Flooded variable speed electric machine with variable flow

摘要

An electric machine includes a rotor (40), a stator (38), and an air gap (42) defined by a space between the rotor and a stator. A volume of cooling fluid (34) is located in the air gap and in contact with both the rotor and the stator. A method for cooling the electric machine includes sensing speed of the electric machine and varying the volume of coolant located in the air gap in response to the sensed speed of the electric machine.