Influence of Insulating Materials in Switched Reluctance Machine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56532/mjsat.v6i1.626Keywords:
Thermal propagation, Switched reluctance machine, Insulated and non-insulated coils, FEMM SoftwareAbstract
Switched Reluctance Machines (SRMs) are increasingly used in industrial and automotive systems due to their simple design, robustness, and cost-effectiveness. Their performance and reliability, however, are strongly affected by thermal behavior, which can limit efficiency and service life. This paper investigates the role of insulating materials in thermal management of SRMs through modelling and numerical simulation. A thermal model was developed to represent heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation, considering the geometry and material properties of the machine. The approach was validated using FEMM 4.2 under steady-state operating conditions. Three cases were examined: without insulation, with polystyrene, and with plaster. The results indicate that the windings experience the highest thermal stress and represent the most critical region of heat accumulation. Introducing polystyrene as an insulating material significantly reduces winding and stator temperatures, leading to a more uniform thermal distribution across the machine. In contrast, plaster has little to no effect on the thermal behavior. These findings highlight the key role of insulation in improving heat dissipation and reducing hot spots in SRMs. Optimized thermal design through appropriate material selection can enhance energy efficiency, extend service life, and improve reliability in demanding industrial environments.
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