Electro-thermal coupling modeling and thermal characterization of sodium-ion batteries

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries have garnered increasing attention in the field of large-scale energy storage due to their low cost, abundant resources, and wide operating temperature range. This study investigates the thermal characteristics and management of sodium-ion batteries. However, compared to lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries exhibit higher internal resistance, leading to significant heat generation, particularly at high discharge rates, which presents challenges for safe and efficient operation. In this study, experimental testing and modeling methods are used to explore the effects of internal resistance, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity on battery heat generation. A liquid-cooled thermal management system combining aluminum plates and liquid-cooled plates was also developed. The results indicate that the battery temperature is influenced by both the charge and discharge rates, with lower temperatures improving thermal performance. The introduction of aluminum plates and optimization of the liquid flow rate (0.5 m/s) effectively reduced the maximum temperature by 17 ℃, compared to no thermal management system (62 ℃). This study emphasizes the critical importance of temperature management in maintaining battery performance and safety. Its novelty lies in revealing the heat generation patterns of sodium-ion batteries and using a combination of liquid cooling and aluminum plates to provide superior cooling performance at high discharge rates, while optimizing the thermal management strategy to balance cooling efficiency and energy consumption. This work lays the foundation for the development of thermal management designs for sodium-ion batteries and provides an effective approach to optimizing cooling systems for high-power applications.