Impact of Cooling Strategies and Cell Housing Materials on Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Management Performance

Abstract

The transition to renewable energy sources from fossil fuels requires that the harvested energy be stored because of the intermittent nature of renewable sources. Thus, lithium-ion batteries have become a widely utilized power source in both daily life and industrial applications due to their high power output and long lifetime. In order to ensure the safe operation of these batteries at their desired power and capacities, it is crucial to implement a thermal management system (TMS) that effectively controls battery temperature. In this study, the thermal performance of a 1S14P lithium-ion battery module composed of cylindrical 18650 cells was compared for distinct cases of natural convection (no cooling), forced air convection, and phase change material (PCM) cooling. During the tests, the greatest temperatures were reached at a 2C discharge rate; the maximum module temperature reached was 55.4 degrees C under the natural convection condition, whereas forced air convection and PCM cooling reduced the maximum module temperature to 46.1 degrees C and 52.3 degrees C, respectively. In addition, contacting the battery module with an aluminum mass without using an active cooling element reduced the temperature to 53.4 degrees C. The polyamide battery housing (holder) used in the module limited the cooling performance. Thus, simulations on alternative materials document how the cooling efficiency can be increased.