Thermal analysis of water-cooling jacket installed on a 210-kW interior permanent magnet synchronous motor

Abstract

The effects of the shape and flow rate of a cooling jacket on the temperature of an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) in railway vehicles were investigated to design an effective cooling jacket. The IPMSMs have advantages over induction motors owing to their smaller size, high output, and efficiency, but they face problems of heat, noise, and vibration because of losses generated during high-speed operation. A numerical analysis was conducted to study the effects of the shape, flow rate, diameter, and number of turns on the temperature of an IPMSM with a cooling jacket. The design of the cooling jacket presented in this study can prevent a reduction in the motor output and damage to parts. A forced cooling method was applied to the IPMSM because it exhibited the best cooling performance.