Effect of mechanical vibration on thermal performance of PCM-fin structure Li-ion battery thermal management system under high-rate discharge and high-temperature environment

The PCM-fin structure battery thermal management system (PCM-fin structure BTMS) has garnered significant attention due to its exceptional thermal performance. However, existing research has overlooked the presence of mechanical vibration that is inevitable in the operational environment of electric vehicle BTMS. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by comprehensively analyzing the effect of mechanical vibration on the thermal performance of the BTMS under high-temperature and high-rate discharge condition. Four novel findings are introduced for the first time: Firstly, mechanical vibration can significantly enhance the thermal performance of the BTMS, and the enhancement effect is more pronounced compared to the PCM-based BTMS without fins. Secondly, mechanical vibration also affects the ideal fin quantity for the BTMS. Under no vibration condition, the ideal quantity of fins is 10, while under mechanical vibration condition of 30 mm amplitude and 20 Hz frequency, the ideal fin quantity is 8. Thirdly, the thermal performance of the BTMS can be improved by increasing the vibration amplitude. Nevertheless, once a certain high value is reached, further increasing the vibration amplitude has a negligible effect on the enhancement of thermal performance. Lastly, even under low vibration frequency of 10 Hz, the BTMS can still perform well. However, as the vibration frequency increases, the thermal performance of the BTMS becomes progressively less sensitive to changes in vibration frequency. This work can provide guidance for the design and practical application of PCM-fin structure BTMS.