Measuring Temperature in Electric Vehicles

Michigan Scientific Slip Ring Assembly for electric vehicle testing

Michigan Scientific Slip Ring Assembly designed for measuring temperature in an electric vehicle.

Controlling temperature factors in electric vehicles is a key component for improving overall vehicle efficiency. Michigan Scientific offers testing solutions to measure temperature in electric vehicles as well as other potentially high-heat applications.

Joule’s Law states that the heat evolved per second is equal to the power loss in a circuit. This means the current flowing in electric vehicle battery cell conductors will produce more heat the more powerful the battery cell is. Thus, temperature is a major limiting factor when it comes to designing more powerful electric vehicle motors. High temperatures can also decrease the power of magnets within the motor. Many magnets placed near each other in the motor create attracting and repelling forces that cause a spinning motion. The stronger the magnets, the faster the spinning motion. Very high temperatures can cause the magnets to weaken, slowing the motor and causing a loss of efficiency in the system. Measuring temperature with a Michigan Scientific Slip Ring Assembly can help maximize efficiency in electric vehicle design by ensuring energy is not lost in the system through heat unnecessarily.

Thermal Break Adapters on slip rings

Michigan Scientific Thermal Break Adapters help ensure amplifiers do not fail in extremely high-temperature testing environments.

Michigan Scientific designed a slip ring assembly to perform in the harsh conditions of electric vehicle testing. The type of slip ring used for this project is an End of Shaft Slip Ring Assembly, meaning it is designed to mount to the end of a rotating shaft and communicate with DAQ. Made with several Type T thermocouple amplifiers in the rotor, the slip ring has a speed rating of 20,000 rpm. It has ten slip ring connections. It also has 14 solder terminals for Type T thermocouples and 2 additional terminals for an amplifier circuit common. The internal slip ring connections are modified to withstand high vibration and temperature while maintaining reliable signal transfer. Because this unit is small and the amplifier is integrated with the unit, it can fit inside most vehicles.

Standard Michigan Scientific Signal Conditioning Amplifiers are tolerant of heat up to 125 C (257 F). For higher temperature applications, Michigan Scientific Thermal Break Adapters can be a useful accessory. Designed to fit the diameter of a slip ring stator with integrated amplifier, thermal break adapters help lower the heat experienced by the amplifier while still maintaining accurate results in space-constrained settings.

Michigan Scientific provides testing solutions for all types of applications and regularly adapts products based on testing conditions. Contact a Michigan Scientific representative for assistance with your high-temperature testing application today.