Investigation of the Applicability of Helium-Based Cooling System for Li-Ion Batteries

• Published in: Electrochem (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 135 - 148
• Main Authors: Alipour, Mohammad, Hassanpouryouzband, Aliakbar, Kizilel, Riza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; cooling efficiency; Cooling rate; Cooling systems; Design optimization; Energy; Flow velocity; gas-based battery thermal management system; Gases; Heat conductivity; Heat transfer; Helium; helium versus air; Hybrid electric vehicles; Inlet flow; Lithium-ion batteries; maximum temperature rise; Multilayers; Product safety; Rechargeable batteries; Reynolds number; Temperature; temperature uniformity; Thermal analysis; Thermal management; Thermal simulation; Thermodynamic properties
• ISSN: 2673-3293; 2673-3293
• DOI: 10.3390/electrochem2010011

This paper proposes a novel He-based cooling system for the Li-ion batteries (LIBs) used in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The proposed system offers a novel alternative battery thermal management system with promising properties in terms of safety, simplicity, and efficiency. A 3D multilayer coupled electrochemical-thermal model is used to simulate the thermal behavior of the 20 Ah LiFePO4 (LFP) cells. Based on the results, He gas, compared to air, effectively diminishes the maximum temperature rise and temperature gradient on the cell surface and offers a viable option for the thermal management of Li-ion batteries. For instance, in comparison with air, He gas offers 1.18 and 2.29 °C better cooling at flow rates of 2.5 and 7.5 L/min, respectively. The cooling design is optimized in terms of the battery’s temperature uniformity and the battery’s maximum temperature. In this regard, the effects of various parameters such as inlet diameter, flow direction, and inlet flow rate are investigated. The inlet flow rate has a more evident influence on the cooling efficiency than inlet/outlet diameter and flow direction. The possibility of using helium as a cooling fluid is shown to open new doors in the subject matter of an effective battery thermal management system.