Thesis Worker - 30 hp - Non-destructive quality control of stator impregnation

30 hp – A non-destructive quality control of stator impregnation via simulation 

Would you like to work at the intersection of electrification, electrical insulation and manufacturing? As a thesis student at Scania/TRATON, you will develop a model that connects stator impregnation quality with non-destructive electrical measurements via simulation. 

Background 

Voids can form in the insulation system during stator impregnation. They can reduce heat transfer from the windings to the stator core, increase the risk of partial discharge, and ultimately affect motor life. Assessing resin fill and void content may currently require sectioning the stator, which is destructive, time-consuming, and costly. 

The objective is to develop and evaluate a model that describes how void characteristics affect the electrical behaviour of impregnated stator insulation through simulation. The model should support the identification of electrical quantities that could be used for future non-destructive quality control. 

Scope and assignment 

The main focus of this thesis is to develop and evaluate a model of stator insulation containing voids. The model will be used to study how the number, volume, and location of voids, for example near or far from a conductor, influence relevant electrical quantities. Depending on the agreed model scope, these quantities may include capacitance, loss factor, maximum electric field, electric-field enhancement at material interfaces, and voltage across a void. The work will include a focused literature review, definition of a suitable modelling approach, development of a parameterized model for simulation, and a structured parametric study. Simulation results will be compared with electrical measurement results and destructive fill-factor data provided by Scania. These data will be used for validation and interpretation; conducting a new experimental test campaign is not part of the core scope. The expected outcome is a recommendation of which simulated electrical quantities are most sensitive to void characteristics and therefore most promising for future non-destructive quality control. PDIV, RPDIV and AC Hipot results may be used as reference data where relevant, but the thesis is not expected to develop a complete PDIV/RPDIV or AC Hipot simulation. The model complexity, available data and final parameter set will be agreed with the supervisors at the start of the project. COMSOL is the anticipated software, while alternative software can be discussed during the interview. 

PDIV is the minimum voltage at which partial discharge is detected under specified conditions. RPDIV is the minimum voltage at which repetitive partial discharge is detected under unipolar repetitive square-wave excitation. 

Education/program/focus 

We are looking for a student pursuing a Master of Science degree in materials engineering, electrical insulation, electric machines, or a related field. An interest in and experience with electrical machines, insulation systems, finite-element simulation, manufacturing or experimental work is an advantage. 

Number of students: 1 

Start date: Approximately week 3, 2027 (exact date to be agreed) 

Estimated duration: 20 weeks 

Contacts and supervisors 

Christian Ness, christian.ness@scania.com project sponsor 
Babak Sadeghi, babak.sadeghi@scania.com 

Application 

Your application should include a CV, cover letter, and transcript of records. Please describe relevant courses and experience in COMSOL or other relevant software, electrical machines, electrical insulation, materials or electrical testing. 

A background check may be conducted for this position. Interviews are held continuously, and the recruitment process may be concluded before the advertised closing date. 

Publication dates until 2026-11-22