Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces Structure for Efficient Heat Dissipation in Motor Housings: A Convective Potential Analysis

Abstract

With the advent of 3D printing, advanced geometries started replacing the conventional designs in electric machines. Various modified rotor, stator and coil designs are 3D printed to enhance the machine properties and minimize the losses but there are still some heat losses generated which can cause temperature rise inside the motor and disturb the stability of machine, unless this heat is removed from the machine properly. Motors use conventional housing with fins or cooling systems to remove this heat but it provides poor heat transfer and affects the performance of the motor. This paper focuses on developing Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) housing structures with varying heights, volume fractions and cell sizes to optimize heat management in the motor. TPMS provides heat dissipation in multiple directions as compared to conventional fin. They provide a large surface area to volume ratio, hence better heat dissipation & heat distribution within the structure, improving performance and saving material. Mathematical modeling and numerical simulations of these structures using Finite Volume Method are done, and results of each structure are investigated and compared. Comparison with another research work is also done to justify the results. Finally, an optimal structure is chosen to replace the original housing structure. Comparative analysis is done to study the improvement in properties. Results are compared with conventional housing. Complete heat analysis of the original and proposed design is presented. Heat distribution and propagation is carried out. Improved results and the future scope of the project is presented.