US 12,095,345 B2
Wick assisted embedded evaporative cooling of motors
Yogendra K. Joshi, Atlanta, GA (US); and Wenming Li, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/556,403.
Application 17/556,403 is a continuation of application No. 17/242,454, filed on Apr. 28, 2021, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,987, filed on May 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0140700 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. H02K 9/197 (2006.01); H02K 3/24 (2006.01); H02K 5/20 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 9/197 (2013.01) [H02K 3/24 (2013.01); H02K 5/203 (2021.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cooling system for an electric motor that includes a stator having a plurality of slot windings and a rotor, coaxial with the stator, having a plurality of magnets, the cooling system comprising:
(a) a coolant inlet to the motor and a coolant outlet from the motor;
(b) a coolant pathway in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet and positioned so heat is transferable from the slot windings to the coolant pathway, the coolant pathway including at least one slot liner that surrounds a set of the slot windings and that defines at least one channel therethrough, in which micro-wicking structures are printed on a surface of the slot liner adjacent to the slot windings;
(c) a coolant that flows from the coolant inlet, through the coolant pathway and is moved through the micro-wicking structures assisted by capillary action and out through the coolant outlet, the coolant in a liquid phase as it enters the coolant inlet and changing into a two phase liquid vapor mixture as heat is transferred to the coolant from the slot windings; and
(d) a cooling loop, in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, that cools the coolant so that substantially all of the coolant is in the liquid phase when it enters the coolant inlet.