The Electrical Machines and Drives Group at Sheffield was recently successful in securing an EPSRC responsive mode proposal on novel thermomagnetic liquid cooling for electrical machine end-windings. This project, which complements the activity in the FEMM Hub, is led by Dr Guang-Jin Li as Principal Investigator with FEMM Hub team member Prof. Zi-Qiang Zhu and Prof. Nicola Morley as Co-Investigators.
In this project, by adopting a multiphysics optimisation approach that combines electromagnetic and thermomagnetic domains into a single framework for machines with ferrofluid cooling, aims to achieve a temperature reduction of >30oC compared to a forced air cooled machine with rotor mounted fans. This is significant because the reduction in machine temperature, particularly the winding temperature, not only increases machine’s life span, e.g. a 10oC increase in winding temperature will halve the winding insulation life (similar effect for bearings’ life span), but also increases the machine’s efficiency due to reduced power losses.
Further details on the project are available on the EPSRC website at:
https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/T017988/1
If you have any questions about the FEMM hub please contact Hub Manager Dr Laura O’Keefe.
