to the power of 3/4 in a turbulent flow under a constant volume flowrate V˙E. WI also has the same tendency.

5.5 Effect of Altitude on Air-Cooling Performance.

During a practical flight, when aircraft fly near ground level, the temperature and pressure are high, while at high altitudes, the temperature and pressure are low. Low temperature is a positive factor, as shown in Fig. 9, and low pressure is a negative factor, as shown in Fig. 10; namely, positive and negative effects arising with increasing altitude cancel each other. Therefore, we elucidated the effects of altitude by using ISA data for temperature and pressure at each altitude. The ISA determines the standard temperature and pressure as follows:
(52)

Figure 11 shows results for TEin (gray dashed dotted curve), pEin (dashed double-dotted curve), TR (light gray curves), TS (dark gray curves), the power consumption of the internal air flow WI (light gray curves) and the external air flow WE (dark gray curves) with changing altitude under conditions based on ISA standard air in the case with a V˙E of 1.4 m3/s and a V˙I of 0.32 m3/s. Tamb decreases by 6.5 °C/1,000 m below A =11,000 m, but Tamb becomes constant at −56.5 °C above A =11,000 m. pamb gradually decreases with increasing A.

Fig. 11
Temperatures of permanent magnets and coils as well as power consumption with changing altitude estimated by the conventional model and current model (Tamb and pamb by ISA, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 11
Temperatures of permanent magnets and coils as well as power consumption with changing altitude estimated by the conventional model and current model (Tamb and pamb by ISA, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE = 10 mm, aI = bI = 10 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

TS is affected by both Tamb and pamb. The effect of Tamb prevails over the effect of pamb until approximately A =2,000 m; thus, TS gradually decreases. TS rebounds beyond that point because the effect of pamb gradually prevails over the effect of Tamb with increasing A. Above A =11,000 m, only the effect of pEout operates, and TS rapidly increases.

TR also has the same tendency as TS, although TR has the minimum value at approximately A =6,500 m. There is a gap in TR when A values are between 6,250 m and 6,500 m because the flow of the internal air through the rotor is the rotation-dominant flow at A less than 6,250 m, but it is the rotation-inertia-affected flow at A greater than 6,500 m. There is another gap in TR when A values are between 11,250 m and 11,500 m because the flow of the internal air through the heat exchanger is turbulent at A less than 11,250 m, but it is laminar at A greater than 11,500 m.

Decreasing TEin increases the external air density ρE, and decreasing pEin decreases ρE. With increasing altitude, the pressure effect prevails over the temperature effect; thus, ρE, m˙E, and WE decrease with increasing altitude A at a constant V˙E. As with ρE, the internal air density ρI, m˙I, and WI decrease with increasing altitude A for a constant V˙I.

Civilian aircraft usually fly within an altitude range of 0 m to 13,000 m, so the most severe condition is at A =13,000 m in Fig. 11. Although this result does not satisfy the maximum temperature limit of 100 °C for the permanent magnets, it was found that the top-of-climb condition was the most severe, which derives the highest temperatures of permanent magnets and coils.

6 Effect of Air-Cooling Channel Sizes on Air-Cooling Performance for the Top-of-Climb Condition

This section optimizes the sizes of air-cooling channels to reach the minimum value of the sum of power consumption of the external and internal air flows with a setting that keeps permanent magnet temperatures below the maximum temperature limit of 100 °C and coil temperatures below the maximum temperature limit of 250 °C.

6.1 Effect of Clearance Between Rotor and Shaft.

As shown in Fig. 4, there is an annular air layer between the inner surface of the rotor and the outer surface of the shaft. Figure 12 shows the coil temperature TS and permanent magnet temperature TR as a function of changing rotor inner diameter dR. There is a gap in TR when the dR values are between 0.11 m and 0.1125 m. Decreasing dR increases the pressure loss through the rotor, increases WI, increases the inlet temperature of the heat exchanger TIin, decreases ρIin, decreases ReP,I, and switches the internal air flow through the heat exchanger from turbulent to laminar at a dR of 0.11 m. A much larger dR (beyond the range of Fig. 12) would switch the internal air flow through the rotor from the rotation-inertia-affected flow to the rotation-dominant flow, and another gap in TR would appear.

