Effects of velocity and battery arrangement on air-cooled lithium-ion battery thermal management

Abstract

Thermal management of Electric vehicle (EV) batteries is essential to prevent overheating, which can lead to early battery degradation and safety risks such as thermal runaway. This study explores the impact of airflow velocity and battery arrangement on the thermal performance of air-cooled lithium-ion batteries. A Z-type battery pack was used as the battery casing, housing 15 lithium-ion batteries of 3.7-V and 3800 mAh. These batteries were arranged and connected symmetrically and asymmetrically, in both series and parallel to provide an output of 12-V and 19000-mAh. With the aid of a fan, airflow at 1, 2, and 3 m/s were supplied to the battery pack, and temperature measurements were recorded at these velocities. The symmetrical arrangement at 0 m/s under constant load had a temperature of 31.52°C, which dropped to 30.02°C, 29.87°C, and 29.22°C at 1, 2, and 3 m/s, respectively. In comparison, the asymmetrically arranged battery pack had a temperature of 30.92°C at 0 m/s, which dropped to 29.22°C, 28.87°C, and 28.57°C at 1, 2, and 3 m/s, respectively. The findings of this study can be used to improve the thermal performance, safety, and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries in various applications.