Electric motor

[JulesVerhulst]

Hi,

Does anybody have some detailed information about the electric motor used in the insight. I am interessed in things like: dimensions, weight, type of cooling, maximum RPM and things like that.

If you have something can you please tell me where you have found it.

Thanks

Jules Verhulst

[jtmco]

Some of the information you want is here (at least the cooling)

IMA Motor

Jim

[JulesVerhulst]

Thank you very much. I hope somebody can tell me something about the weight and maximum speed.


Jules Verhulst

[IamIan]

As far as I know , no electric motors has a set maximum speed.... you can drive them faster and harder if you like by going over spec... but the long and more often you do this the faster the motor heats up and the faster it wears out..... The IMA motor of the Insight spins with the ICE so it has to be able to take at least 6,000+ RPMs and more likely the ICE will come apart long before the RPMs become an issue for the IMA Motor.

The motor is rated for 10kW but again electric motors aren't that simple... you can take a small 6VDC motor and push it with 12VDC and it will run... but the more you are over spec and the more often you are over spec the more likely something is to go wrong / Break.

What are you trying to do / use if for?

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

The rpm is the same as the motor or over 6000 rpm. The motor rotor weighs about 3-5 lbs, the coil assembly is probably about 25. I will be making a demo in the next month or so where I will mount just the motor on a stand, with a driver and support bearings so the hybrid training class can demonstrate a 3 phase brushless dc motor to hybrid technicians. Once I do that I can give you the full story.
The rotor magnets have a fiberglass band around them so the if a magnet gets loose the fiberglass band will keep it from flying off. I suspect that speeds much over 6000 rpm may present a potential danger of magnet separation or they would not have built it that way.
There are no bearings to support the rotor when you remove the motor from the ICE, and the rotor removal requires a special puller to prevent damage to the fiberglas band while removing it.

[b1shmu63]

The magnets in this motor are exceptionally strong but have a fixed field strength. Push too much reverse magnetic force through them (over their design spec.) and you will run into problems. Inefficiency and heat will increase non linearly.

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Hi Kip
I had the rotor in my hand last weekend. The magnets are strong, but I have seen stronger in some old hard drives. I put a screwdriver on one, and was able to pull it off easily.
They are about 2X2" I will be putting a photo of the insight rotor next to the M2 motor in a prius drive. up on my website in a day or two, it is a rare time that you will see those things together.
I have the synergy drive on my bench. I am making a cutaway so the class can crank handles and watch the gears in side. It should be cool.
If you crank the rotor of M2 on the prius by hand, a quarter turn, you produce 5V at 45 A. The magnets are much smaller on the prius and it has many more pole pieces. It is a pretty interesting to compare them. You would love this class.

[JulesVerhulst]

Thank you all very much for this information. I am using the information for a school assignment.

Can somebody tell me the values of the peak and continues power and torque.

Thanks for all the help.

Grz Jules Verhulst

[jtmco]

Jules-

A lot of the answers to your questions can be found in the Interactive Encyclopedia on the front page of the Insight Central Website:

http://www.insightcentral.net/encyclopedia/index.html

There is a link to one nice article on testing the engine and electric motor found here:

http://www.insightcentral.net/_files/_pdf/nrel.pdf

Good luck with your project.

Jim

[b1shmu63]

Mike, sounds like interesting work you are doing. I look forward to seeing the pictures.