THERMAL ANAYSIS OF AN ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VEHICLES

• Published in: International journal of automotive technology 2013, 14(4), 72, pp.579-585
• Main Authors: 임동현, 김성철, 김민수
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 자동차공학
• ISSN: 1229-9138; 1976-3832
• DOI: 10.1007/s12239−013−0062−7

An electric water pump for engine cooling system has an advantage which particularly in the cold start, the use of the electric water pump saves fuel and leads to a corresponding reduction in emissions. However, the electric water pump for internal combustion engine generates much more heat loss than that for hybrid electric vehicle or electric vehicle since it is operated by electric power of high current and low voltage. In this study, the fluid flow and thermal characteristics of the canned type electric water pump with an inverter integrated has been investigated under the effects of heat generation. The analysis conditions such as outdoor air temperature of 125oC, water pump speed of 6000 rpm, coolant temperature of 106oC and coolant flow rate of 120 L/min were used as a standard condition. Therefore, the thermal performance of the canned type electric water pump's motor and inverter was evaluated by comparison with that of mechanical seal type. In the motor, the temperature reduced by over 10oC, and in the inverter, the amount of temperature decrease equaled to the maximum temperature difference, about 18.7oC. Also, canned type electric water pumps of variable materials were compared for the evaluation of thermal transfer performance for variable thermal conductivity of a can. The motor and inverter were cooled lower to 42oC at motor and about 40oC at inverter for reasonable selection of can's thermal conductivity. KCI Citation Count: 8