Heatsink with slits to reduce eddy current losses
A heatsink for an electric motor, the heatsink comprising a heat spreader configured to be placed in proximity to a winding of the electric motor, a channel formed through the heat spreader and comprising a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, and a surface feature formed into a back face of the heat spreader that faces the winding and is configured to reduce eddy currents induced in the heatsink.
1 . A heatsink for an electric motor, the heatsink comprising:
a heat spreader configured to be placed in proximity to an end winding of the electric motor;
a channel formed through the heat spreader and comprising a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet; and
a plurality of islands formed into a back face of the heat spreader that faces the end winding, each island of the plurality of islands being formed by intersections of a plurality of slits and having a triangular shape,
wherein the plurality of islands are configured to reduce eddy currents induced in the heatsink.
2 . The heatsink of claim 1 , wherein adjacent islands of the plurality of islands extend to at least two different heights.
3 . The heatsink of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of slits formed into a front face of the heatsink.
4 . The heatsink of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of slits of the front face of the heatsink are oriented perpendicular to the end winding.
5 . The heatsink of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits comprise slits oriented in four different directions.
6 . The heatsink of claim 5 , wherein at least one slit of the plurality of slits is oriented perpendicular to the end winding.
7 . The heatsink of claim 5 , wherein at least one slit of the plurality of slits is oriented parallel to the end winding.
8 . The heatsink of claim 5 , wherein at least one slit of the plurality of slits is oriented relative to the end winding at an angle between perpendicular and parallel.
9 . The heatsink of claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a plurality of microchannels that increase a surface area to volume ratio of the channel.