Wouldn't it be cool...

[jviss]

On second thought...

...thanks to the miracle of google, that there are autos using liquid cooled alternators - BMW, Audi, Land Rover, etc. There are 200A versions.

Maybe I'll look into those. I don't know yet if they're just putting them in circuit with the engine coolant.

 

[dlochner]

The most you're going to use to cool is about 5A, but that's going to potentially allow you to drive many more Amps from the alternator, since its output without burning up is dependent on its temperature. Not a perpetual motion machine, the power is coming from the diesel!

Therein lies the issue, will the cooling system be efficient enough to cool the alternator enough to generate more than 5a? And generate enough to warrant the expense of the cooling system so that it becomes economical (less diesel burned) to warrant the expense.

O.K., but I can't imagine how or why. The Tesla battery cooling scheme is quite complex. I'm just suggesting blowing cooler air into the alternator, i.e., chilling the air it would normally ingest by virtue of its fan.

The batteries are not located by a heat source, the diesel. The batteries mass is much larger than the alternator and some of its components are capable of absorbing a lot of heat with with little temperature rise.