Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles

Air-cooled Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) technology has been proven and is frequently employed to regulate the distribution of temperature in a battery pack of an electric vehicle. In this study, a step-like divergence plenum was introduced to a standard Z-type BTMS to alter its airflow d...

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Main Authors: Olanrewaju M. Oyewola, Adetokunbo A. Awonusi, Olawale S. Ismail
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-05-01
Series:Alexandria Engineering Journal
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016823002570
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author Olanrewaju M. Oyewola
Adetokunbo A. Awonusi
Olawale S. Ismail
author_facet Olanrewaju M. Oyewola
Adetokunbo A. Awonusi
Olawale S. Ismail
author_sort Olanrewaju M. Oyewola
collection DOAJ
description Air-cooled Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) technology has been proven and is frequently employed to regulate the distribution of temperature in a battery pack of an electric vehicle. In this study, a step-like divergence plenum was introduced to a standard Z-type BTMS to alter its airflow distribution pattern and thus improve its cooling effectiveness. The impacts of the number and length of steps in the divergence plenum on the cooling responses of the BTMS were investigated using a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. Analysis of 1-step, 3-step, 4-step, and 7-step BTMS models were conducted and findings showed that the step quantity has a significant impact on the battery pack's ability to dissipate heat. For a step length of 30 mm, a 7-step case model offered the best system’s maximum temperature of 324.9 K and cell temperature difference of 1 K which were both 3.94 K and 5.93 K, respectively lower than that of the standard Z-type model. Furthermore, the step case models were optimized by observing the impacts of their step length on system's thermal performance. The outcomes showed that there was a substantial impact of the step length on cooling performance for all case models. For instance, a 4-step case model with a 45 mm step length offered a reduction in maximum temperature of 3.61 K and maximum temperature difference of 6.01 K when compared to the standard Z-type model. Finally, the behaviour of each case model was examined under increasing inlet air velocity and it shows that at higher airflow velocity, the 7-step case model performed substantially well than other investigated cases.
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spelling doaj.art-166dfce8f62f4eb3a52a9dea7285c5ab2023-04-07T06:48:32ZengElsevierAlexandria Engineering Journal1110-01682023-05-0171631644Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehiclesOlanrewaju M. Oyewola0Adetokunbo A. Awonusi1Olawale S. Ismail2School of Mechanical Engineering, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Corresponding author at: School of Mechanical Engineering, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaAir-cooled Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) technology has been proven and is frequently employed to regulate the distribution of temperature in a battery pack of an electric vehicle. In this study, a step-like divergence plenum was introduced to a standard Z-type BTMS to alter its airflow distribution pattern and thus improve its cooling effectiveness. The impacts of the number and length of steps in the divergence plenum on the cooling responses of the BTMS were investigated using a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. Analysis of 1-step, 3-step, 4-step, and 7-step BTMS models were conducted and findings showed that the step quantity has a significant impact on the battery pack's ability to dissipate heat. For a step length of 30 mm, a 7-step case model offered the best system’s maximum temperature of 324.9 K and cell temperature difference of 1 K which were both 3.94 K and 5.93 K, respectively lower than that of the standard Z-type model. Furthermore, the step case models were optimized by observing the impacts of their step length on system's thermal performance. The outcomes showed that there was a substantial impact of the step length on cooling performance for all case models. For instance, a 4-step case model with a 45 mm step length offered a reduction in maximum temperature of 3.61 K and maximum temperature difference of 6.01 K when compared to the standard Z-type model. Finally, the behaviour of each case model was examined under increasing inlet air velocity and it shows that at higher airflow velocity, the 7-step case model performed substantially well than other investigated cases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016823002570
spellingShingle Olanrewaju M. Oyewola
Adetokunbo A. Awonusi
Olawale S. Ismail
Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
Alexandria Engineering Journal
title Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
title_full Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
title_fullStr Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
title_full_unstemmed Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
title_short Design optimization of Air-Cooled Li-ion battery thermal management system with Step-like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
title_sort design optimization of air cooled li ion battery thermal management system with step like divergence plenum for electric vehicles
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016823002570
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