Numerical Investigation of Different Cooling Methods for Battery Packs

Abstract

This paper contains the results of numerical investigations into two cooling system types for cells of three types. The galvanic cell geometries which were considered were pouches, cylinders and prisms. By design, the cooling system for a vehicle is specialised to prevent an uncontrolled temperature increase at higher discharge rates. Consideration was given to the question of which cooling method would be sufficient to reduce the temperature rise of battery cells. The first cooling method investigated is one that uses direct contact with the air flow to cool the cells, a method that is very commonly used in automotive engineering, as it is less complicated. This study employs a method that uses a fan to induce forced convection, increasing the airflow over cells housed within a thermoplastic composite container. Another method, fluid cooling, is notable for its greater efficiency due to the use of a non-conducting coolant, which has also better energy absorption properties. In this study, immersion cooling was employed, utilising oil circulation through cells contained within a thermoplastic composite container, which was facilitated by a pump system. This publication shows the influence of the cell’s geometry and the type of cooling system on the temperature rise of cells when they are discharging at the appropriate power rate. The results of this study highlight the differences in cooling performance between the two methods, providing a clear basis for selecting the most suitable solution for specific applications.