1. ELECTRIC MOTOR COOLING ANALYSIS USING NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES
Background
Pressure Tap Locations
Screens
Nozzle
Electric Motor
Boost Fan 1 2 3
Fan Hub
Cooling of automotive electric motors is critical for efficient performance, increased product life, and cost effectiveness.
Objective
Experimental airflow chamber schematic
To determine if CFD is adequate to resolve the flow through the fan support hub. The simulations will be validated with the experimental measurements taken from the flow chamber.
Fan support hub and electric motor currently under investigation

2. Comparison of experimental vs. CFD pressure measurements
Research Carried Out
Simulations have been conducted comparing different hub configurations at various flow rates and rotational speeds with favourable static pressure results to the experiments at low and mid range speeds but unresolved discrepancies exist at high rotational speed.
Comparison of experimental vs. CFD pressure measurements
Key Findings
To date, CFD has proven to be reliable at replicating some experimental data. However replication of the full flow range is needed before proceeding with new geometries or prototypes.
Pressure field on half of fan support hub. Red is high pressure, blue is low.