Computational modeling of a lithium‐ion battery thermal management system with Al ₂ O ₃ ‐based nanofluids

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are seen as the primary energy storage tools for hybrid electric aircraft. However, the high temperature that occurs in battery modules can lead to a reduction in the capacity of the batteries and may even lead to serious safety issues such as fire. Therefore, it is essential to design an effective and reliable thermal management system to maintain battery temperatures under acceptable thresholds. In this study, a battery management system was designed using Al 2 O 3 nanofluid in different configurations, incorporating two different cooling models based on longitudinal and transverse flow directions, where the battery module consisted of 20 prismatic lithium-ion batteries. The two models were compared in terms of discharge rates, volume fraction values of nanofluid, and inlet velocities, and temperatures of the coolant. Overall, it was evident that the battery module was within the safe temperature range when cooled with the nanofluid, but not air.Novelty Statement: Lithium-ion batteries are seen as primary energy storage tools for hybrid electric aircraft. Thermal analysis of the batteries was performed in three dimensions by taking the bus bars into consideration. Nano fluid cooling was used as an effective way to keep battery temperatures within acceptable ranges.

A review of Li‐ion battery temperature control and a key future perspective on cutting‐edge cooling methods for electrical vehicle applications

“…The BMs under examination reached safe temperature levels under all operational situations pertinent to the operation's scope. In general, AC should not have been employed to cool this battery array because doing so led to huge increases in battery temperatures that were outside of the acceptable operating range and resulted in fires and other safety risks 125 …”

“…Although, in‐depth analysis also reveals that the zig‐zag profile results in almost three times bigger PDs for roughly the same cooling performances, demonstrating that it is not the best option to be used in the investigated BTMS. The authors looked into how liquid cooling plates (LCP) were affected by inlet and outlet layouts 125 . Utilising a serpentine channel LCP with two entry and exit points, numerical analysis has been done to determine the effects of various variables on cooling.…”

“…Researchers are attempting to develop exceptionally stable and convective heat transfer fluids by utilising the special properties of NPs 104‐107 . Furthermore, homogenising, 124,125 sonification 126,127 and magnetic stirring 128,129 are utilised in the two‐step method to scatter chemically or physically created NPs within a primary fluid with or without the use of a surfactant. NPs are the fundamental constituent in NF, which is why NF research has been accelerated due to improvements in nanotechnology in general and access to NPs in particular.…”

“…Performance comparison of the NF with ethylene glycol has been carried out. The results of the simulation 125 F I G U R E 1 3 Compact liquid cooling. 81 showed that using NF as a coolant cools the BP more rapidly than using ethylene glycol, and they also suggested that the concentration of NPs in the base fluid needs to be raised to provide better cooling.…”

“…In general, AC should not have been employed to cool this battery array because doing so led to huge increases in battery temperatures that were outside of the acceptable operating range and resulted in fires and other safety risks. 125 Zakaria et al 126 investigated the impact of an addition of aluminium oxide to glycol-H 2 O and outcomes revealed that there is an improvement in thermal diffusivity of the glycol-H 2 O mixture by 0.05 W/m K by just adding 0.5% Al 2 O 3 as a volume fraction. Huo and Rao 99 used a Boltzmann model for simulation study.…”