Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis of Thermal Management of a Li-Ion Battery Pack

Abstract

Thermal management of Li-ion battery packs is a critical technological challenge that directly impacts safety and performance. Removal of heat generated in individual Li-ion cells into the ambient is a considerably complicated problem involving multiple heat transfer modes. This paper develops an iterative analytical technique to model conjugate heat transfer in coolant-based thermal management of a Li-ion battery pack. Solutions for the governing energy conservation equations for thermal conduction and convection are derived and coupled with each other in an iterative fashion to determine the final temperature distribution. The analytical model is used to investigate the dependence of the temperature field on various geometrical and material parameters. This work shows that the coolant flowrate required for effective cooling can be reduced significantly by improving the thermal conductivity of individual Li-ion cells. Further, this work helps understand key thermal–electrochemical trade-offs in the design of thermal management for Li-ion battery packs, such as the trade-off between temperature rise and energy storage density in the battery pack.

Effect of parameters on thermal and fluid-flow behavior of battery thermal management system

“…The study also conclude that the conductivity of a conduction element which acts as a screen between liquid coolant and battery cell plays very prime role in efficient heat transfer. Chalise et al [18] investigated a conjugate heat transfer problem pertinent to liquid cooling of Li-ion battery pack with analytical approach. Different fluid and flow velocity were considered to determine the efficient performance of battery pack.…”

“…While the experimental studies mainly focused on charging and discharging effect on thermal behavior of battery cells considering only the solid cell. However, the realistic conjugate condition at the solid battery cell and coolant interface is not reported, except Chalise et al [18]. Chalise et al [18] performed a conjugate analysis of battery cell considering few coolants and flow velocity by analytical method and external flow.…”

“…However, the realistic conjugate condition at the solid battery cell and coolant interface is not reported, except Chalise et al [18]. Chalise et al [18] performed a conjugate analysis of battery cell considering few coolants and flow velocity by analytical method and external flow. Boundary layer equation was used by Chalise et al [18] to conduct the analytical analysis focusing on maximum temperature and temperature distribution keeping the parallel cell plate far away from the vicinity of considered battery cell.…”

“…Chalise et al [18] performed a conjugate analysis of battery cell considering few coolants and flow velocity by analytical method and external flow. Boundary layer equation was used by Chalise et al [18] to conduct the analytical analysis focusing on maximum temperature and temperature distribution keeping the parallel cell plate far away from the vicinity of considered battery cell. Giving consideration to some of the above stated facts and taking motivation from them, the present investigation is intended to perform a numerical simulation by considering the parametric effect on a realistic conjugate thermal behavior of prismatic battery cell cooled by air.…”

Cooling of a battery pack of a car, working on renewable energy

“…Because of charging and discharging, the cells are heated. A significant temperature increase adversely affects the battery characteristics, and can lead to its capacity degradation [17,18] and even to destruction [19], which explains the need for cooling [20,21].…”