Design of Encapsulated Phase Change Material Cooling Scheme for Compact 21700 Battery Modules

Abstract

This article proposes a versatile thermal management solution utilizing phase change material (PCM) for compact 21700 battery modules. First, a flame-retardant and heat-conductive pouring sealant is utilized to encapsulate the PCM. The impact of the diameter and number of PCM columns on the thermal performance of the battery module is evaluated by single-factor and multi-objective optimization methods. Then, a low-temperature heating scheme utilizing film heaters is devised for the battery module. The results indicate that the heat generation of the battery diminishes as the working temperature rises, whereas it escalates with an increase in the discharge rate. When the number of PCM columns is 8 and the inner and outer heights are 66 mm and 13 mm, the maximum temperature and the temperature difference of the battery module are controlled at 45.6 °C and 4.61 °C, respectively. With a heating film power of 13.6 W, the average temperature of the battery module may increase from −5 °C to 11.7 °C in 25 min, resulting in a temperature differential of 4.6 °C.