Improving the Thermal Performance of Rotary and Linear Air-Cored Permanent Magnet Machines for Direct Drive Wind and Wave Energy Applications

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Mueller M. A., Burchell J., Chong Y. C., KEYSAN O., McDonald A., Galbraith M., ...More

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENERGY CONVERSION, vol.34, no.2, pp.773-781, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1109/tec.2018.2881340
  • Journal Name: IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENERGY CONVERSION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.773-781
  • Keywords: Air-cored windings, direct drive, linear machines, PM machines, thermal performance, wind energy, wave energy, GENERATOR
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Air-cored machines offer benefits in terms the elimination of magnetic attraction forces between stator and rotor. With no iron in the stator there is not a good thermal conduction path for heat generated by Joule losses in the stator winding. Results from both models and experimental tests are provided in this paper to investigate different methods of cooling air-cored windings, including natural air-cooling, direct liquid cooling, and the use of heat pipes.