Air-Outlet and Step-Number Effects on a Step-like Plenum Battery’s Thermal Management System
Optimizing the control of the battery temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>b</mi></mrow>...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Batteries |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/87 |
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| Summary: | Optimizing the control of the battery temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>b</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), while minimizing the pressure drop (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>P</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) in air-cooled thermal management systems (TMSs), is an indispensable target for researchers. The Z-type battery thermal management system’s (BTMS’s) structure is one of the widely investigated air-cooled TMSs. Several designs of air-cooled BTMSs are often associated with the drawback of a rise in <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>P</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, consequently resulting in an increase in pumping costs. In this study, the investigation of a Step-like plenum design was extended by exploring one and two outlets to determine possible decreases in the maximum battery temperature (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), maximum battery temperature difference (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), and pressure drop (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>P</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>). The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was employed to predict the performances of different designs. The designs combine Step-like plenum and two outlets, with the outlets located at different points on the BTMS. The results from the study revealed that using a one-outlet design, combined with a Step-like plenum design, reduced <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> by 3.52 K when compared with that of the original Z-type system. For another design with two outlets and the same Step-like plenum design, a reduction in <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> by 3.45 K was achieved. For <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, the use of a two-outlet design and a Step-like plenum design achieved a reduction of 6.34 K. Considering the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>P</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> performance, the best- and poorest-performing designs with two outlets reduced <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>P</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> by 5.91 Pa and 3.66 Pa, respectively, when compared with that of the original Z-type design. The performances of the designs in this study clearly show the potential of two-outlet designs in reducing <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>∆</mo><mi>P</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> in systems. This study, therefore, concludes that the operational cost of the Step-like plenum Z-type BTMS can be reduced through the careful positioning of the two-outlet section, which will promote the design and development of current and future electric vehicle (EV) technologies. |
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| ISSN: | 2313-0105 |