Design optimization of a loop heat pipe to cool a lithium ion battery onboard a military aircraft

Abstract

The present paper proposes optimization procedures for loop heat pipe (LHP) designed to cool the lithium-ion battery for airborne high energy electric lasers (HEL) without power consumption. The LHP is more efficient than the air cooling device using bleed air. The battery temperature rising enlarges the permanent loss of its capacity and makes it unusable and unsafe. Cold speedy air around a flying aircraft becomes a good heat sink for dissipating the battery heat. The design objective is to reduce the weight of the LHP, considering the range of battery operating temperature and operational reliability. For numerical analysis, the total system of the LHP is analyzed through a thermohydraulic model and the heat transfer of the porous wick is predicted by the thin liquid film model. The thermal characteristics of the groove section are found by an analytical solution and a finite difference method. The design optimization is executed by using approximation models for the cases of (1) a fixed heat load, (2) a varied heat load without uncertainty consideration, and (3) a varied heat load with uncertainty consideration about the generated heat of the battery. As result of the optimization process, the weight of the LHP was reduced significantly. The optimized LHP for the varied heat load with uncertainty consideration case is most reliable and robust with slight increase of the weight.

Investigation of power battery thermal management by using mini-channel cold plate

“…Based on the large amount of liquid latent heat of vaporization, the use of heat pipes for BTM allows for a significant reduction in battery operating temperature [9,[20][21][22]. Greco et al [23] proposed a simplified thermal network based on the heat transfer principle associated with the use of heat pipes, with which a one-dimensional computational model was developed.…”

Surface Cooling Causes Accelerated Degradation Compared to Tab Cooling for Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells

“…These include taking advantage of the latent heat of vaporization through the use of heat pipes, or using evaporative heat transfer fluids in direct contact with the cells. [15][16][17][18][19] Additionally, solid to liquid phase change materials have been investigated, some employing a slurry of small particles of emulsified paraffin, and some employing carbon sheets impregnated with a phase change material. …”

“…These include taking advantage of the latent heat of vaporization through the use of heat pipes, or using evaporative heat transfer fluids in direct contact with the cells. [15][16][17][18][19] Additionally, solid to liquid phase change materials have been investigated, some employing a slurry of small particles of emulsified paraffin, and some employing carbon sheets impregnated with a phase change material. [20][21][22] Degradation of lithium-ion batteries is very complicated, with various interdependent mechanisms contributing to both capacity loss (capacity fade) and increased resistance (power fade).…”

A critical review of thermal management models and solutions of lithium-ion batteries for the development of pure electric vehicles

“…Jang and Rhi [205] used a loop thermosyphon cooling method which also combined the heat pipe with air cooling. Barantsevich and Shabalkin [206] introduced the testing aspects of ammonia axial grooved heat pipes to thermally control the solar battery drive, and Park et al [207] obtained a numerical optimisation for a loop heat pipe to cool the lithium-ion battery onboard a military aircraft. More recently, Burban et al [208] tested an unlooped PHP (2.5mm inner tube diameter) with an air heat exchanger for cooling electronic devices in hybrid vehicles (Fig.…”