Hybrid battery thermal management system of phase change materials integrated with aluminum fins and forced air

Abstract

Due to its high self-heat rate, most researchers have avoided using lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) in their work, although, major car companies use it to power some car models because of its high-power density. A thermal management system benefits from phase change material (PCM) and serves as a reliable cooling system to ensure the safety, performance, and lifespan of Li-ion batteries. In this study, we conducted an experimental investigation of a new hybrid battery thermal management system (BTMS) using PCM combined with aluminum fins and forced air to enhance the cooling performance of Li-ion battery type 18 650 LiCoO₂. Furthermore, the hybrid model's thermal behaviors are compared with other models that use only air or PCM for cooling. The cooling performance of different BTMS models was tested under a high temperature of 40°C and various discharge rates, as well as, various air velocities. The results demonstrate that the hybrid model effectively minimizes the battery heat accumulation and can reduce the maximum operating temperature by 1.5°C, 5.5°C, and 9.5°C compared to the air-cooling model and by 2.8°C, 5.1°C, and 16.1°C compared to the PCM model for discharge of 1C, 2C, and 3C rates, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum temperature difference within the battery pack did not surpass 3.1°C with our hybrid model. Moreover, the use of our model has a significant advantage in minimizing the air-cooling power consumption by 89%.