Energy storage generator thermal analysis for an electromagnetic aircraft launch system

This paper presents thermal analysis predictions of a main generator, which is a primary part of an energy storage subsystem of an electromagnetic aircraft launch system. Three-dimensional finite element thermal models for both main generator rotor and stator have been developed and transient thermal analyses have been performed for various aircraft launching duty cycles. Generator conductors and various insulations are smeared and equivalent thermal properties are used in the thermal analyses to reduce modeling and computational effort. Position-dependent and time-dependent air cooling boundary conditions, which include air temperatures and forced convection heat-transfer coefficients, are determined by transient energy balances, air temperatures, and rotating configurations.