This paper presents some practical aspects regarding heat transfer analysis inside a permanent magnet synchronous machine used in wind conversion systems. Two steady state models were developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software package and compared. The influence of the heat conductivities of component materials and conduction coefficients upon the final results was analyzed. A transient 3D model was developed to study special cases when the generator operates at high intermittent currents (e.g. during harsh winds) and how that influences the heat transfer and temperature distribution inside machine.

Keywords: Heat transfer, Finite element method, Synchronous generator, Permanent magnets