Method and system for alternator thermal protection

A method of cooling an alternator, comprising:

• deriving steady state temperature equations of the alternator using a controller, wherein the controller models the alternator as a thermal network that includes nodes;
• calculating thermal resistances using heat coefficients and an air flow distribution within the alternator;
• determining losses of the alternator;
• deriving nodal temperatures within a stator and a rotor of the alternator using the steady state temperature equations, thermal resistances, and losses of the alternator;
• and
• controlling cooling of the alternator based at least in part on the nodal temperatures.