Enhanced thermal management of lithium-ion pouch cells via hybrid approach of phase change material-liquid cooling
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Effective thermal management is crucial for safe, high-performance operation of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs). However, conventional passive or active cooling methods alone struggle to provide sufficient heat dissipation while maintaining uniform battery temperatures. This computational study investigates a hybrid thermal management system combining lateral phase change material (PCM) layers for temperature stabilization with vertical liquid cooling channels. The system was evaluated for a lithium-ion pouch cell module with PCM thicknesses ranging from 1-7 mm (melting point 26°C) and a 0.5 mm liquid coolant channel using Novec-774 at 15-20°C inlet and 90 lpm flow rate. Key findings reveal the 7 mm PCM achieved superior thermal regulation, constraining mean/maximum cell temperatures to 32.5°C/39.1°C compared to 113.8°C/188.1°C for the ineffective 1 mm case. Lower coolant inlet temperatures further enhance the performance, with a 5°C inlet yielding 24.6°C/29.2°C mean/max, versus 26.0°C/29.8°C at 15°C inlet. The hybrid passive-active approach combines lateral heat absorption via PCM with vertical forced convection cooling to effectively regulate battery temperatures. The proposed approach achieves superior cooling with up to 73% reduction in maximum temperature compared to conventional liquid cooling, while maintaining temperature uniformity within 5°C across the battery module.
Institutions: University of Nottingham, University of Baghdad
Language: English
Subfield: Automotive Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,560
OpenAlex ID: W4410196545