Investigation into Thermal Cooling with Different Ferrofluid Flow Arrangements for a Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

Abstract

Energy storage performance and its long life are strongly related to its operating conditions. Due to greater power density, more compactness, and longer service life, thermal chilling methods are essential to keep the designed temperature range. The 18650 lithium-ion cylindrical battery module (60 cells) with ferrofluid (0.015% by volume) as coolant with two different flow arrangements was investigated with charging and discharging processes. The turbulent model was used to solve the model of determining the maximum temperature and the temperature distribution, which significantly affects the long lifecycle and thermal performance. Model I gives a maximum temperature of 30 °C, and model II has a maximum temperature of 32 °C. In addition, model I gives a lower battery pack temperature difference than model II. Regarding cell temperature, the top zone of the cells has a higher temperature than the bottom zone and gives a maximum difference of about 0.25–0.5 °C for model I and 0.50-1.00 °C for model II. The predicted temperature distributions are compared with those from the experimental data, and good agreement is reached. The improved flow direction of coolant significantly affects the decreasing maximum operating temperature and the cell temperature difference.

Acknowledgments

The researchers would like to thank Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) for funding, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering for providing the workplace for this research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarawut Sirikasemsuk

Sarawut Sirikasemsuk received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand, in 2008, 2010, and 2022, repectively. His research interests include heat transfer enhacement, EV batttery cooling and numerical analysis. He has a temporary contract now with the Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi (Huntra Campus) - Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya- Thailand.

Nittaya Naphon

Nittaya Naphon received the Bachelor (Pharmaceutical Science) and Master (Pharmaceutical Science) from Chiangmai University, Thailand. Her research interests include the natural products extraction, nanomaterials, and chemical analysis. She has a temporary contract now with the Faculty of Pharmacy, Srinakharinwirot University – Bangkok-Thailand.

Paisarn Naphon

Paisarn Naphon received the M.S. and Dr. Ing. degrees in mechanical engineering from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand, in 1998 and 2004, respectively. He was a Lecturer with the Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. His research interests include numerical analysis, finite element methods, heat transfer enhancement, heat exchangers, electronic cooling, and nanofluids heat transfer. He has a temporary contract now with Srinakharinwirot University – Bangkok-Thailand.