Numerical Investigations on Air Cooled Li-Ion Battery Modules for Effective Thermal Management

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles due to the advantages of high energy density, low cost, but have limitations such as lifetime, safety, and cost. The service life of lithium-ion batteries is significantly impacted in a harsh environment. The battery thermal management system [BTMS] is implemented to limit the temperature in the given range. The air cooling system is highly preferred by most EVs due to its low cost, good reliability simple layout. This work includes numerical investigations on air-cooled li-ion battery cells arranged in a staggered way for effective thermal management. The main work includes the comparison between the arrangements of the air inlet and airflow over the cells in a module subjected to forced convection for a better cooling effect. The conjugate heat transfer simulation is carried out on both configurations to get the optimized battery pack design. The model is validated by simulating a single cell under 1C discharge conditions and transient thermal simulations. Analysis of results is based on flow parameters such as maximum temperature achieved, temperature, velocity & pressure gradients formed, and recirculation zones. Finally, some perspectives and outlooks on both the configurations based on the forced-air convection are put forward for future development.