Battery Thermal Management System with Phase Change Material

This work is focused on the battery thermal management system for electric vehicles (EVs). Li-ion batteries operate effectively within a certain temperature range of 25 to 60 °C. Beyond this limit, battery performance decreases, and there is a risk of explosion, which poses a danger to human life. Therefore, battery thermal management is critical for EVs. There are two types of battery thermal management techniques: active and passive cooling. Active cooling involves intricate elements and reduces vehicle performance. In contrast, passive cooling uses Nano-enhanced phase change material (Paraffin wax with nano graphite) applied to the battery pack’s outer edges, which has been studied as a PCM. PCM layer samples with thicknesses of 3, 7, 9, and 12 mm were tested for heat dissipation. The tests were conducted using a cycle rate of 2C and a heat generation rate of 63,970 W/m3. Results showed that a 7 mm PCM layer consistently lowered the battery temperature. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the passive cooling technique using Nano-enhanced phase change material in maintaining optimal battery temperature, enhancing the performance and safety of EVs.