Experimental investigation on mini‐channel cooling–based thermal management for Li‐ion battery module under different cooling schemes

Summary The performance of Li‐ion battery depends on the temperature. Active liquid cooling system can keep the battery temperature within an optimal range, but the system itself consumes energy. This paper reported the experimental work on the thermal performance of liquid cooling system for the battery module under different cooling schemes. It was hoped that energy consumption could be reduced as much as possible. Meanwhile, liquid cooling system could provide effective cooling for the battery module. Two identical real battery modules including 18 cylindrical cells (with and without cooling system) were manufactured for the validity of comparison. The 2 battery modules discharged at the discharge rates of 1C and 1.5C. Charge and discharge cycle test was also carried out. The results indicated that a simple hysteresis control cooling scheme could reduce the energy consumption effectively. The energy consumption was saved by 83.2% and 49% at the discharge rates of 1C and 1.5C, respectively. Meanwhile, the temperature of battery module was still kept within the optimal range. The maximum temperature appeared on different cells in the battery module during the process of charge and discharge. Thus, the temperature dynamic comparison mechanism was very necessary. Highlights Real battery module equipped with mini‐channel cooling system was manufactured. The thermal performance of battery module under different cooling schemes was studied. The cooling scheme called hysteresis control can greatly decrease the pumping power consumption.