Thermal modelling of tubular linear machines using a hybrid analytical method

The aim of this paper is to apply a hybrid analytical method (HAM) for the thermal modelling of tubular linear machines. This technique has been successfully applied for the electromagnetic modelling of electrical machines and it gives relatively good results as compared to finite element method (FEM). The HAM is based on the coupling of a macro-element, based on the analytical solution of heat equation, for the mechanical air-gap with a mesh based generated lumped parameter thermal model for the rest of the studied structure. In order to validate the proposed modelling approach, results issued for the HAM are compared to corresponding results obtained from a FE analysis. This modelling approach should constitute a useful tool for the pre-design of electrical machines.