Experiment 10

Study of Thermal management system of Battery

Lithium-ion cells prefer a temperature range very similar to that of humans,
around 23 ℃. The battery thermal management system in the battery pack
adjusts the cell to the right temperature by cooling or heating it.
A simple battery thermal management system is to install a heat exchanger
into the battery to keep the cell in a constant temperature range. There are
many ways to do this, but the common way is to transfer heat from the cell to
the outside of the cell through some medium.
Why is a battery thermal management system important

For the cell, the most suitable temperature is about 23℃. In a battery pack,
there is also a temperature difference between the cells in the pack. In
general, the battery thermal management system needs to keep the
temperature difference between the cells in the battery string within two to
three degrees, and under the worst conditions, the difference in temperature
should be controlled within 6~8℃.
Thermal management is very important, because high temperature is a
sensitive condition to accelerate the aging of the cell. When the temperature
difference of the cell inside the battery pack is too large, the aging rate of each
cell will also be very different. A hot cell typically ages faster than a cold one,
and the life of a battery pack depends on the worst-performing cell, so a
temperature imbalance means a shortened battery pack’s expected life.
Considerations for the battery thermal management system
Complex battery thermal management systems will be highly dependent on
three factors. The first factor is the type of battery that works. A high-power
battery will produce a lot of heat, while an energy battery will produce a lot
less heat. The second factor is the environment in which the battery is used.
If the battery is used at higher temperatures, it means the battery is already
hot when it starts working. The third factor is the condition of the cell itself.
Batteries of different material systems have different temperatures.
Therefore, these three factors need to be taken into account when designing a
battery thermal management system.
Add the information regarding battery thermal management used in TESLA
EV.