This paper will present the results of the experimental investigation of heat
transfer in a non-annular channel between rotor and stator similar to a real
generator. Numerous experiments and numerical studies have examined flow and
heat transfer characteristics of a fluid in an annulus with a rotating inner
cylinder. In the current study, turbulent flow region and heat transfer
characteristics have been studied in the air gap between the rotor and
stator of a generator. The test rig has been built in a way which shows a
very good agreement with the geometry of a real generator. The boundary
condition supplies a non-homogenous heat flux through the passing air
channel. The experimental devices and data acquisition method are carefully
described in the paper. Surface-mounted thermocouples are located on the
both stator and rotor surfaces and one slip ring transfers the collected
temperature from rotor to the instrument display. The rotational speed of
rotor is fixed at three under: 300rpm, 900 rpm and 1500 rpm. Based on these
speeds and hydraulic diameter of the air gap, the Reynolds number has been
considered in the range: 4000<Rez<30000. Heat transfer and pressure drop
coefficients are deduced from the obtained data based on a theoretical
investigation and are expressed as a formula containing effective Reynolds
number. To confirm the results, a comparison is presented with Gazley?s
(1985) data report. The presented method and established correlations can be
applied to other electric machines having similar heat flow characteristics.