Experimental Observations on the Thermal Performance of a Rotating Coolant Circuit with Reference to the Design of Electrical Machine Rotors

Abstract

SYNOPSIS This paper presents the results of an investigation into the influence of rotation on the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics of a rotating coolant circuit which has relevance to the design of cooled rotors for electrical machines. Tests conducted with a fixed pressure drop across the entire rotor circuit demonstrate that increases in rotational speed can produce consequential increases in the temperature of the simulated winding. This is true for the case where the energy dissipation is constant.