Numerical analysis of the thermal performance of a liquid cooling battery module based on the gradient ratio flow velocity and gradient increment tube diameter

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer 2021-08, Vol.175, p.121338, Article 121338
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhengyu, Liu, Xiang, Meng, Hui, Guo, Lekai, Zhang, Zheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Ambient temperature; Battery thermal management system; Equivalent circuits; Flow velocity; Gradient increment tube diameter; Gradient ratio flow velocity; Layouts; Liquid cooling; Management systems; Modules; Numerical analysis; Product safety; Rechargeable batteries; Static electricity; Temperature; Temperature gradients; Temperature uniformity; Thermal management; Tubes
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.121338

•The vertical layout of tubes has better thermal performance than horizontal layout.•Gradient flow velocity and tube diameter can improve temperature uniformity.•Gradient flow velocity and tube diameter have good effects on precooling and preheating. Battery thermal management systems (BTMSs) ensure that battery packs working in a suitable environment to guarantee the safety and stability of the battery packs. In this study, a new type of liquid cooling BTMS based on the vertical layout of the tube (VLT) and a combination of the gradient increment tube diameter and gradient ratio flow velocity of the fluid medium is proposed. The discrete model based on the battery equivalent circuit model are established to analyze the thermal performance of battery module involving 25 cells in an aluminium frame with straight tubes. The effects of two kinds of tube layouts, fluid velocity, tube diameter, gradient ratio flow velocity and gradient increment tube diameter on the thermal performance of the battery module are discussed. The results show that in a certain range of flow velocity, the battery module with the vertical layout of the tube has better performance than the horizontal layout. In addition, compared with the constant flow velocity and constant tube diameter, the strategy of the gradient ratio flow velocity or gradient increment tube diameter can reduce the battery temperature difference, and the combination of the two can further improve the temperature uniformity. Furthermore, the results show that when the ambient temperature is -10 ∘C and 60 ∘C, the temperature difference of the battery module is reduced by 52.16% and 50.11%, respectively.