An experimental study on lithium-ion electric vehicles battery packs behavior under extreme conditions for prevention of thermal runaway

Abstract

The need for efficient and dependable lithium-ion battery packs has significantly increased as a result of the progressively rising sales of electric vehicles (EVs). Thermal management is one of the key factors in battery performance and durability. To avoid thermal deterioration, improve safety, and maximize system effectiveness, the battery pack's temperature must be carefully managed. These battery systems' potential for thermal runaway has raised concerns about how safely they can be operated in harsh environments. Environmental considerations, governmental laws, and developments in battery technology are driving the switch from internal combustion engines to electric automobiles. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to temperature variations and operating them outside the optimal temperature range can lead to accelerated degradation, reduced capacity, and compromised safety. Key performance indicators used to assess battery thermal management system effectiveness include temperature uniformity, cooling effectiveness, energy usage, and effect on battery life. This paper describes an experimental investigation that looked at how lithium-ion EV battery packs behaved in harsh environments. It also suggests a unique strategy to prevent thermal runaway by using materials like Transformer Oil (TO) and Phase Change Materials (PCM). A specially built experimental setup was created to undertake this inquiry in order to imitate several extreme situations, including high ambient temperatures. A lithium-ion (NMC) battery pack (7S3P) was put through the experimental phase's predicted harsh circumstances to see how it would react thermally. In order to obtain insight into the underlying mechanisms causing thermal runaway, the data acquired were evaluated, and crucial thermal metrics like temperature distribution, heat dissipation, and thermal gradients were studied. The experiment's findings showed that under extreme circumstances, conventional cooling techniques were ineffective in preventing thermal runaway, which resulted in serious safety risks and a reduction in battery performance. The suggested strategy, which incorporates PCM and TO, was then put into practice to fix these flaws and improve battery safety. Due to their ability to self-regulate, they served as components that prevented thermal runaway by limiting the rise in temperature under high-stress situations.