CFD Thermal Analysis of Axial-Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor with Water Cooling Channels for Underwater Propulsion Applications

This paper investigates the thermal stability of an axial-flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (AFPMSM) for underwater propulsion applications. To achieve high power density, a dual-rotor with a yokeless and segmented armature structure is considered. A water cooling structure with channels is attached to the motor's windings, allowing water to be naturally pumped into the cooling channels using hydrodynamic pressure during propulsion. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed to evaluate the model.