Analysis of Coupled Thermal and Electromagnetic Processes in Linear Induction Motors Based on a Three-Dimensional Thermal Model

The article describes a mathematical model of interconnected electromechanical and thermal processes in a linear induction motor (LIM). Here, we present the structure of the thermal model and provide the calculation formulas of the model. The thermal model consisted of eight control volumes on each tooth pitch of the LIM. Moreover, we also present a model of electromechanical processes and its interaction with the thermal model. The electromechanical model was based on the detailed magnetic and electrical equivalent circuits of the LIM. Model verification was performed using a model based on the finite element method and using experimental data. We also conducted a study focused on the necessity of considering the influence of various features of the thermal processes. We herein discuss the application of the model implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink, which was used to analyze the thermal performance of linear transport and technological induction motors. For the traction single-sided linear induction motor, we determined limits of safe operation by considering the unevenness of heating along the length in two cases: natural cooling and forced cooling. For forced cooling, required values of air flow were determined. For the arc induction motor of the screw press, the influence of various factors (i.e., reduction of the stroke, the use of a soft start, and the use of a forced cooling) on heating was evaluated.

An Experimental Study on Electrosparking of Tool Electrode Forced Cooling Based on Micro Heat Pipe Bundle

An electrosparking experiment of ASP30 powder metallurgical steel was carried out through tool electrode forced cooling based on micro heat pipe bundle by using the semiconductor encapsulation mould. Results demonstrate that the micro groove formed among sintered copper fibers based on wick of micro heat pipe and the unique composite structure of the surface chopped morphology can not only increase capillary pressure of the wick, but also strengthen evaporation/condensation process at two ends of the micro heat pipe, and improve cooling effect of micro heat pipe to tool electrode significantly. Compared with traditional electrosparking, electrosparking of tool electrode forced cooling based on micro heat pipe bundle increases the inter-electrode cooling, chip removal and deionization of electrosparking and further lowers tool electrode loss by strengthening heat dissipation of tool electrode. Hence, it can improve stability of electrosparking, increase pulse utilization and increase the processing speed and processing surface quality significantly.

Investigation of the thermal state of the elements of a technological electron beam gun under long–term operating conditions

The paper presents the results of a study of the thermal state of the elements of the cathode assembly of the ELA–15 welding electron gun. It was revealed that in short–term operating modes of the gun (up to 60 minutes) at any energy parameters of heating the hexaboride cathode, it is possible not to use forced cooling of the cathode assembly. The case temperature in such modes did not exceed 30°C. The increase in the temperature of the gun body occurred 15 minutes after the start of heating the cathode. In long–term operating modes with forced cooling of the gun, the temperature of the gun body increased by 2 – 3°C and remained stable throughout the operation. When the cooling was turned off, the temperature of the gun body reached a critical value in 60 minutes. The section of natural cooling of the cathode obtained in the work, which appears when the heating of the cathode is stopped, is well approximated by a power function. It is convenient to use this dependence to verify the mathematical model of the thermal state of the electron gun.

