INVESTIGATION of LIQUID COOLING for LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES in PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS USING METAL FOAMS: A NUMERICAL APPROACH

This study addresses the critical issues of thermal management in electric vehicles focusing on the significant challenges related to the thermal control of rechargeable electric batteries. The optimal temperature maintenance is crucial for sustaining the electric vehicles autonomy by isolating the batteries from external climatic factors and temperature peaks during operation. In this numerical study, a threedimensional cylindrical lithium-polymer based single battery module model is employed. The thermal control process involves the utilization of phase change material (PCM) embedded in metal foam. The battery is further cooled through convective liquid flow facilitated by various tube arrangements. The model is implemented using the finite volume method. Various cases are simulated considering two different PCM'S namely RT25HC and RT 35 embedded with metal foam of two different pore densities of 20 and 40 PPI at three different C-rates of 0.25C, 0.5C and 1C respectively. The study further provides a comprehensive insight into temperature distribution along the surface of the battery during the process of discharge in terms of liquid fraction, maximum surface temperature and the maximum temperature attained by the battery model and the maximum temperature recorded by the PCM materials using the above thermal control arrangement.