Fig. 12
Effect of rotor inner diameter on temperatures of permanent magnets and coil (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 12
Effect of rotor inner diameter on temperatures of permanent magnets and coil (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

6.2 Effect of Clearance Between Rotor and Stator.

There is an annular air layer in the clearance space between the rotor and stator. The thickness of the annular air layer affects the rate of direct heat transfer between the hotter coils and the colder permanent magnets, and thus, a larger thickness of the annular air layer is preferable for decreasing the direct heat transfer rate in general. On the other hand, a smaller thickness of the annular air layer is preferable for strengthening the electromagnetic force. This paradox may be resolved by applying thermal barrier coatings on the inner surface of the stator and the outer surface of the rotor. Figure 13 shows the effects of the thickness of each thermal barrier coating on the direct heat transfer rate QS→R, the permanent magnet temperature TR, and the coil temperature TS when the total thickness of three layers, the annular air layer and two thermal barrier coating layers, is constant. Increasing the thickness of each thermal barrier coating drastically reduces QS→R and slightly decreases TR.

Fig. 13
Effect of the thermal barrier coating thickness on temperatures of permanent magnets and coils as well as the direct heat transfer rate from coils to permanent magnets (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 13
Effect of the thermal barrier coating thickness on temperatures of permanent magnets and coils as well as the direct heat transfer rate from coils to permanent magnets (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

In Fig. 14, the effect of the annular air layer thickness is evaluated for the case with a constant thickness for each thermal barrier coating layer. Changing the thickness of the annular air layer has little effect on QS→R, TS and TR. This is because the heat resistance of the thermal barrier coating layers is much larger than that of the annular air layer; thus, the overall heat transfer coefficient between the coils and permanent magnets KS→R is almost decided by the values of the heat resistances λTBC,S/δTBC,S and λTBC,R/δTBC,R in Eq. (4).

Fig. 14
Effect of the air-layer thickness on temperatures of permanent magnets and coils as well as the direct heat transfer rate from coils to permanent magnets (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 14
Effect of the air-layer thickness on temperatures of permanent magnets and coils as well as the direct heat transfer rate from coils to permanent magnets (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

6.3 Effect of the External-Air-Channel Height and Width of the Heat Exchanger.

Figure 15 shows the coil temperature TS, the permanent magnet temperature TR, the power consumption by the compressors to drive internal air flow WI and external air flow WE with changing external-air-channel sizes aE = bE and the same volume flow rates V˙E = 1.4 m3/s and V˙I = 0.32 m3/s. In this figure, aE and bE change together and maintain the same value. In a range of smaller values aE = bE, decreasing the values of aE = bE causes a larger pressure loss because of a faster VE; thus, WE increases. At the same time, to compress the external air to resist the larger pressure loss, the external-air inlet temperature of the heat exchanger TEin is larger due to adiabatic compression at the fan and the external compressor, and thus, it raises TEin and TS, resulting in a higher internal-air temperature and a higher TR. When aE = bE is less than 0.004 m, TIin is sufficiently high, and a high TIin causes a small density ρIin and a small ReP,I; thus, the internal flow converts to laminar flow, and there is a gap in TR when aE = bE is 0.004 m. Instead, in a range with larger values of aE = bE, increasing the values of aE and bE results in a higher TS and TR because of a smaller Reynolds number ReP,E in Eq. (22); thus, the external air flow removes less heat through the heat exchanger. Therefore, it causes a higher TS, a higher internal-air temperature, and a higher TR. Here, the pressure losses of the external air decrease because of a slower VE in Eq. (46); thus, a smaller WE is achieved. When aE = bE is greater than 0.0185 m, ReP,I is less than 3000; thus, the internal air flow converts to laminar flow. Laminar flow has a much lower heat transfer coefficient with air channels, as shown in Eq. (24); therefore, there is a gap in TR when aE = bE is 0.0185 m. With a smaller TS, aE = bE = 0.005 m is the optimum value. With a smaller TR, aE = bE = 0.0075 m is the optimum value. With a smaller WI, aE = bE = 0.008 m is the optimum value. With a smaller WE, the largest aE = bE is the optimum value. One should choose the more stringent condition among TS, TR, WI, and WE in considering the overall balance.

