Numerical Investigation of Phase Change Material Based Thermal Management in High Discharge Prismatic Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

This study presents a battery thermal management system (BTMS) that employs phase change material (PCM) to control the temperature of a prismatic lithium-ion battery, with particular emphasis on its performance under a high 5C discharge rate. The battery with a nominal capacity of 12 Ah and dimensions 90 mm x 70 mm x 27 mm was simulated to analyse temperature distribution and the effects of paraffin wax PCM encapsulation of 2 mm thickness on the front and back surfaces. A coupled solidification-melting numerical model was developed and verified through transient simulations. According to the results, the peak hotspot temperature at the center decreases by roughly 13 K when PCM is added, from 335.4 K to 322.1 K. It also reduces the average temperature of the battery by roughly the same amount. For natural convection heat transfer, the numerical simulation uses a laminar flow model that is suitable for battery surfaces and environmental circumstances. Transient heat generation from volumetric sources that correspond to the 5C discharge rate is included in this model. According to the study's findings, PCM integration improves battery longevity and safety by efficiently controlling battery temperature. Important details on how to enhance the BTMS design for electric vehicle battery packs are provided by this work.