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Improved Rotor Cooling for Permanent Magnet Machines--Unique Mobility, Inc., 425 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401-5635; 303-278-2002
Mr. Jon F. Lutz, Principal Investigator
Mr. Donald A. French, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-99ER82914
Amount: $99,711
Electric drive motors for hybrid electric vehicles require improvements in cost reduction and power density. In particular, the brushless permanent magnet (PM) motor, which has thus far demonstrated superior performance, requires improvements in both cost-effectiveness and packaging. This project will improve the rotor cooling of a brushless PM motor by utilizing an innovative self-cooling concept. This cooling method not only will reduce the cost of the permanent magnets, but also will reduce the size of the motor for a given power rating. During Phase I, several designs for the cooling concept will be analyzed using computational fluid dynamics and thermal finite-element analysis models. The most effective designs will be determined and an existing permanent magnet will be modified accordingly and tested.
Commercial Application and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: As the power source for hybrid electric vehicles improves, the drive motors are being asked to handle more power without overheating or becoming larger in size. This technology should improve the power rating of electric motors without increasing size and reduce the cost of the motor due to lower cost permanent magnets.