Thermal and Hydrodynamic Characteristics Research of a Tree-Shaped Microchannel Network Thermal Exchanger on the High-Speed Motorized Spindle
Abstract To improve the thermal dissipation of high-speed motorized spindle, core component of machine tool, according to the construction theory of mammalian circulation and respiratory system, this paper optimizes the distribution of the existing tree-shaped microchannel network structure, changes the thermal exchanger assembly mode, directly as the spindle shell, and make it possible in engineering applications. Considered the conjugate heat transfer between the spindle stator, thermal exchanger, and cooling water, a three-dimensional (3D) fluid thermodynamic model of a tree-shaped microchannel network thermal exchanger and a conventional spiral thermal exchanger are established. Both have the identical heat exchange area and inlet size. The hydrodynamic characteristics, pressure loss, temperature gradient distribution, and coefficient of performance (COP) are compared. The results indicate that the new structure proposed in this paper has more excellent hydrodynamic characteristics, smaller pressure changes, more uniform temperature gradient distribution, and greater COP. The experiment results verify the correctness of the theoretical calculation. It has a wide range of application prospects in thermal problems of high-speed spindle.