Thermal Management System Using Phase Change Material for Lithium-ion Battery

The lithium-ion battery is promising energy storage that provides proper stability, no memory effect, low self-discharge rate, and high energy density. During its usage, batteries generate heat caused by energy loss due to the transition of chemical energy to electricity and the electron transfer cycle. Consequently, a thermal management system by cooling methods in the battery is needed to control heat. One of the cooling methods is a passive cooling system using a phase change material (PCM). PCM can accommodate a large amount of heat through small dimensions. It is easy to apply and requires no power in the cooling system. This study aims to find the best type of PCM criteria for a Lithium-ion battery cooling system. The research was conducted by simulations using computational fluid dynamics. The variations were using PCM Capric Acid and PCM Hexacosane, with thickness variations of 3 mm, 6 mm, and 9 mm. Hexacosane PCM with 9 mm thickness indicates the best result to reduce heat up to 6.54°K, demonstrating a suitable passive cooling system for Li-ion batteries.