Fig. 15
Effect of channel sizes of external air flow through the heat exchanger on the temperatures of permanent magnets and coil and power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 15
Effect of channel sizes of external air flow through the heat exchanger on the temperatures of permanent magnets and coil and power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = bE, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

Figure 16 shows TS, TR, WI, and WE with changing an external-air-channel width bE under various constant values of an external-air-channel height aE at the volume flow rates V˙E = 1.4 m3/s and V˙I = 0.32 m3/s. In the left figure of Fig. 16, TS (red curves) exhibits the minimum value at an aE of 0.005 m as in Fig. 15. In a range of aE less than 0.005 m, a smaller aE derives a larger TS because of a larger pressure loss. In a range of aE greater than 0.005 m, a larger aE derives a larger TS because of a smaller ReP,E in Eq. (22). Also, TR (blue curves) exhibits the minimum value at an aE of 0.0075 m as in Fig. 15. The tendency of TR is the same as that of TS. In the right figure of Fig. 16, a smaller aE derives a larger WE because of a larger pressure loss. Instead, WI is almost independent of aE because TR and TS do not affect WI in the same manner as in Fig. 9.

Fig. 16
Effect of channel aspect ratio of external air through heat exchanger on the temperatures of permanent magnets and coil and power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 16
Effect of channel aspect ratio of external air through heat exchanger on the temperatures of permanent magnets and coil and power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

6.4 Effect of Internal-Air-Channel Height and Width of the Heat Exchanger.

Figure 17 shows TS, TR, WI, and WE with changing internal-air-channel sizes aI = bI at the same volume flow rates V˙E = 1.4 m3/s and V˙I = 0.32 m3/s. In this figure, aI and bI change together while maintaining the same values. In the left figure of Fig. 17, for a range of smaller values of aI = bI less than 0.004 m, decreasing aI = bI causes larger pressure loss resulting in a higher temperature of the internal air flow and a higher TR. In a range of aI = bI greater than 0.004 m, larger aI = bI derives a larger TR because of a smaller ReP,I in Eq. (22); thus, the internal air flow radiates less heat through the heat exchanger, and it causes a higher internal-air temperature as well as a higher TR. In the right figure of Fig. 17, smaller aI = bI derives a larger WI because of a larger pressure loss. Instead, WE is almost independent of aI = bI because TR and TS do not affect WE the same as Fig. 9. With a smaller TS, aI = bI = 0.0045 m is the optimum value. With a smaller TR, aI = bI = 0.004 m is the optimum value. With a smaller WI, the largest aI = bI is the optimum value. WE is constant at any aI = bI.

Fig. 17
Effect of channel sizes of internal air through heat exchanger on permanent magnet and coil temperatures and power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = bI, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 17
Effect of channel sizes of internal air through heat exchanger on permanent magnet and coil temperatures and power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = bI, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

Figure 18 shows TS, TR, WI, and WE with changing an internal-air-channel width bI under various constant values of an internal-air-channel height aI at the volume flow rates V˙E = 1.4 m3/s and V˙I = 0.32 m3/s. In the left figure of Fig. 18, TR (blue curves) exhibits the minimum value at aI of 0.002 m. In a range of aI less than 0.002 m, a smaller aI derives a larger TR because of a larger pressure loss. In a range of aI greater than 0.004 m, a larger aI derives a larger TR because of a smaller ReP,I in Eq. (22). Additionally, there is a gap in TR due to the transition from turbulent to laminar flow of the internal air in the heat exchanger caused by a smaller ReP,I. In the right figure of Fig. 18, a smaller aI derives a larger WI because of a larger pressure loss. Instead, WE is almost independent of aI because TR and TS do not affect WE in the same manner as Fig. 9.

Fig. 18
Effect of the channel aspect ratio of internal air through the heat exchanger on permanent magnet and coil temperatures as well as power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 18
Effect of the channel aspect ratio of internal air through the heat exchanger on permanent magnet and coil temperatures as well as power consumption (Tamb = −56.5 °C, pamb = 16.51 kPa, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

6.5 Air-Cooling Performance at the Optimum Setting.

Figure 19 shows the results for TEin, pEin, TR, TS, WI, and WE with changing altitude under conditions based on the ISA standard for air at a V˙E of 1.4 m3/s and a V˙I of 0.32 m3/s with optimum settings of the air-cooling channel sizes: dR = 15 mm, dA = 10 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, and bI = 14 mm. The entire tendency seen in Fig. 19 is similar to the results estimated with the current model (by solid curves) shown in Fig. 11, although the air-cooling-channel sizes are optimized in Fig. 19, and the air-cooling-channel sizes are not optimized in Fig. 11. The results shown in Fig. 19 satisfy the maximum temperature limit for the permanent magnets and coils, i.e., TR should be less than TRlimit of 100 °C and TS should be less than TSlimit of 250 °C with the maximum power consumption of 5.35 kW (WI = 189 W and WE = 5.16 kW). The current model results shown in Fig. 11 do not satisfy the maximum temperature limits, and the maximum power consumption is 3.38 kW (WI = 41 W and WE = 3.34 kW).

