Thermal analysis of a novel cycle for battery pre-warm-up and cool down for real driving cycles during different seasons

The temperature range of 25-35 degrees C provides the most suitable conditions for the best performance of batteries. This study introduced an advanced new thermal management system for batteries designed based on thermoelectric elements and radiators. The battery system is modeled during a real driving cycle. The simulation results showed that the temperature pattern of the battery surface followed a fluctuation pattern before reaching a steady-state condition in cold seasons. A similar model for hot months followed the velocity profile of the vehicle. Besides, the temperature profile was linear with a positive slope in hot seasons for the battery charge time. The surface temperature of the cold plate of the thermoelectric elements in cold seasons reduced with velocity from the cold to hot season while following the velocity profile of the vehicle in hot seasons, with a positive slope and linear trend. Concerning the surface temperature of the hot plate of the thermoelectric elements, the profile was linear and incremental. Furthermore, the increasing trend experienced some fluctuations that declined from the cold to hot season, while there were no fluctuations for the temperatures above 25 degrees C. In the cold seasons of the year, as the temperature increases from 6.9 to 15.5 degrees C, the oscillating state decreases for 500 s, and when it increases again to 21.5 degrees C, the time interval decreases for 100 s. Also, for thermal management in the hot season, k(fan) is reduced from 0.81 to 0.21 W K-1 to achieve balance and optimal operation of thermoelectric elements. The same fluctuation trend applies to all the results obtained from the energy stored in the battery diagram. It can be concluded that the newly introduced thermal management system can maintain the battery temperature at an appropriate temperature range. The results followed similar patterns for various thermal conditions wherein different parameters of the thermal management system were examined. The new cycle introduced using the fuzzy logic algorithm and the PID controller could manifest proper efficiency for real applications.

Automated summary

This study introduced a new thermal management system for batteries based on thermoelectric elements and radiators. Through simulations and analysis, it was shown that the system can effectively maintain the battery temperature within an appropriate range.