CFD Analysis of Battery Thermal Management System

Abstract

The transition to electric mobility, owing to their proposition as a solution to the environmental qualms of rising levels of pollution due to the utilization of conventional sources of energy (fossil fuels), has directed the attention of researchers to the main energy storage system of the electric vehicles that is batteries. Due to their efficient peak and average power delivery, batteries are the preferred choice for energy storage. With Lithium-ion chemistry proving to be an efficient battery technology in terms of energy density, specific power, safety, durability, and reduced emissions; the requirements for their optimum operation include a temperature range of 15°C-35°C and a uniform temperature profile, which in turn affects the vehicle performance are a cause of concern. This underscores the importance of a design of an effective battery thermal management system (BTMS). A BTMS is tasked with the maintain a fixed range of temperature throughout the battery operation, thus enhancing its life and efficiency. A variety of BTMS designs have been presented based on different types of medium, power consumption and thermal cycle. The objective of this work is to analyse the different BTMSs for different arrangements of cells in a battery module using CFD and utilize the results of the analysis to propose the optimum, cost-effective, and low maintenance BTMS for enhanced performance of the battery module. The CFD analysis is performed the assessment of the airflow using ANSYS Fluent in the BTMS. The analysis of the air flow through the battery module can give a better insight on changing the packing arrangement of cells and positioning of active or passive thermal management systems.