A Novel, Ferrofluid-Cooled Transformer. Electromagnetic Field and Heat Transfer by Numerical Simulation

A ferrofluid-cooled low power, single-phased electric transformer was designed and prototyped with the aim of investigating the performance that such an apparatus may exhibit. The nanometric, colloidal, super-paramagnetic fluid used as coolant has specific electric, magnetic, and thermal properties, and presents an overall better stability and capacity to withstanding electromagnetic and thermal stress. This paper addresses also the electromagnetic and heat transfer processes that occur. First, the physical, mathematical, and numerical models are introduced. Numerical simulation results suggest that the magnetization body forces may add to the thermal, buoyancy body forces in providing for better heat transfer. To outline this, several numerical models that may conveniently be treated numerically within the current hardware and software limits, while still providing for satisfactory accuracy were developed. The results may be utilized also in the design phase of the transformer.