ABSTRACT
It is necessary to provide a thermal management system for Li-ion batteries employed in electric vehicles. In fact, uncontrolled temperature increase in a stack of battery cells can lead to capacity and power losses, electrical imbalance, reduced lifespan or even thermal runaway of the battery. The use of phase change materials (PCMs) instead of conventional methods, like forced air convection or liquid cooling, is very promising. In fact, PCMs can be used passively to ensure a better thermal management with a lower overall temperature in the pack of cells and a more uniform temperature. It is also possible to combine PCMs with active cooling to be able to regenerate the PCM after each thermal load. Moreover, to achieve a better performing system, it is possible to enhance the PCMs’ thermal conductivity by the addition of highly conductive materials like metals or carbons. Many of these options have been widely studied and are still under development.
