Experimental investigation on a novel phase change material composites coupled with graphite film used for thermal management of lithium-ion batteries

Xiaohang Luo, Quangui Guo, Xiangfen Li, Zechao Tao, Shiwen Lei, Junqing Liu, Libin Kang, Dongfang Zheng and Zhanjun Liu

Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 145, issue C, 2046-2055

Abstract: Thermal management system is a key component to maintain the performance of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Cooling technology based on phase change materials with single-phase transition range has been proposed by many researchers but the temperature control of batteries is not ideal for high charge/discharge rates and cycle tests. Herein, we designed a novel phase change material consisting of paraffin with dual-phase transition ranges (around 34 °C and 48 °C), expanded graphite (thermal conductivity = 40 W/m K), and epoxy resin with a mass ratio of 5:2:3. This material was combined with graphite film (in-plane thermal conductivity of 1400 W/m K) to prepare a thermal management module. Graphite film and expanded graphite form an excellent heat conduction structure. Epoxy resin endows this composite with satisfactory mechanical properties, even at 70 °C. The paraffin provides a double buffer effect that minimizes the temperature increase of the batteries and the temperature differences between the batteries in the pack due to the broad phase transition range. As a result, the maximum temperature of the batteries is 33 °C and the maximum temperature difference between the batteries is only 1.4 °C, even at the highest 4C discharge rate. In addition, the maximum temperature of the batteries is only 44.8 °C after six extreme cycles.

Keywords: Thermal management; Paraffin; Dual-phase transition ranges; Graphite film; Epoxy resin; Mechanical properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:145:y:2020:i:c:p:2046-2055

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.112

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