Machine cooling system
An aircraft has an electric motor to generate thrust and a power electronic module to provide power to the electric motor. The power electronic (PE) module has an output power to fluidly couple the electric motor and the PE module. The aircraft has an alternating current (AC) lead to electrically couple the PE module and the electric motor by way of the output port. The AC lead is submerged within the output port by a liquid coolant. The aircraft also has a cooling system including a heat extractor. The cooling system passes the liquid coolant through the PE module including the output port, then through the electric motor, and then through the heat extractor.
1 . A motor cooling system, comprising:
a permanent magnet electric motor;
a power electronic (PE) module configured to provide power to the electric motor including an output port configured to fluidly couple the electric motor and the PE module;
an alternating current (AC) lead configured to electrically couple the PE module and the electric motor; and
a cooling sub-system having a heat extractor, the cooling sub-system being configured to pass a liquid coolant sequentially through a) the PE module, b) the output port, c) the electric motor, and then through d) heat extractor,
the PE module, the output port, and the electric motor collectively defining a single, shared flooded cooling volume.
2 . The motor cooling system of claim 1 wherein the PE module comprise a power converter.
3 . The motor cooling system of claim 2 wherein the power converter comprises an inverter.
4 . The motor cooling system of claim 1 wherein the AC lead extends through the output port.
5 . The motor cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the PE module is mechanically coupled to the electric motor.
6 . The motor cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the PE module comprises one or more electronic components, further including a cold plate thermally coupled to the AC lead, the one or more electronic components of the PE module, or both the AC lead and the one or more electronic components of the PE module.
7 . The motor cooling system of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of PE modules forming a PE ring arrangement;
an intake manifold configured to be coupled to a coolant input port of each of the plurality of PE modules; and
an output manifold coupled to the electric motor,
the PE ring arrangement, the intake manifold, and the output manifold arranged substantially concentrically.
8 . The motor cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the cooling system includes a plurality of parallel cooling paths between the electric motor and the intake manifold formed by the plurality of PE modules.
9 . A motor cooling system, comprising:
a permanent magnet electric motor;
at least one inverter configured to convert a DC signal to an AC signal, the at least one inverter being external to the motor;
a closed-loop liquid coolant line configured to contain a liquid coolant, the closed-loop liquid coolant line comprises a first portion configured to extract heat from the at least one inverter, and a second portion configured to extract heat from the motor,
the first and second portions being positioned and configured so the liquid coolant passes through the first portion before passing through the second portion,
wherein the at least one inverter, the permanent magnet motor, and the closed-loop liquid coolant line collectively define a single, shared flooded cooling volume configured to receive the liquid coolant during operation.
10 . The motor cooling system of claim 9 further comprising an AC lead configured to electrically couple the at least one inverter and the electric motor, the AC lead extending through the output port.
11 . The motor cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the inverter is mechanically coupled to the electric motor.
12 . The motor cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the inverter comprises one or more electronic components, the system further including a cold plate thermally coupled to the one or more electronic components of the inverter.
13 . The motor cooling system of claim 9 , comprising:
a plurality of inverters forming an inverter ring arrangement;
an intake manifold configured to be coupled to a coolant input port of each of the plurality of inverters; and
an output manifold coupled to the electric motor,
the inverter ring arrangement, the intake manifold, and the output manifold arranged substantially concentrically.
14 . The motor cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the cooling system includes a plurality of parallel cooling paths between the electric motor and the intake manifold, the plurality of parallel cooling paths being formed by the plurality of inverters.
15 . A machine cooling system, comprising:
a heat generating electric machine configured for electromagnetic energy conversion;
power conversion circuitry configured to convert electrical power between AC and DC, the power conversion circuitry being external to the heat generating machine;
a closed-loop liquid coolant line configured to contain a liquid coolant, the closed-loop liquid coolant line comprising a first portion configured to extract heat from the power conversion circuitry, and a second portion configured to extract heat from the heat generating machine,
the first and second portions being positioned and configured so the liquid coolant passes through the first portion before passing through the second portion,
wherein the power conversion circuitry, the heat generating machine, and the closed-loop liquid coolant line collectively define a flooded cooling environment configured to receive the liquid coolant during operation.
16 . The machine cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the power conversion circuitry is configured to operate in an AC-to-DC power conversion mode during at least one operating condition.
17 . The machine cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the heat generating electric machine comprises a generator.
18 . The machine cooling system of claim 15 wherein the heat generating electric machine comprises a motor.
19 . The machine cooling system of claim 15 wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises an inverter.
20 . The machine cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the power conversion circuitry comprises one or more electronic components, the system further including a cold plate thermally coupled to the one or more electronic components of the power conversion circuitry.