Performance analysis of a battery thermal management system combining thermoelectric, composite phase change material, and liquid cooling under extreme operating conditions

Luo, Ding; Wu, Zihao; Yan, Yuying; Sun, Zeyu; Yang, Lin; Cao, Bingyang

Abstract

To maintain optimal operating temperatures for lithium-ion batteries under extreme operating conditions, a battery thermal management system (BTMS) integrating the thermoelectric cooler (TEC), liquid cooling, and composite phase change material (CPCM) is developed. Moreover, a transient numerical model has been established, considering thermal, electrical, and fluid multiphysics fields, to precise evaluation the system's performance. The outcomes indicate a decrease in both the maximum battery temperature and CPCM liquid fraction as the expanded graphite (EG) mass fraction, TEC cooling input current, and coolant flow speed increase. Furthermore, the temperature difference among batteries exhibits a decrease as the EG mass fraction increases, but experiences an elevation with an increase in both current and coolant flow speed. The BTMS features the lowest power consumption and optimal cooling performance at the EG mass fraction of 12 %, the TEC cooling input current of 3 A, and the coolant flow speed of 0.05 m/s. In preheating situations, the battery pack can achieve a temperature of 293.15 K starting from 263.15 K with the assistance of TEC preheating input currents of 4 A and 5 A, taking 5600 s and 2240 s, respectively, to complete the entire preheating procedure. This study will offer new insights into the advancement of the BTMS, allowing for the control of battery temperatures in high-temperature and high-discharge rate conditions, coupled with preheating at low-temperature.

Citation

Luo, D., Wu, Z., Yan, Y., Sun, Z., Yang, L., & Cao, B. (2024). Performance analysis of a battery thermal management system combining thermoelectric, composite phase change material, and liquid cooling under extreme operating conditions. Journal of Energy Storage, 95, Article 112679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112679

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 16, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 22, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Energy Storage
• Electronic ISSN: 2352-152X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 95
• Article Number: 112679
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112679
• Keywords: Battery thermal management system; Numerical model; Thermoelectric cooler; Composite phase change material; Extreme operating conditions
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/36565947
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X24022655