Optimization of Fan Geometry for Urban Train Traction Motors using Coupled Numerical Electromagnetic and Thermal Analysis

One of the most important parameters in designing electrical motors is heat generation by the motor and the way it is dissipated. Temperature rising reduce efficiency and reliability of traction motors and leads to failure. In this paper, an urban train traction motor in a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation has been investigated. Maxwell software for electromagnetic simulation and ANSYS Fluent for thermal simulation have been used. In the discussed motor, air is blown directly from atmosphere into the motor by embedded inlets and discharged to the atmosphere after passing through the motor components and fan. Heat generation rate has been derived from electromagnetic simulation results. At first step, the validity of the simulation results is evaluated by comparing the temperature distribution of motor using reference fan with the thermal requirements of the working class. Afterward, for two different blade geometries and different number of blades are. In the following, the optimized fan geometry is obtained by comparing the fan performance in each case.