STUDY AND DESIGN OF THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERY MODULE

Abstract

World is rapidly transforming into the age of Electric Vehicle technology. This is also associated with green and clean transportation technology. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable energy storage devices used in electrical vehicles due to high power density, low self-discharge, high efficiency, long life cycle etc. However, there is change in temperature during the charge/discharge cycle of operation due to heat generation. And, it is necessary to maintain the temperature of battery within specific range for the safety and life of the battery by adopting proper thermal management system. In this project, we aim to study and analyze thermal management systems for lithium-ion battery modules. For this purpose, we have conducted numerical study of unit cell module air cooling system using steady state Conjugate Heat Transfer in ANSYS Fluent 2022R1. Experimental setup is also developed for unit cell module air cooling. And, comparative study between experimental and numerical solution is conducted based on cell average temperature. Numerical analysis of 3S3P module air cooling system is conducted for four different flow channel configurations and varied velocities for obtaining efficient system. Numerical study of 3S3P module cold plate liquid cooling system is also conducted with four different flow channel configurations and varied flow velocities for obtaining suitable cold plate liquid cooling on basis of cell average temperature and temperature distribution in system. For a unit cell, it is found that the cell average temperature reaches stable value after certain flow velocity. There is a decrease in temperature due to an increase in velocity from 0.2 m/s to 4.3m/s for unit cell module air cooling system. From four different configurations of air cooling, SIDO configuration has less value of cell average temperature with varied velocity from response surface analysis and CHT simulation. Average cell temperature of cobweb type is least for the same coolant inlet velocity among four different liquid cold plate configurations. It is also found that temperature distribution using cobweb type cold plate is uniform at lower pressure.