Fig. 19
Permanent magnet and coil temperatures and power consumption with changing altitude at the optimum settings (Tamb and pamb by ISA, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Fig. 19
Permanent magnet and coil temperatures and power consumption with changing altitude at the optimum settings (Tamb and pamb by ISA, dR = 150 mm, dA = 100 mm, δTBC = 0.5 mm, δAIR = 1 mm, aE = 7.5 mm, bE = 14 mm, aI = 4 mm, bI = 14 mm, V˙E = 1.4 m3/s, V˙I = 0.32 m3/s)
Close modal

Therefore, optimization of air-cooling channel sizes is very important in keeping the temperature limits and minimizing power consumption to enhance the total efficiency of the electric IPM motor. In a practical flight, the required output of the motor at the top-of-climb could be less than that at the takeoff. However, this optimum setting allows pilots to access the maximum output power at the top-of-climb; this constitutes safe redundancy. Of course, the proposed theoretical analysis method is effective at variable outputs and rotation rates along with a practical flight path.

7 Conclusion

In this paper, the effect of altitude on air-cooling performance in an air-cooled 2 MW IPM motor driving an aviation fan was theoretically investigated. Compressor-driven internal air cools permanent magnets (PMs) in a rotor to satisfy the PM maximum temperature limit, and it carries heat from the rotor to the heat exchanger placed outside of a stator. Compressor-driven external air cools coils in the stator via the heat exchanger to satisfy the coil maximum temperature limit, and it carries all heat to the surroundings.

In cases of constant volume flowrates of both airs, with increasing the ambient temperature, the temperatures of the PM and coils linearly increase. The power driving the compressors is almost constant despite the changing ambient temperature. Additionally, with decreasing the ambient pressure, temperatures of the PM and coils rapidly increase because the Reynolds number decreases due to decreasing air density; therefore, the flow mode switches between the rotation-dominant flow and rotation-inertia-affected flow of internal air through the rotor, and the flow mode switches between the laminar flow and turbulent flow of internal air through the heat exchanger. Especially, to satisfy both maximum temperature limits, keeping the turbulent flow mode of internal air through the heat exchanger is necessary. With changing ambient pressure, the power driving the compressor is almost constant in the laminar flow mode of internal air through the heat exchanger, and the power is almost proportional to the ambient pressure to the power of 3/4 in the turbulent flow mode. Furthermore, the effect of altitude on temperatures of the PM and coils was investigated. The most severe condition is the top-of-climb condition. Under this condition, the optimized air-cooling channel sizes satisfy the maximum temperature limits for the PM and coils although the nonoptimized air-cooling channel sizes do not satisfy the maximum temperature limits at the same volume flow rates of internal and external cooling airs.

How and where to switch each flow mode depends on each physical model and correlation used. If each physical model and correlation would be more improved, this approach would derive a more accurate estimation. This approach is very useful for early thermal designs of air-cooled electric motors driving aviation fans.

Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge Professor H. Ohsaki, and Professor Y. Terao, (at The University of Tokyo) and Professor S. Shuchi, and Professor Y. Kataoka, (at Akita Prefectural University) for their technical advice. The author sincerely appreciates IHI Corporation, which supported this study technically. The authors are also grateful to Mr. H. Oyori, and Mr. K. Takahashi, (at IHI Corporation) and Ms. A. Mamada, (at The University of Tokyo) for their support.

Funding Data

  • New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) (Project No. JPNP15005; Funder ID: 10.13039/501100003051).

