Enhanced thermal conductivity ferrite stator

Abstract

A permanent magnet electric machine (i.e.: motor/generator) having a magnetic flux circuit including a stator and a permanent magnet rotor mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the stator. The stator has an electric circuit with windings electro-magnetically coupled to the magnetic circuit. The stator is of material having a Curie temperature, wherein magnetic flux circulation through the stator material is impeded when the stator material acquires a temperature above the Curie temperature. The stator includes heat conducting layers and magnetic flux conducting layers, where the thermal conductivity of the heat conducting layers is greater than the thermal conductivity of the magnetic flux conducting layers. By this means the overall thermal conductivity of the stacked stator assembly is improved and means for quickly effecting shutdown of the electric machine are provided with a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the stator, thereby regulating magnetic flux circulation through the stator material. Preferably the magnetic flux conducting layers are manganese zinc ferrite, and the heat conducting layers are: insulated copper sheets; insulated aluminum sheets; thermally conductive polymer sheets; sheet metal; or plated metal layers deposited on associated magnetic flux conducting layers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.