ENHANCED CONVECTIVE ROTOR COOLING
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments of an electric motor are provided herein. In one embodiment of this disclosure, an electric motor includes a rotor, at least one end of the rotor includes at least one blade and at least one array of micro-features, wherein heat generated by the rotor is dissipated by the at least one blade and the at least one array of micro-features. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an electric motor having a rotor, the method comprising machining a piece of conductive material to create micro-features on at least one end of the conductive material; and inserting the conductive material into the rotor.
1 . An electric motor, comprising:
a rotor having a first end;
at least one spreader comprising a conductive material configured to be inserted in the rotor, the at least one spreader having a first surface forming a portion of the first end of the rotor;
a blade located on the surface of the at least one spreader;
wherein the blade is configured to dissipate heat generated by the rotor.
2 . The electric motor of claim 1 , further comprising an array of micro-features located on the first surface of the at least one spreader.
3 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a second spreader, wherein the second spreader comprises a conductive material, the second spreader configured to be inserted in the rotor, the second spreader having a first surface that forms a portion of the first end of the rotor, wherein the first surface of the second spreader has a blade.
4 . The electric motor of claim 3 , further comprising an array of micro-features located on the first surface of the at least one spreader and an array of micro-features located on the first surface of the second spreader.
5 . The electric motor of claim 1 , further comprising a first end cap, the first end cap including an array of micro-features.
6 . The electric motor of claim 5 , further comprising a second end cap, the second end cap including an array of micro-features.
7 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a permanent magnet machine.
8 . The electric motor of claim 7 , wherein the permanent magnet machine includes a segmented magnet.
9 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an induction machine.
10 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spreader has a second surface forming a portion of a second end of the rotor, wherein the second surface has a blade.
11 . The electric motor of claim 10 , further comprising an array of micro-features located on the first surface and the second surface of the at least one spreader.
12 . The electric motor of claim 11 , further comprising a second spreader, wherein the second spreader comprises a conductive material, the second spreader configured to be inserted in the rotor, the second spreader having a first surface that forms a portion of the first end of the rotor, the second spreader having a second surface that forms a portion of the second end of the rotor, wherein the first surface of the second spreader has an array of micro-features and a blade, and the second surface of the second spreader has an array of micro-features and a blade, said blades of the at least one spreader and the second spreader are configured to waft heat dissipated from said arrays of micro-features.
13 . The electric motor of claim 12 , wherein the blades are integral with the spreaders.
14 . The electric motor of claim 12 , wherein the blades are integral with the rotor.
15 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the spreader is a discrete part of the rotor.
16 . An electric motor, comprising:
a rotor having a first end;
at least one spreader comprising a conductive material configured to be inserted in the rotor, the at least one spreader having a first surface forming a portion of the first end of the rotor,
an array of micro-features located on the surface of the at least one spreader;
wherein the array of micro-features is configured to dissipate heat generated by the rotor.
17 . The electric motor of claim 16 , wherein the at least one spreader has a second surface forming a portion of a second end of the rotor, wherein the second surface has an array of micro- features.
18 . The electric motor of claim 16 , wherein the rotor includes a second spreader, wherein the second spreader comprises a conductive material, the second spreader configured to be inserted in the rotor, the second spreader having a first surface that forms a portion of the first end of the rotor, wherein the first surface of the second spreader has an array of micro-features.
19 . The electric motor of claim 18 , wherein the at least one spreader has a second surface forming a portion of a second end of the rotor, and the second spreader includes a second surface forming a portion of a second end of the rotor, wherein the second surface of the first spreader has an array of micro-features, and the second surface of the second spreader has an array of micro-features.