Multi-U-Style micro-channel in liquid cooling plate for thermal management of power batteries

Abstract

In order to cope with the problem of the shortening of automotive power battery life and the reduction of occupant safety due to the large amount of heat generated by automotive power batteries of high-energy–density at high discharge rates, this paper proposes a Multi-U-Style micro-channel in the liquid-cooled plate (Multi-U), based on the heat generation characteristics and temperature distribution of automotive power batteries. The impact of different Multi-U arrangements on the cooling performance of the batteries is explored, and the results indicate that the cooling performance is better with the side face arrangement. Compared to main face 1, the maximum temperature (Tmax) and maximum temperature difference (ΔTmax) of the batteries decrease by 2.40 K and 2.50 K, respectively. In addition, through a comparative analysis with typical serpentine micro-channel chilled plate (SMCP) and parallel micro-channel chilled plate (PMCP), Multi-U exhibits superior overall performance. Furthermore, the influence of equally incremental and decreasing channel width of Multi-U from the center to the periphery on cooling performance of the batteries is explored. It turns out that when the channel width is equally decreasing 1 mm Multi-U (D 1 mm), the heat dissipation is most effective. Finally, the critical parameters of the Multi-U are optimized to improve the power density of batteries. The impact of critical parameters of the Multi-U on the cooling performance of the batteries is studied through orthogonal experiments. The optimal parameter combination is found to be a channel width (W) = 12 mm, channel thickness (H) = 6 mm, inlet mass flow rate (F) = 0.02 kg∙s−1, and inlet coolant temperature (T) = 292.15 K. Compared to the original Multi-U, the Tmax and ΔTmax of batteries decrease by 5.83 K and 0.06 K, respectively, while the pressure drops decrease by 89 %.