Thermal performance of a cylindrical battery module impregnated with PCM composite based on thermoelectric cooling

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 188; p. 116048
• Main Authors: Jiang, Le, Zhang, Hengyun, Li, Junwei, Xia, Peng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Batteries; Battery thermal management; Convection; Convection cooling; Cooling; Free convection; Heat transfer; Liquid cooling; Low temperature resistance; Metal foams; Modules; Optimal current; Phase change material (PCM) composite; Phase change materials; Steady state; Steady-state theoretical analysis; Temperature gradients; Theoretical analysis; Thermal energy; Thermal management; Thermal resistance; Thermoelectric cooler (TEC); Thermoelectric cooling; Working time t50; Battery thermal management; Thermoelectric cooler (TEC); Phase change material (PCM) composite; Working time t50; Steady-state theoretical analysis; Optimal current
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116048

In this paper, the thermal performance of thermoelectric cooler (TEC) in thermal management of a cylindrical battery module is investigated. The battery module consisted of 18650 test batteries in 3 × 5 array embedded in the copper foam impregnated with organic phase change material (PCM) for heat transfer enhancement. In the experimental test, the transient and steady-state thermal performances were examined base on the thermoelectric cooling in comparison with the natural convection and liquid cooling conditions. The characteristic PCM melting stages were identified to correlate with the maximum temperature and temperature difference in the battery module. In comparison, the thermoelectric cooling reduced the battery temperature and prolonged the working time significantly. The optimal current was experimentally obtained to be about 6.0–6.5 A based on the highest cooling power or lowest battery temperature, which is close to the optimal range based on the steady-state theoretical analysis. Further analysis shows that the optimal current is affected markedly by the hot-side thermal resistance, but little by the cold-side thermal resistance. Increasing the number of TEC thermoelectric arms by reducing the spacing has a favorable effect in improving the coefficient of performance (COP) of the TEC module. •Battery thermal management based on the TEC cooling with impregnated PCM composite investigated.•TEC cooling reduced the maximum battery temperature and prolonged working time.•Characteristic PCM melting processes with TEC cooling identified for battery module.•Agreement is found between theoretical analysis and experimental measurements.