Thermal analysis of high-power lithium-ion battery packs using flow network approach

High-power applications of lithium-ion batteries require efficient thermal management systems. In this work, a lumped capacitance heat transfer model is developed in conjunction with a flow network approach to study performance of a commercial-size lithium-ion battery pack, under various design and operating conditions of a thermal management system. In order to assess the battery thermal management system, capabilities of air, silicone oil, and water are examined as three potential coolant fluids. Different flow configurations are considered, and temperature dispersions, cell-averaged voltage distributions, and parasitic losses due to the fan/pump power demand are calculated. It is found that application of a coolant with an appropriate viscosity and heat capacity, such as water, in conjunction with a flow configuration with more than one inlet will result in uniform temperature and voltage distributions in the battery pack while keeping the power requirement at low, acceptable levels. Simulation results are presented and compared with literature for model validation and to show the superior capability of the proposed battery pack design methodology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.