A Comparative Study of Active, Passive, and Hybrid Thermal Management Systems for Li-Ion Batteries: Performance Analysis

Abstract

Li-ion batteries (LIB) are one of the most prevalent kinds of batteries used in electronic devices to store electrical energy due to their steady voltage, high energy density, and excellent cycle performance. However, its quick charging and discharging cycle generates a lot of heat which may reduce battery capacity and destroy the electrode material's nanostructure and crystal structure. As a result, a scientific and efficient battery thermal management system (BTMS) is crucial. In this paper, we suggested a BTMS for a 9-cell battery pack with cell spacing of 9mm. Air-cooled and PCM-based systems were simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 and compared against a bare-cell battery pack where a temperature drop of 3.53 K and 5.04 K was observed respectively after incorporating the cooling system. In our final study, we simulated a hybrid BTMS that used both forced air cooling and PCM and compared it to a scenario where air cooling was the only type of cooling used by the system. This produced interesting results as the temperature in the hybrid system increased by 1.48 K. Therefore, in order for the hybrid system to benefit from both cooling systems, an in-depth evaluation of the fan's air flow properties, as well as the PCM thickness and material, must take place. The thickness and material must be such that the air cooling provided by the flow control mechanism reaches the actual electrochemical cell.