Optimization of the detailed factors in a phase-change-material module for battery thermal management

Abstract Phase change material (PCM) cooling, as an excellent option for ensuring safety via balancing heat distribution, has been widely used in the thermal management of lithium-ion battery. In this work, a simple PCM cooling structure has been designed. Then we systematically investigate its cooling behavior and the influence of several detailed factors on the performance, including the thickness and phase change temperature (PCT) of the PCM, as well as the laying-aside time during dynamic cycling. The experimental results show that a PCM module with a thickness of ∼10 mm presents the optimal cooling performance, consistent with the theoretical calculation, but the lower heat dissipation capability at the bottom of the battery should be taken into account when designing the PCM module. In addition, increasing the laying-aside time is also beneficial to enhancing the cooling efficiency, whereas the selection of the PCT is variable based on different specific applications and comprehensive requirements, particularly those targeting guaranteeing a higher capacity of the batteries.

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