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and supporting the findings of this article are obtainable from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Nomenclature

a =

height of each channel for each air type (m)

b =

width of each channel for each air type (m)

c, C =

constants

CP, CV =

isobaric and isochoric specific heats (J/(kg·K))

d =

diameter or hydraulic diameter (m)

D =

drag force exerted on a flying airplane (N)

Epro, Ekin =

propulsion energy, kinetic energy (W)

F =

thrust generated by the propulsion system (N)

h =

heat transfer coefficient (W/(m2·K))

K =

overall heat transfer coefficient (W/(m2·K))

=

length of heat exchanger or rotor in the axial direction (m)

m =

mass (kg)

m˙ =

mass flow rate (kg/s)

n =

number of channels for each air type

N =

number of heat transfer units

NuCL, NuP =

clearance Nusselt number, pipe Nusselt number

p =

pressure (Pa)

P =

peripheral length of each channel for each air type (m)

Pr =

Prandtl number

q =

heat flux (W/m2)

Q =

heat flow rate (W)

R, =

gas constant (J/(kg·K)) and universal gas constant (J/(mol·K))

ReA, ReP, ReR =

axial, pipe, and rotational Reynolds numbers

S =

cross section of each channel for each air type (m2)

t =

time (s)

T =

temperature (K)

u =

average jet velocity from the propulsion system under the main wings (m/s)

U =

tangential velocity of the inner surface of the rotor (m/s)

v =

flight velocity of an airplane (m/s)

V =

axial velocity (m/s)

V˙ =

volume flow rate (m3/s)

w =

local air velocity after a flying airplane (m/s)

W =

power consumption (W)

x =

position (m)

X =

rotation rate in rotations per minute (rpm)

α, β, γ, ζ, ξ, σ, ϕ, ψ, θ =

combined variables

γ =

specific heat ratio

δB =

thickness of the bulkhead (m)

δC =

diameter difference between coaxial cylinders (m)

δTBC,R, δTBC,S =

thermal barrier coating thickness for the rotor and the stator (m)

ε =

ratio of heat capacity flow rates

ηcomp =

compressor efficiency

ηpro =

propulsion efficiency

λ =

thermal conductivity (W/(m·K))

μ =

viscosity (Pa·s)

ρ =

density (kg/m3)

ω =

rotation rate in radians per second (rad/s)

Subscripts
A =

shaft

Al =

aluminum

B =

bulkhead between internal air and external air

E =

external air

H =

heat exchanger

I =

internal air

in =

inlet of heat exchanger

L =

laterad (outside)

M =

medial (inside)

mol =

per one mol

out =

outlet of heat exchanger

PM =

permanent magnet

R =

rotor

S =

stator

SC =

coil in stator

t =

time

TBC =

thermal barrier coating

x =

position from the left end of each heat exchanger or rotor

Function
y(x) =

y is a function of x

Appendix A

A1. Radiative Heat Transfer Rate.
In an extreme case of a coil temperature TS = 250 °C, a PM temperature TR = 100 °C, a temperature at the inner surface of the TBCs on the coil TTBC,S = 190 °C, and a temperature at the outer surface of TBC on the rotor TTBC,R = 160 °C, the radiative heat transfer Qrad,S from the coils and that Qrad,R from the rotor via the annular air layer are as follows, respectively:
(A1)
(A2)
where σSB is Stefan–Boltzmann constant of 5.67 × 10−8 (W/(m2 K4)), dSM is the inner diameter of the coils, dRL and R are the outer diameter and the length of the rotor, and εS and εR are emissivities of TBCs on the coils and rotor which are both assumed to be 0.5. Solving the two equations simultaneously
(A3)

This value is smaller than the direct heat transfer by conduction and convection QS→R by one order of magnitude (refer to Figs. 1214.)

A2. Validation of the Proposed Method.

The proposed theoretical estimation used several models, such as a heat transfer coefficient for each flow scheme in a channel with solid walls, which all were already validated experimentally in the original manuscripts. In addition, a design process for an air-to-air heat exchanger is very common in the thermal engineering field. However, it is important for the proposed theoretical estimation to be validated experimentally or numerically. The authors and colleagues are now preparing validation experiments for the targeted IPM motor with the air cooling designed by the proposed theoretical estimation described in this paper; however, some more time is still needed. Instead, for validation of the proposed theoretical estimation, numerical results of an air-cooled IPM motor with the configuration shown in Table 2 by Jercic et al. [29] were used. They showed the steady-state temperature distribution of PMs and coils as shown in Table 3 when the minimum cooling-air flowrate is 0.096 m3/s at a rotation speed of 1700 rpm.

