Modeling of Lithium-Ion Battery Cooling by Air Flow Through Porous Metal

Abstract

In this study, we performed modeling study of lithium-ion battery cooled by air flow through porous metal foam. The effects of porous media thickness (copper metal foam thickness), air velocity, and flow channel configurations on the cooling performance were investigated based on an electrochemical-thermal coupled model. Three thicknesses of porous metal (5 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm), four airflow velocities (1, 2, 3, and 5 m/s), and two flow channel structures (vertical and horizontal) were tested and analyzed. Under the configuration of a 10 mm thick porous medium with a vertical channel at 3 m/s airflow, the system demonstrated adequate heat dissipation capacity for battery thermal management. Specifically, at a 1C discharge rate, the electrochemical-thermal coupled model exhibited a localized maximum temperature of 38.1°C, a maximum temperature difference of 1.67°C among individual cells, and an average volumetric temperature of 37.8°C. The surface temperature gradient of the seventh cell was maintained at 0.026°C/mm, with surface temperature rise controlled below 5°C.

Keywords: Porous metal, Flow channel structure, Cooling performance, Electrochemical-thermal coupled model, Lithium-ion battery