Stator-Winding Thermal Models for Short-Time Thermal Transients: Definition and Validation

In this paper, four thermal models for the stator-winding temperature prediction in short-time thermal transient are presented and experimentally validated. The lumped-parameter networks, based on physical representation of the stator components, are composed of multiple RC cells in cascade. In particular, starting from a fourth-order thermal network, the model complexity is progressively reduced to a third-, second-, and then down to a first-order system. The proposed models and their predicted temperature evolutions are discussed in detail and validated by means of a full experimental approach on an industrial 7.5-kW induction motor. Finally, the behaviors of the proposed thermal models are corroborated by some considerations drawn by the analytical solution of the models.