Experimental investigation of change in performance parameters on cooling of lithium‐ion battery pack using nanofluids

Abstract

AbstractElectric vehicles surged into the automobile industry due to increasing emissions and future extinction of fossil fuels which resulted due to their unforeseen utilization all over the globe. Battery is important components for manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs). Currently lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) cells are the most advanced and efficient cell technology developed till date. These cells work well within an operating temperature range of 15° C to 35°C. Thus, many battery cooling techniques were developed such as air, liquid, phase change material (PCM) and heat pipe based cooling system. Liquid cooling was found to be the most efficient, adoptable and convenient system used in EVs. The current paper focuses on development of an active indirect liquid cooling system using nanofluids as coolant. Different performance parameters such as mass flow rate, nanoparticle concentration and maximum temperature of battery pack were varied and simulation results were validated using experimental results. The results concluded that nanofluids show improved and enhanced cooling as in comparison with other coolants such as water and ethylene glycol. Al2O3‐water nanofluid is the most preferable to use in EVs as coolants due to its efficient cooling, low cost and environmental friendly nature. On increasing the mass flow rate of the coolants, flowing into the cooling tube increases the cooling performance and reduces the temperature of battery pack within the battery operating zone. The cooling performance using nanofluids increased by 40% as in comparison with water and ethylene glycol as coolants when tested experimentally.