Comparative Numerical Study of PCM and Air-Based Cooling for Li-Ion Battery Thermal Management: A CFD Approach

Abstract

Effective thermal regulation is crucial to the safety, efficiency, and longevity of lithium-ion batteries, especially for power-intensive applications, thermally efficient control is essential. A numerical simulation is performed to compare the two cooling methods for a 5x2 Li-ion battery pack: forced air cooling and phase change material (PCM) cooling utilizing n-octadecane. Gravity, the energy equation, and viscous effects were all considered when conducting the transient simulation. Solidification/melting model considered the phase transformation in the case of PCM. PCM cooling demonstrated better thermal regulation than forced air cooling techniques, producing in a 0.74 K lower peak temperature in 100 seconds and a 1.25 K lower average temperature. Effective latent heat absorption, which reaches 15% liquid fraction, is the cause of PCM's superior performance. All things considered, PCM-based cooling is an exploitable way to increase battery safety and dependability, with potential for further research and experimental verification.