CRYO TECHNOLOGY | Ko Technologies

CRYO MOTOR TECHNOLOGY

CRYO TECHNOLOGY HELPS KO MOTORS DELIVER EVERY LAST OUNCE OF PERFORMANCE

PATENTED COLD AIR INJECTION SYSTEM

LOWER OPERATING TEMPERATURES

SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCE INCREASE

INCREASED PEAK OPERATING PERFOMANCE

PERFECT FOR PERFORMANCE VEHICLES

CUSTOM DESIGNED STATOR COATING

CRYO TECH STATOR

DELIVERING UNMATCHED BRUSHLESS MOTOR TECHNOLOGY TO ANY APPLICATION

INDUSTRY LEADING DESIGN AND R&D

Our commercial and hobby motors boast a whole range of technical achievements and industry firsts

Power delivery from a brusless motor largely depends on the operating temperature throughout the duty cycle, this includes both the stator, magnets and windings.

While initial power may be high, a motor can quickly heat soak. This causes the available power to rapidly reduce well below the potential of Individual components (mainly the magnets and windings).

KO has identified this as the main limiting factor when developing a motor to meet the high demands placed on performance.
Our solution has been to completely redesign the fundamental components and the way they interact.

Firstly the ACPC ring design on all of the KO motor offerings. This allows for maximum air flow through the stator and magnet assembly, without robbing the motor of power to drive a fan style system. However this is only the first step .

TAKING BRUSHLESS MOTOR PERFORMANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND BEYOND

THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FREEZING A MOTOR

The next step is where Cryo comes into play . Cryo spray is a specially formulated freezing agent designed to drop the standing temp of the stator, windings and magnets to -30°c ( depending on ambient temp ) in order to both increase power, as well as lengthen the operational envelope the motors can deliver peak power, before heat soak causes power loss.

This sounds simple in theory, however many hurdles have to be overcome to allow the motors individual parts to cope with the high variances in operating temperature (from -30°to +30 °c or higher). Testing shows that stators will de-laminate after several uses due to the drastic temperature changes which cause each stator lamination to shrink and expand at a different rate. This will eventually lead to failure. Also aluminium parts would shrink at a different rate to metal parts when the Cryo spray was applied causing failure of the entire structure after very short use.

We also experienced failure of the adhesive used to attach the magnets to the bell. As if that was not enough, the effect of using a freezing agent on the stator causes a high degree of condensation ( moisture ) to accumulate. This results in rust to form very quickly after an initial application, especially in humid conditions. Lastly and possibly the most challenging problem we faced is the nature of press fit components such as the shaft. The shaft in smaller motors relies on a very tight press fit to ensure concentric mating of the shaft and bell to eliminate any vibrations.

OVERCOMING THE CONTSTRAINTS OF A BRUHSLESS MOTOR

Firstly the stator de-laminating - we sourced a stator coating normally used in the automobile industry. This coating allows the stator to uniformly shrink and expand under the extreme temperature variance from -30°c to +30°c or higher. This coating has also eliminated the potential for the stator to rust due to the build of of moisture caused by condensation.

Next we sourced an adhesive also from the automotive industry for the magnets and bell assembly with a temperature spread of -65°c to +265°C. This adhesive has also been used when assembling the press fitted components such as the shaft ensuring no slipping or movement when subjected to the extreme changes in temperature.

STATOR DELAMINATION

To prevent the stator delaminating we sourced a stator coating normally used in the automobile industry. This coating allows the stator to uniformly shrink and expand under the extreme temperature variance (from -30°c to +30°c or higher). This coating has also eliminated the potential for the stator to rust due to the build of of moisture caused by condensation.

NEW ADHESIVES

We then sourced an adhesive also from the automotive industry for the magnets and bell assembly. This allows us a temperature spread of -65°c to +265°C. This adhesive has also been used when assembling the press fitted components such as the shaft. This ensures no slipping, or movement when subjected to the extreme changes in temperature.

WHAT BENEFIT DOES CRYO TECHNOLOGY BRING

Bench and flight tests have shown between 10% and 15% increase in power over a non Cryo sprayed motor however that is only half the data . The real advantage is how long the motor can produce that peak power number. Typically a motor with about 1800g of thrust will drop to 1700g within 5 seconds on a bench test and sub 1600g within 20seconds at WOT (if it makes it that far without heat soaking and completely failing due to burnt windings).

When Cryo is used this is not the case, the power figure at 20 seconds is almost identical as in the first 5 seconds and depending on ambient temperature the motor delivers close to peak power for 40- 50 seconds (before heat soak begins and the heat soak effect starts to take take place). In a non static real world test the effect last longer again before heat soak becomes a factor.

This all adds up to around one minute of higher performance at which time the motor is at ambient temperature. It will then work for a further minute before the motor is at the same operating temperature realised by a motor subjected to the same duty cycle without Cryo. This is 2 minutes of flight for example with a higher power , so essentially an entire flight depending on battery size and scope.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF USING CRYO TECHNOLOGY

The second advantage is efficiency. Reducing the temperature of the stator and windings causes a reduction in internal resistance which is close to half that of the same windings at ambient temp of +30°C. This means that not only do you get more power, you also use less battery to achieve that power giving longer run times and less amp draw over that first 40 - 60 seconds of flight.

As a side bonus every time you spray the motor with Cryo spray you are also Cryogenically tempering the aluminium , titanium and steel components of the motor. Cryogenic tempering is used on many products such as drill bits and hardened tools etc , while this is generally done at sub -200°c to achieve total effect it is true that every degree achieved below 0°c will have some effect in this area. As this further aligns the grain structure within the metals making them stronger and more robust.

USED IN COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS

UNMATCHED POWER VS NON CRYO STATOR

UNMATCHED EFFICIENCY VS NON CRYO STATOR

UNMATCHED PEAK OPERATIONAL ENVELOPE

FULLY TAILORED INTERGRATED SOLUTION

BESPOKE DESIGN SERVICE FOR YOUR PROJECT

INTERESTED IN CRYO TECH?

We are working on a number of projects that will allow the application of our cryo technology to further improve performance in the electric vehicle industry. When applied correctly this will significantly improve the duration and the peak operational envelope of performance vehicles and forms of transport.

FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH RACE OIL X

Lastly if you are using one of the Method range of motors then you have another level ! The KO RaceoilX product used with the Method range of motors is rated to -65°c ! To fully realise the potential of RaceoilX and Cryo simply fill the sump with enough oil to coat the bearings and shaft and no more.. Then remove the sump plug , insert the Cryo nozzle into the sump and give a 5-10 second burst of Cryo spray. This will freeze the motor from the inside out giving an even greater cooling effect while the KO Race oil X will stop the bearings from freezing together and eliminate any chance the bearings will rust due to the moisture from condensation. Happy flying.