Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels

This study numerically investigates the thermal performance of a refrigerant-based battery thermal management system (BTMS) under various operating conditions. A validated numerical model is used to examine the effects of cooling channel rib configurations (rib spacing and rib angles) and refrigeran...

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Main Authors: Tieyu Gao, Jiadian Wang, Haonan Sha, Hao Yang, Chenguang Lai, Xiaojin Fu, Guangtao Zhai, Junxiong Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/1011
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author Tieyu Gao
Jiadian Wang
Haonan Sha
Hao Yang
Chenguang Lai
Xiaojin Fu
Guangtao Zhai
Junxiong Zeng
author_facet Tieyu Gao
Jiadian Wang
Haonan Sha
Hao Yang
Chenguang Lai
Xiaojin Fu
Guangtao Zhai
Junxiong Zeng
author_sort Tieyu Gao
collection DOAJ
description This study numerically investigates the thermal performance of a refrigerant-based battery thermal management system (BTMS) under various operating conditions. A validated numerical model is used to examine the effects of cooling channel rib configurations (rib spacing and rib angles) and refrigerant parameters (mass flow rate and saturation temperature) on battery thermal behavior. Additionally, the impact of discharge C-rates is analyzed. The results show that a rib spacing of 11 mm and a rib angle of 60° reduce the maximum battery temperature by 0.8 °C (cooling rate of 2%) and improve temperature uniformity, though at the cost of a 130% increase in pressure drop. Increasing the refrigerant mass flow rate lowers the maximum temperature by up to 10%, but its effect on temperature uniformity diminishes beyond 20 kg/h. A lower saturation temperature enhances cooling but increases internal temperature gradients, while a higher saturation temperature improves uniformity at the expense of a slightly higher maximum temperature. Under high discharge rates (12C), the system’s cooling capacity becomes limited, leading to significant temperature rises. These findings provide insights that can aid in optimizing BTMS design to balance cooling performance, energy efficiency, and temperature uniformity.
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issn 1996-1073
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-cb40ac80b2ba4d02b92115ba26e970292025-08-20T02:44:56ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-01184101110.3390/en18041011Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling ChannelsTieyu Gao0Jiadian Wang1Haonan Sha2Hao Yang3Chenguang Lai4Xiaojin Fu5Guangtao Zhai6Junxiong Zeng7School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaSchool of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaThe 703 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Harbin 150010, ChinaVehicle Engineering Institute, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaVehicle Engineering Institute, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaVehicle Engineering Institute, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaVehicle Engineering Institute, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaVehicle Engineering Institute, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaThis study numerically investigates the thermal performance of a refrigerant-based battery thermal management system (BTMS) under various operating conditions. A validated numerical model is used to examine the effects of cooling channel rib configurations (rib spacing and rib angles) and refrigerant parameters (mass flow rate and saturation temperature) on battery thermal behavior. Additionally, the impact of discharge C-rates is analyzed. The results show that a rib spacing of 11 mm and a rib angle of 60° reduce the maximum battery temperature by 0.8 °C (cooling rate of 2%) and improve temperature uniformity, though at the cost of a 130% increase in pressure drop. Increasing the refrigerant mass flow rate lowers the maximum temperature by up to 10%, but its effect on temperature uniformity diminishes beyond 20 kg/h. A lower saturation temperature enhances cooling but increases internal temperature gradients, while a higher saturation temperature improves uniformity at the expense of a slightly higher maximum temperature. Under high discharge rates (12C), the system’s cooling capacity becomes limited, leading to significant temperature rises. These findings provide insights that can aid in optimizing BTMS design to balance cooling performance, energy efficiency, and temperature uniformity.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/1011electric vehicleslithium-ion battery packbattery thermal management systemrefrigerant coolingribbed cooling channelsthermal performance
spellingShingle Tieyu Gao
Jiadian Wang
Haonan Sha
Hao Yang
Chenguang Lai
Xiaojin Fu
Guangtao Zhai
Junxiong Zeng
Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels
Energies
electric vehicles
lithium-ion battery pack
battery thermal management system
refrigerant cooling
ribbed cooling channels
thermal performance
title Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels
title_full Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels
title_fullStr Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels
title_full_unstemmed Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels
title_short Investigation on Thermal Performance of a Battery Pack Cooled by Refrigerant R134a in Ribbed Cooling Channels
title_sort investigation on thermal performance of a battery pack cooled by refrigerant r134a in ribbed cooling channels
topic electric vehicles
lithium-ion battery pack
battery thermal management system
refrigerant cooling
ribbed cooling channels
thermal performance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/1011
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