Analytical, Numerical and Experimental Determination of Thermophysical Properties of Commercial 18650 LiCoO2 Lithium-Ion Battery

Thermophysical properties of a commercial 18650 LiCoO2 lithium-ion battery were determined using several different techniques, including analytical, numerical and experimental methods. A reasonable level of consistency was observed in values for heat capacity, which were found to be 972 +/- 92 J/kg-K from the analytical method, 814 +/- 19 J/kg-K from the numerical technique, and 896 +/- 31 J/kg-K from calorimetry. The value for radial thermal conductivity with the best correlation to reported literature values obtained in this study (0.219 +/- 0.020 W/m-K) was found via the numerical technique, and the axial thermal conductivity was found to be 22.3 +/- 1.3 W/m-K. Values for heat capacity and thermal conductivity were also determined for aluminum and Teflon as controls, and all thermophysical properties in this work were found to be within, or very close to, reported literature values. These properties will aid in the development of ongoing and future lithium-ion battery simulation models and battery Management systems. (C) 2015 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.