A simulation approach in analyzing performance of fly ash nanofluid for optimizing battery thermal management system used in EVs

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a fundamental paradigm shift in the automotive industry, driven by the desire to achieve sustainable mobility, ameliorate climate change, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicle (EV) technology has advanced significantly in recent years, with improvements in battery efficiency, range, and charging infrastructure among them. Lithium-ion battery technology has evolved tremendously, boosting energy density and cutting costs as the primary energy storage option for electric vehicles. The advancement of fast-charging stations and smart grid integration, which have significantly resolved concerns with convenience and charging time, has also fostered a wider acceptance of EVs. Nonetheless, the operating temperature range of the lithium-ion cells currently in use is 15°C-35°C. The vehicle's range and battery performance can be impacted by temperatures above or below. For efficient cooling and to keep the cells within the operational temperature range, a suitable Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) must be implemented. The utilization of fly ash nanoparticles dispersed in water-ethylene glycol base fluid as coolant in indirect liquid cooling systems is the main topic of the current work. For 14 LFP cylindrical cells with a 2S7P configuration and a serpentine cooling channel between the cells, an ANSYS FLUENT model has been created. The goal of the current study is to comprehend the rise in temperature at the outlet for various flow velocities by using fly ash nanofluid with 5% particle concentration as cooling. When the fluid flow rate was 0.1 m/s, the cooling performance was better, resulting in an outlet temperature rise of 311.976 K and a 4% temperature rise above the 300 K inlet fluid flow temperature. Indicating efficient cooling at lower fluid flow velocities, the percentage difference between the rise in temperature of the fluid's outflow at 0.1 and 3 m/s is 3.07%. Compared to the current coolant, ethylene glycol, the average increase in temperature difference (∆T)% is between 0.9% and 1.2% using fly ash nanofluid. Thus, the use of Fly ash as a nanofluid in battery cooling applications will certainly help to reduce the temperature of the battery pack and can provide a sustainable solution leading to lesser degradation of the environment.