EDITORIAL

The editorial of Thermal Engineering of this issue continues the discussion on scientific research needs in vital areas in which thermal engineering has important participation. The main goal is to motivate the readers, within their specialties, to identify possible subjects for their future research. Natural Convection is present in the most diverse applications of Thermal Engineering, such as controlling and reducing temperatures in electronic systems, reducing the thermal efficiency of cooling in machining processes by the Leidenfrost effect and even in biological systems. With the increasing technological evolution and the development of industrial automation, microelectronics, quantum computing, signal processing, mobile telephony, etc., transmission systems operate increasingly with smaller spacing and higher integration rates between components, with greater power density and heat generation. As a result, there is a growing demand for cooling systems with greater safety, reliability, and efficiency. Therefore, natural convection cooling systems are viable alternatives due to their characteristics of: (A) protection and safety of the transmission system, especially in cases of mechanical and/or electrical failures of the forced cooling system; (B) high reliability and safety of operation; (C) low maintenance costs and (D) no noise. However, due to their low thermal efficiency, such cooling systems are still limited to applications with the low power density and/or combined with forced convection cooling systems. In this sense, the natural convection area is increasingly being researched to create and enable even smaller and more robust high power density transmission systems, with greater economic feasibility (lower costs of acquisition, manufacturing, and maintenance) and exclusively refrigerated (or with minimal use of forced cooling components) by natural convection; all without reducing the efficiency or reliability of these systems. One of the main technologies for thermal optimization of cooling systems researched is the inclusion of geometric surface modifications, through fins (extended surfaces) or corrugated surfaces. The use of corrugated surfaces has been gaining more space in the academic community and industry, standing out for: (A) increasing the area of exposure to the heated surface and the transfer of energy to the circulating fluid; (B) induce changes in the flow in the vicinity of the heated surface, such as the formation of vortices, recirculations, and zones of rarefaction and stagnation; and (C) anticipate and facilitate the flow transition process for the turbulent regime. The study of natural convection – in its most diverse applications and areas of theoretical, applied, and experimental investigation – has been widely explored by Thermal Engineering, arousing more and more the academic community's interest and motivating further research in this area. The mission of Thermal Engineering is to document the scientific progress in areas related to thermal engineering (e.g., energy, oil and renewable fuels). We are confident that we will continue to receive articles’ submissions that contribute to the progress of science. Sílvio Aparecido Verdério JúniorProfessor of Mechanical Engineering

Effect of a Cooling Unit on High-speed Motorized Spindle Temperature With a Scaling Factor

Forced cooling, as an efficient way of heat dissipation, significantly affects the spindle temperature. Although a full cooling passage was factored into the finite element analyses by some scholars, often only the model for the front or rear half of a spindle is need for the purpose of the thermal evaluation simplification and data overhead reduction in engineering applications. So far, how the coolant passage affects the heat dissipation of the front or rear half of a spindle has not been well characterized. This paper devotes to constructing a scaling factor to represent the coolant unit effect on the thermal growth of spindles. The experiments about the effect of coolant units on spindle temperature were first implemented, and then the qualitative conclusions were got with various coolant parameter settings. To further quantify these influences, the regressive analysis was carried out. As a result, the peak temperature area was found and the scaling factors were proposed to describe the effect of the cooling system on the front or rear half of spindle temperature. In this process, the thermal equivalent convection for coolant passage was modeled based on the thermal resistance theory. In the meantime, we planned a novel thermal network of a motored spindle for contrast and validation, in which the cooling mechanism was integrated, and the structural constraints were considered by the aid of the proposed scaling factors. The result is indicative of a better agreement with real values when employing the proposed model.

Experimental evaluation of natural convection in the IPR-R1 Triga research reactor at 264 kW and 105 kW

In order to study the safety aspects connected with the permanent increase of the maximum steady state power of the IPR-R1 Triga Reactor of the Nuclear Technology Development Center (CDTN), experimental measurements were done with the reactor operating at power levels of 265 kW and 105 kW, with the pool forced cooling system turned off. A number of parameters were measured in real-time such as fuel and water temperatures, radiation levels, reactivity, and influence of cooling system. Information on all aspects of reactor operation was displayed on the Data Acquisition System (DAS) shown the IPR-R1 online performance. The DAS was developed to monitor and record all operational parameters. Information displayed on the monitor was recorded on hard disk in a historical database. This paper summarizes the behavior of some operational parameters, and in particular, the evolution of the temperature in the fuel element centerline positioned in the core hottest location. The natural circulation test was performed to confirm the cooling capability of the natural convection in the IPR-R1 reactor. It was confirmed that the IPR-R1 has capability of long-term core cooling by natural circulation operating at 265 kW. The measured maximum fuel temperature of about 300 oC was lower than the operating limit of 550 oC. It has been proven that without cooling in the primary the gamma dose rate above reactor pool at high power levels was rather high.