A three-dimensional inverse problem in estimating the internal heat flux of housing for high speed motors

The time-dependent heat flux generated in rotor and stator for the high speed electric motor is determined in this three-dimensional inverse heat conduction problem. The inverse algorithm utilizing the Steepest Descent Method (SDM) and a general purpose commercial code CFX4.4 is applied successfully in the present study in accordance with the simulated measured temperature distributions on some proper exterior surfaces. No cooling systems can be designed before the heat fluxes are estimated and identified. Two different functional forms for heat fluxes with different temperature measurement errors are used in the numerical experiments to illustrate the validity of the inverse algorithm. Results of the numerical simulation show that due to the structure of the cooling passages for motor housing, the estimated heat flux lying under the cooling passages is not accurate. However, when the concept of effective heat flux is applied, a reliable time-dependent heat flux can be obtained by using the present inverse algorithm.