Analysis of the electrical and thermal behaviour of Li-ion batteries using 0D and 3D-CFD approaches with validation on experimental data

Abstract

Due to their characteristics, lithium-ion cells are the reference in the construction of a battery pack for electric vehicles (EVs). Despite this, their use is strongly affected by the operating temperature because the materials they are made of are thermally stable only in a relatively limited range around ambient temperature. Cell modelling and simulation become therefore essential in the design of the cell, of the battery pack and of its auxiliary systems to optimize performance while maintaining sufficient safety margins. In the present study, two zero-dimensional equivalent circuit models of a commercial Li-ion cell are developed and tuned in order to predict the electrical and thermal behaviour of the cell. The models are validated and compared with experimental data found in the scientific literature referring to both dynamic and static tests. This comparison shows the importance of tuning the model parameters, which are decisive for the accuracy of the simulation. Using a commercial tool dedicated to battery modelling, a three-dimensional model is then developed to investigate the electrical and thermal behaviour of the cell from a spatial point of view. The results obtained are aligned with those found in the scientific literature. With the present work, it has been possible to simulate and analyse the global behaviour of the cell (0D model) as well as its detailed behaviour (3D model) using relatively modest computational resources, thus constituting a solid base for more complex modelling such as that of a battery pack and its cooling system.