Quality Assessment of a 2D FE Based Lumped Parameter Electric Motor Thermal Model Using 3D FE Models

This paper presents an advanced thermal lumped parameter model (LPM) for a switched reluctance motor for which the accuracy of the results is verified with a 3D finite element (FE) simulation. An advanced lumped parameter model is proposed, which extracts a 2D LPM from a 2D FE simulation and extends this 2D LPM into 3D based on the regular LP techniques. The assumptions and simplifications in de 3D LPM are verified with a 3D FE model by comparing the simulated average and maximum component temperatures of the models. The comparison shows a deviation of 0.2% on the maximum of the average component temperatures (rotor) and 0.1% on the maximum of the maximum component temperatures (winding). It is concluded that the proposed advanced 3D LPM is an efficient and accurate method when compared to a 3D FE model.