Heat Transfer Study of a Battery Module for Micro-mobility

This study was conducted to establish a reliable thermal analysis methodology for the battery module designed for micro-mobility. Analysis and experiments were performed first with a single cell and subsequently with a battery module consisting of 80 cells. The heat generation calculated from a single-cell experiment and realistic thermophysical properties were used in the module analysis to predict the temperature rise and distribution at various discharge rates. A prototype battery module was then built and ten thermocouples were used to measure temperatures at various locations in the module. Good correlation was achieved between the analytical results and experimental data. In particular, the model is accurate in predicting temperature distribution and the locations of peak temperatures. As a next step, the analytical methods developed in this study will be used to optimize the battery pack design and enhance its thermal performance.