Heat dissipation performance of hybrid lithium battery thermal management system using bionic nephrolepis micro-channel

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering 2022-11, Vol.217, p.119127, Article 119127
• Main Authors: An, Zhiguo, Zhang, Chunjie, Gao, Zhengyuan, Luo, Yushi, Dong, Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Battery thermal management; Bionic structure; Hybrid heat dissipation; Lithium-ion cell; Phase change material
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.119127

•Bionic water micro-channel inspired by the growth mode of the Nephrolepis.•Battery thermal management system combines CPCM with water cooling.•Optimal design for lithium-ion battery heat dissipation at high discharge rate.•Complex water micro-channel made by 3D printing process. To enhance heat dissipation performance at high-rate discharge conditions, a thermal management system with bionic water-cooling/composite phase change material is nominated for 26,650 lithium-ion cell, which is inspired by the growth mode of the Nephrolepis. The effects of the external diameter, layer number of bionic micro-channel, liquid flow tempo, and the arrangement of the channel on the highest temperature and temperature differences of the cell at a discharge rate of 4C are investigated through simulated and physical experiments. Furthermore, the thermal performance of the battery thermal management system for battery module are analyzed at different inlet flow tempos at 4C and 5C discharge rates. The result indicates that the highest temperature and temperature difference of the cell decrease with the increase of the layer number and external diameter of the micro-channel at a constant channel inlet flow tempo and projected angle of the micro-channel. Under the conditions of the ambient temperature of 303.15 K and the mass fraction of composite phase change material is about 40 %, the highest temperatures can be regulated at 310.28 K and 309.99 K, and the temperature differences among cells are 4.06 K and 4.21 K at a discharge ratio of 4C and 5C, respectively.