Computationally efficient model of an electric motor thermal field

Abstract

In this work a computationally efficient transient model of an electric motor thermal field is proposed. This model is based on discretized heat equation complemented by analytical-empirical relations, that are used to compute heat fluxes between selected nodes of interest and to set boundary conditions of the whole system. Stability issues of numerical solution of the set of ODEs arising from the discretization are addressed. Validation is performed using known analytical solution of simple heat transfer cases such as heat conduction in plane wall with volumetric heat source. The model can be utilized as a stand-alone tool for an initial estimate of temperatures reached in a newly developed device. It can also be tuned by data from measurements or large CFD simulations. Then it can serve for prediction of behaviour of the device in longer time frames or under different operating conditions than those measured or simulated by CFD.