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A design optimization study of an air-cooling battery thermal management system for electric vehicles

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 10:19 authored by Gang ZhaoGang Zhao, Xiaolin WangXiaolin Wang, Michael NegnevitskyMichael Negnevitsky, Zhang, H
Air cooling is a highly cost-effective method for the battery thermal management systems due to its simple structure, high reliability and low maintenance cost. Different from other designs of only a single inlet/outlet structure in the literature, an air-cooling battery thermal management system with multiple inlets/outlets design was proposed in this paper. The effects of inlet/outlet positions and dimensions on the air-cooling battery thermal management system performance were thoroughly evaluated and compared. The optimal inlet/outlet position and dimension were identified based on the maximum battery temperature and the temperature uniformity in the air cooling field. The results showed that the symmetrical double inlets/outlets design (Design 4) delivered the top temperature uniformity with the lowest energy consumption. During 1C discharging at 2 m/s inlet airflow, the maximum temperature and temperature difference of the Design 4 were 1.01 K and 2.24 K lower than those of the basic Design 0 in addition to a pressure difference reduction of 7.85 Pa. Based on the optimal Design 4, 0.03 m outlet width could further reduce the maximum temperature and temperature difference by 0.47 K and 0.28 K than the worst 0.05 m design. Furthermore, 52 additional simulations under different operating conditions had proven that the superb cooling performance of the optimal design during mild discharging operations (0.5–1C).

Funding

Australian Research Council

Go Solar Group Pty Ltd

Regen Power Pty Ltd

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering

Pagination

1-12

ISSN

0954-4089

Department/School

School of Engineering

Publisher

Professional Engineering Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

Northgate Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, England, Suffolk, Ip32 6Bw

Rights statement

© IMechE 2022

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Energy systems and analysis