Thermal simulation of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are widely researched and conventionally utilized as power sources for electric vehicles due to their benefits of high energy density, no memory effect, and long cycle life. The thermal environment and internal temperature gradient homogeneity have a significant impact on the performance of Li-ion battery systems. To address the inconsistent temperature distribution issues, a finite-element thermal model for a cylindrical battery was developed after the steady-state thermal investigation of a cylindrical battery cell. The initial conditions, boundary conditions, and thermal characteristic characteristics of the battery components were established through theoretical computation and tests, taking into account both the physical structure and electrochemical reactions. Further research was done on the thermal properties of the discharge. To confirm the simulation results were contrasted with the previous experimental findings to confirm the accuracy of the provided model errors between the simulation and the testing are minor for various ambient temperatures and discharge rates, according to a comparison of theoretical analysis and experimental results. As a result, the simulations can be effectively used to forecast the thermal behaviors of Li-ion batteries in real-world settings.