Direct cooling of Aluminium wound Non rare Earth machines (DANE)

The objective of the project is cheaper and more environmentally friendly traction machines.

The primary goal is to evaluate the use of direct cooling of windings in electric traction machines, with either air (with boosted cooling), or oil, combined with the use of aluminium as winding material and the intention to simultaneously reduce the need for high performance permanent magnet materials. The air-cooled solution can reach 100% system efficiency.

The project expects to be able to maintain or improve performance in the driving cycle compared to a modern traction machine with copper windings and mantle cooling, given the same frae size.

The project is carried out in collaboration between two departments at LTH, Energy Sciences/Heat Transfer and Industrial Electrical Engineering, and Polestar. In the project, prototypes will be built.

The work will be carried out part-time over three years starting in January 2024. The work is budgeted at SEK 5.6 million and half financed by Polestar