For line start permanent magnet synchronous machines (LSPMSMs), the eddy current loss in the rotor, which has of significant effects on rotor working temperature, may cause thermal demagnetization to permanent magnet. Therefore, this paper addresses an investigation on the temperature distribution in LSPMSM based on a 6 kV, 315 kW prototype with solid starting cage bar. Firstly, the loss distributions, obtained from a 2-D transient electromagnetic field calculation, are determined as the distributed heat source in thermal analyses. Then, the fluid-thermal coupled analyses are performed, by which the temperature distributions in the machine are determined. Meanwhile, the calculated motor performance is verified via comparison with the measured results. The calculation results show that the temperatures in the rotor core and permanent magnets are relatively high. To find the solution for reducing the rotor working temperature, a rotor air slot structure was proposed in this analysis. The theoretical calculation indicates that the rotor working temperature reduction is obvious with the rotor air slot in the machine. Therefore, the operating situation of solid rotor LSPMSM could be improved effectively with the proposed rotor thermal solution, which also benefits the machine reliability and safety.

The performance of an induction motor, a core component of the high-speed train, is of critical importance to the safety of the train. As a result of limited space in the train and the motor’s high-power density, motor heating poses a grave threat to its service life and operational safety. In this study, a 600-kW high-speed train induction motor model was established and its temperature field calculated by the finite volume method. To optimize the heat dissipation and further reduce the motor temperature rise, a variable cross-section stator ventilation hole was proposed and its influence on the wind velocity and temperature rise comprehensively studied. After comparing the cooling effect of the linear and nonlinear variable cross-section of the ventilation hole, the influence of the cross-sectional diameter and the radial position of the ventilation hole on the temperature rise was explored. Finally, the most favorable scheme for motor heat dissipation was determined.

This article concentrates on the steady-state thermal characteristics of the Axial-Radial Flux-Type Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (ARFTPMSM). Firstly, the three-dimensional mathematical models for electromagnetic calculation and analyses are established, and the machine loss, including the stator loss, armature winding loss, rotor loss, and axial structure loss is calculated by using time-step Finite Element Method (FEM). Then, the loss distribution is assigned as the heat source for the thermal calculation. Secondly, the mathematical model for thermal calculation is also established. The assumptions and the boundary conditions are proposed to simplify the calculation and to improve convergence. Thirdly, the three-dimensional electromagnetic and thermal calculations of the machine, of which the armature winding and axial field winding are developed by using copper wires, are solved, from which the temperature distributions of the machine components are obtained. The experiments are carried out on the prototype with copper wires to validate the accuracy of the established models. Then, the temperature distributions of machine components under different Axial Magnetic Motive Force (AMMF) are investigated. Since the machine is finally developing by using HTS wires, the temperature distributions of machine developed by utilizing High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) wires, are also studied. The temperature distribution differences of the machine developed by using copper wires and HTS wires are drawn. All of these above will provide a helpful reference for the thermal calculation of the ARFTPMSM, as well as the design of the HTS coils and the cryogenic cooling system.

As the rated capacity of the Direct-Drive Permanent Magnet Wind Generator (DDPMWG) increases, the heat produced from the generator’s inner components also increases and it becomes difficult to transfer the inner heat to the ambient. The ventilation spacer has a significant influence on the heat transfer process of DDPMWG. Thus, this paper focuses on the optimization of the ventilation spacer on the thermal field of DDPMWG. Firstly, the fluid flow and heat transfer coupled numerical calculation model is established. The physical model, composed of two half-slots and one tooth of DDPMWG, is established due to the structural symmetries to save the calculations. The sources and boundary conditions for the thermal calculations are also given. Five new ventilation spacers, compared with the original one, are proposed to investigate the thermal fields. The pressure drop and temperature field are compared to find the optimized ventilation spacer for the DDPMWG. The criteria are also presented for judging the heat transfer capacity. To validate the optimized ventilation spacer, the temperature rises of the armature winding with original and optimized ventilation spacers are measured. It proves that the armature winding’s temperature rise of the optimized ventilation spacer is about 4.7 K lower than that with the original ventilation spacer.