Towards an Ultimate Battery Thermal Management System: a Review
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batteries Review Towards an Ultimate Battery Thermal Management System: A Review Mohammad Rezwan Khan *, Maciej Jozef Swierczynski and Søren Knudsen Kær Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 101, Aalborg DK-9220, Denmark; [email protected] (M.J.S.); [email protected] (S.K.K.) * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected]; Tel.: +45-994-048-25 Academic Editor: Andreas Jossen Received: 30 September 2016; Accepted: 23 February 2017; Published: 16 March 2017 Abstract: The prevailing standards and scientific literature offer a wide range of options for the construction of a battery thermal management system (BTMS). The design of an innovative yet well-functioning BTMS requires strict supervision, quality audit and continuous improvement of the whole process. It must address all the current quality and safety (Q&S) standards. In this review article, an effective battery thermal management is sought considering the existing battery Q&S standards and scientific literature. The article contains a broad overview of the current existing standards and literature on a generic compliant BTMS. The aim is to assist in the design of a novel compatible BTMS. Additionally, the article delivers a set of recommendations to make an effective BTMS. Keywords: battery thermal management system (BTMS); battery management systems (BMSs); thermal imaging; calorimetry; isothermal calorimeter; batteries; quality and safety (Q&S) standards; Li-ion batteries 1. Introduction The main barriers to the deployment of large fleets of vehicles on public roads equipped with lithium-ion batteries continue to be safety, costs related to cycle and calendar life, and performance. These challenges are coupled with thermal effects in the battery, including capacity/power fade, thermal runaway, electrical imbalance among multiple cells in a battery pack, and low-temperature performance [1,2]. Ideally, most batteries are expected to operate at an optimum average temperature with a very narrow differential range [3,4]. While designing a battery cell, pack, or system, the rate of heat dissipation must be fast enough so that the battery never reaches the thermal runaway temperature. The event of reaching the thermal runaway temperature triggers the commencement of the irreversible decomposition of battery composition, i.e., electrolyte and electrodes are damaged. Generally, those decomposition reactions are exothermic (heat producing). It implies that the temperature increases more and more once the thermal runaway temperature is reached. It irreversibly triggers a chain reaction of self-heating and ultimately the destruction of the cell [5]. Temperature excursions and non-uniformity of the temperature of the battery cell are the main concerns and drawbacks for different applications. The thermodynamics of lithium-ion cells are complicated by the presence of liquid electrolyte mixtures as well as single-phase and multiphase solids. Heat generation may result from mixing and phase change, as well as the main electrochemical reactions [6–11]. Reliable prediction of temperature profiles of individual cells, and of a battery system, requires first of all accurate measurement level of the total heat-generation rate. Thus, measurements of temperature rise and the heat dissipation or absorption of battery cells are essential. In general, temperature affects several aspects of a battery including the operation of the electrochemical system, round-trip efficiency, charge acceptance, power and energy capability, Batteries 2017, 3, 9; doi:10.3390/batteries3010009 www.mdpi.com/journal/batteries Batteries 2017, 3, 9 2 of 18 Batteries 2016, 2, 9 2 of 20 reliability, life and lifecycle cost. Although the capacity increases as the operating temperature is raised,reliability, the degree life and of capacitylifecycle cost. fade Although also increases. the capacity On the increases other hand, as the poor operating performance temperature is observed is atraised, low operating the degree temperature of capacity [ fade12,13 also]. In increases. addition, On excessive the other or hand, uneven poor temperature performance rise is inobserved a system orat pack low reduces operating its temperature lifecycle significantly [12,13]. In addition, [14]. The excessive high temperature or uneven temperature during charge rise and in a dischargesystem willor lead pack to reduces the possibility its lifecycle that signi temperaturesficantly [14]. will The exceedhigh temperature permissible during levels, charge consequently and discharge decreasing will thelead battery to the performance. possibility that Furthermore, temperatures the will uneven exceed temperature permissible levels, distribution consequently in the batterydecreasing pack the will leadbattery to a localized performance. deterioration. Furthermore, Therefore, the uneven temperature temperature uniformity, distribution within in the a cell battery and pack from will cell lead to cell, is importantto a localized for deterioration. achieving maximum Therefore, lifecycle temperature of cells, uniformity, packs, and within battery a cell systems. and from cell to cell, is importantThe employed for achieving heating maximum and cooling lifecycle method of cells, could packs, create and battery an uneven systems. temperature distribution inside theThe batteryemployed pack, heating depending and cooling on the method location could of eachcreate stack an uneven or system, temperature and external distribution ambient conditionsinside the [ 15battery–19]. pack, This depending uneven temperature on the location in the of each cells stack could or trigger system, an and uneven external temperature ambient distributionconditions in [15–19]. the pack. This Thus, uneven the packtemperature could lead in tothe an cells unbalanced could trigger system. an Ituneven restricts temperature the optimum performance.distribution in Additionally, the pack. Thus, the the lifetime pack could of the lead battery to an pack unbalanced is reduced. system. Accordingly, It restricts the it reducesoptimum the operationalperformance. lifetime Additionally, of the application the lifetime of of the the pack battery that pack it is designed is reduced. for, Accordingly, e.g., electrical it reduces vehicles the (EV). operational lifetime of the application of the pack that it is designed for, e.g., electrical vehicles (EV). Depending on the electrochemistry and working temperature, each kind of cell works better or worse Depending on the electrochemistry and working temperature, each kind of cell works better or worse depending on its specific circumstances and working temperature. Therefore, in order to keep the depending on its specific circumstances and working temperature. Therefore, in order to keep the temperature within the pack’s narrow range level, a battery thermal management system (BTMS) temperature within the pack’s narrow range level, a battery thermal management system (BTMS) plays a vital role [20,21]. plays a vital role [20,21]. HeatHeat is is generated generated and and released released fromfrom thethe cellcell during both charge charge and and discharge. discharge. If Ifthe the heat heat generatedgenerated in in the the cell/pack cell/pack isis notnot removed efficiently, efficiently, then then it it is is stored, stored, raising raising the the temperature temperature of ofthe the cell/packcell/pack and and the the total total batterybattery system [22]. [22]. The The magnitude magnitude of ofthe the overall overall heat heat-generation‐generation rate ratefrom from a a batterybattery pack under under load load dictates dictates the the size size and and design design of the of cooling the cooling system system [23]. Different [23]. Different kinds of kindsLi‐ ofion Li-ion batteries batteries have have different different characteristic characteristic values; values; for forinstance, instance, battery battery heat heat flux flux measurement measurement representsrepresents the the heat heat generated generated inside inside the the cell.cell. A thermal management management strategy strategy requires requires that that these these data data bebe measured measured accurately accurately [24 [24,25],25] to to design design aa properproper BTMS. FigureFigure1 presents 1 presents a generica generic battery battery thermal thermal management management system (BTMS). (BTMS). Figure 1. Battery thermal management system (BTMS). Figure 1. 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