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In this paper, the cooling airflow in a unidirectional ventilated open-type motor for electric vehicles (EV) was studied. Numerical fluid analysis was performed on the airflow in the motor through a ventilation path outside the stator iron core inside the frame. It is confirmed that there was a flow separation where air did not flow along the path surfaces. This was observed in a flow visualization experiment using water instead of air. We propose a new structure to prevent air separation and confirm its effectiveness by a visualization experiment. It is also shown that another structure with paths both inside and outside the stator iron core in the frame improves the motor's cooling performance. These structures are effective for EV motor downsizing. Index Terms--Airflow, downsizing, electric vehicle (EV), flow analysis, flow visualization experiment, main motor, unidirectional ventilation, weight reduction.

This paper studies the cooling performance by axial fans with forward-swept and inclined blades and a structure with low ventilation resistance for large-capacity open-type motors. The ventilation resistance of axial fans for motors is much greater than that of common fans for creating draughts. Flow separates remarkably on the blades' surfaces and fluid noise is large. We reduced the ventilation resistance inside an electric motor and adopted axial fans with forward-swept and inclined blades. We confirmed by wind tunnel experiment that the flow rate with this combination increases remarkably compared with the conventional ventilation structure and axial fans. Numerical fluid analysis was performed on the flow around the blade at this flow rate. It was confirmed that no flow separation appeared for the air flow along the blade surfaces. This was also observed in a flow visualization experiment. Furthermore, an actual motor with both the low-ventilation-resistance structure and axial fans with forward-swept and inclined blades showed that the flow rate of cooling air increased by 80% compared with that of conventional machines, and the average temperature rise of stator windings decreased by 30%. Thus, the cooling performance was greatly improved. Index Terms--Cooling, fans, fluid flow, motors, numerical analysis, temperature measurement, ventilation, visualization.

There has been an increasing demand for a quiet induction motor. Electromagnetic noise is jarring to the ear. Most offensive electromagnetic noise is generated when the natural frequencies of the stator coincide with or are close to the frequencies of the magnetomotive forces. In this paper, electromagnetic noise is calculated by boundary element method (BEM) program using the electromagnetic forces of Maxwell Stress. The natural frequency and behavior of the stator are calculated by mechanical finite element method (FEM), considering the contact between stator core and frame. Spring elements are introduced between the stator frame and the stacked core. Vibration is calculated by mechanical FEM. Calculated and experimental noise level were within 3 dB(A) at 1200 and 4080 Hz. Index Terms--Contact condition, induction motor, natural frequency, noise.

A drive system of a permanent magnet motor without magnetic position detector is described. Generally, the position data of a magnet is obtained from terminal voltage of the motor. In the newly developed method, the inverter dc-link current waveform provides the control signal for driving a permanent magnet motor without a detector. Since the power factor of the motor is controlled around 1.0, the motor runs at a higher efficiency than one controlled by the conventional method. Therefore, this control method saves energy. Current pulsation induced by sudden load fluctuations has been studied and its stabilization has been achieved. This paper provides the principle and operation of the new control method, simulated characteristics, and experimental results.

Studies the harmonic magnetic flux of small squirrel-cage induction motor. Reduction of noise and stray load loss; Measurement of the saturation effect of a slotless induction machine; Fundamental and harmonic components of stator; Formula for the calculation of the air gap harmonic frequencies caused by individual magnetomotive force.