Table 2

Configuration of IPM motor [29]

Length of rotor and stator327 mmInner dia. of external-air channels228 mm
Shaft diameter59 mmOuter dia. of external-air channels242.5 mm
Inner dia. of PMs91 mmOuter dia. of heat exchanger262.5 mm
Outer dia. of PM139 mmHeight of external-air channels7.5 mm
Inner dia. of coils142 mmWidth of external-air channels7.5 mm
Outer dia. of coils190 mmNumber of external-air channels36
Inner dia. of heat exchanger222.5 mmAll values were read and estimated from figures in Ref. [29] by the authors
Length of rotor and stator327 mmInner dia. of external-air channels228 mm
Shaft diameter59 mmOuter dia. of external-air channels242.5 mm
Inner dia. of PMs91 mmOuter dia. of heat exchanger262.5 mm
Outer dia. of PM139 mmHeight of external-air channels7.5 mm
Inner dia. of coils142 mmWidth of external-air channels7.5 mm
Outer dia. of coils190 mmNumber of external-air channels36
Inner dia. of heat exchanger222.5 mmAll values were read and estimated from figures in Ref. [29] by the authors
Table 3

Operating condition of IPM motor

Power118.5 kWRotation rate1700 rpm
Efficiency97.05%Flowrate of external-air0.096 m3/s
Power118.5 kWRotation rate1700 rpm
Efficiency97.05%Flowrate of external-air0.096 m3/s

The heat generation rate should be 3495 W when the power is 118.5 kW and the efficiency is 97.05%. The authors assumed the heat generation rate from the PM is 218.5 W and that from the coils is 3277.25 W. The motor of Jercic et al. has a simple air-cooling scheme different from the authors; therefore, the authors assumed several settings to allow the proposed theoretical estimation to simulate the motor of Jercic et al. First, internal air is always aspirated from the surroundings instead of recirculation; thus, inlet temperatures at both the heat exchanger and the rotor are fixed at 295 K. Second, the authors set the flowrate of the internal air at 0.00177 m3/s to keep the temperature of the PM at 147.6 °C because Jercic et al. did not describe how they cooled the rotor in Ref. [29]. Third, the authors set a heat transfer coefficient at contact surfaces of internal air in the outer heat exchanger at 5 W/(m2⋅K) to simulate a natural convection cooling by the surrounding air (Table 4).

Table 4

Assumptions for calculation

Heat generation rate from PM218.5 WHeat generation rate from coils3277.25 W
Flowrate of internal air0.00177 m3/sFlowrate of external air0.096 m3/s
Inlet temp. at the heat exchanger of internal air295 KInlet temp. at the heat exchanger of external air295 K
Inlet temp. at the rotor of internal air295 KHeat transfer coefficient on contact surfaces of internal air5 W/m2 K
Heat generation rate from PM218.5 WHeat generation rate from coils3277.25 W
Flowrate of internal air0.00177 m3/sFlowrate of external air0.096 m3/s
Inlet temp. at the heat exchanger of internal air295 KInlet temp. at the heat exchanger of external air295 K
Inlet temp. at the rotor of internal air295 KHeat transfer coefficient on contact surfaces of internal air5 W/m2 K

Using the above assumptions, the proposed theoretical method in this paper estimates the temperature of coils TS = 138.2 °C in Table 5. The numerical analysis by Jercic et al. in Fig. 8 in Ref. [29] showed temperatures of the coils at seven points, whose average value was TS = 141.1 °C

Table 5

Comparison between Ref. [29] and the proposed theoretical estimation

Jercic et al. [29]Proposed theoretical estimation
Temperature of PMTR = 147.6 °CTR = 147.6 °C
Temperature of coils116.7 °C, 154.5 °C, 141.2 °C, 141.5 °C, 145.8 °C, 133.6 °C, 154.5 °C, average TS = 141.1 °CTS = 138.2 °C
Jercic et al. [29]Proposed theoretical estimation
Temperature of PMTR = 147.6 °CTR = 147.6 °C
Temperature of coils116.7 °C, 154.5 °C, 141.2 °C, 141.5 °C, 145.8 °C, 133.6 °C, 154.5 °C, average TS = 141.1 °CTS = 138.2 °C

The proposed theoretical method can estimate a reasonable result in the above case, although the authors must validate this theoretical method by some experiments in the near future.

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