Numerical investigation of thermal management of lithium ion battery pack with nano-enhanced phase change material and heat pipe

LIBs are primary power sources for EVs and their performance and life depend on operating temperature and temperature uniformity. Phase change material (PCM) as well as heat pipes and hybrid cooling systems are adopted for thermal management of LIBs at lower and higher C rates, respectively. In this study, a numerical model of a novel LIB assisted with nano-enhanced PCM (NEPCM) and heat pipes is developed, and simulated at 1C, 3C and 5C conditions, air velocities of 0.5 m/s, 1 m/s and 1.5 m/s, different cell orientations, nanoparticle (NP) concentrations, and ambient conditions. The results revealed that the horizontal cell configuration exhibits superior performance of 1.52 K lower battery pack temperature compared to vertical configuration due to heat transfer and fluid flow. The average battery pack temperature remains in the desirable temperature range for a substantial duration (65 %) of discharge process with PCM assisted battery pack at 3C condition, while it is only 20 % for naturally cooled battery pack. NEPCMs with 14.78 % and 9.11 % concentrations of NP exhibit good thermal performance in vertical and horizontal arrangements, respectively. It is also observed that the PCM assisted battery system results in thermal stratification in the battery pack which can be weakened by the inclusion of NP in PCM. •Numerical model of Lithium–Ion battery(LIB) with nano-enhanced PCM and heat pipes.•Simulation of LIB for different cell orientations, C rates and concentrations.•BTMS suitable during for fast charging/ discharging of Li-ion battery.•Reduction of average temperature of cells due to change in orientation.•Optimum concentration of nanoparticle in Myristyl alcohol PCM.