Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2022, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (8): 2432-2441.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2022.0289

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Performance and design optimization of a cold plate for inhibiting thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion battery packs

Yue ZHANG1(), Depeng KONG1(), Ping PING2   

  1. 1.College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)
    2.College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, Shandong, China
  • Received:2022-05-30 Revised:2022-07-04 Online:2022-08-05 Published:2022-08-03
  • Contact: Depeng KONG E-mail:upczy@foxmail.com;kongdepeng@upc.edu.cn

Abstract:

This study explores the ability of cold plates to inhibit the thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion battery packs using a numerical method. Topology optimization was conducted to decrease the fluid temperature and power consumption of traditional cold plates with straight channels. The thermal runaway propagation model of a prismatic lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide battery pack was built using the Arrhenius formula. To confirm the proposed model's high accuracy, its results were compared with those of existing models. A follow-up study was conducted based on this model, and a cold plate was placed between the batteries. To ensure the cold plate reliability in a high-temperature environment, the fluid temperature within the plate was first analyzed. The results showed that the maximum fluid temperature with straight channels exceeded the boiling point when the flow rates were 0.01 m/s and 0.05 m/s during the thermal runaway, inducing the danger of local high pressure. When the flow rate was 0.1 m/s, the maximum fluid temperature with straight channels was lower than the boiling point, and the cold plate inhibited the thermal runaway propagation of the battery pack. A variable density method was used to optimize the cold plate topology, aiming to improve the excessive fluid temperature of the cold plate with straight channels. The performance of the optimized cold plate was analyzed and compared with that of the straight channel plate. The results showed that the inhibition effect of the optimized cold plate was better. The fluid temperature and power consumption were lower than those of the traditional cold plate with straight channels; when the flow rates were 0.05 and 0.1 m/s, the maximum fluid temperatures were 33 ℃ and 28 ℃ lower than those of the cold plate with straight channels, and the power consumptions were 17% and 26% lower, respectively.

Key words: lithium-ion battery, thermal runaway, cold plate, topology optimization

CLC Number: