A heat transfer finite element model of a high speed DC electric motor

Abstract

A finite element heat transfer model of a high speed direct current electric motor is presented. The two dimensional axisymmetric model incorporates the motor rotor assembly, stator windings, stator laminations, stator end windings, and the motor housing. Power dissipation is modeled as Joule heating in the motor winding elements and iron core losses in the stator laminations. The two-dimensional axisymmetric model is preprocessed using a two dimensional mesh generator. Results are postprocessed with a two-dimensional contour plotting routine and compared to experimental results. Based on experimental data adjustments are made and overall correlation is good.