A Numerical Study on Mini-Channel Heat-Sink for Battery Cooling System

Abstract

Effective thermal management is essential for maintaining the performance, safety, and longevity of cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells. This paper proposes shapes and configurations of possible heat sinks with mini-channels for the liquid cooling of cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells and presents numerical analyses to assess their thermal behavior. The designs integrate cylindrical, hexagonal, pentagonal, and triangular heat sinks with semi-circular mini-channels of varying dimensions to enhance heat dissipation. Water-based liquid cooling is used here due to its superior cooling capabilities. Three-dimensional simulations are performed under laminar flow conditions, with Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 106 to 742, reflecting real-world battery-cooling scenarios. The investigation systematically examines how channel size and flow rates impact temperature profiles and Nusselt numbers (Nu) for each of the four chosen heat sinks. Higher Re improves heat loss by convection; consequently, the area-weighted average (AWA) Nu increases with Re. Channel size also influences the AWA-Nu; AWA-Nu increases with channel width. A sufficiently higher flow rate achieves markedly elevated AWA-Nu for all the chosen channel dimensions.