Numerical Investigation of Novel Hybrid Battery Thermal Management system Integrating angular cantor Fins for Lithium Ion batteries

To address the challenges of thermal management in lithium-ion batteries associated with safety scenarios, real-world driving conditions, and operating cycles, particularly at high discharge rates and extreme ambient conditions, it is necessary to maintain the battery temperature within its optimal operating range. This research introduces a novel hybrid Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) integrating different cooling techniques, namely phase change material (PCM) and air cooling with fins in the air channel. Unlike conventional approaches that utilize standard rectangular fins, this study employs angular Cantor fins with varying angles and different numbers of fin segments to enhance heat dissipation. The hybrid system aims to exploit PCM's high latent heat storage capability while ensuring efficient convective heat removal via air cooling. The airflow through the cooling channel may accelerates heat dissipation from PCM, thereby increasing PCM's effectiveness. The angular Cantor fins are strategically positioned within the PCM section to facilitate enhanced thermal diffusion by increasing the effective heat transfer surface area. This research study aims to compare conventional fins with the proposed angular cantor fin design to study peak battery temperature and temperature variation across the battery. The optimized fin orientation with specific angles may enhance heat diffusion within the PCM. Additionally, as the number of fin segments increases, the volume fraction occupied by PCM in the region is restricted therefore optimum number of fin segments needs to be evaluate for optimum performance of combined PCM and fins. Furthermore, the proposed hybrid BTMS under different conditions may limit thermal stresses developed within the battery. This research study of hybrid BTMS aims to improve thermal management of battery with novel fin designs for next-generation battery thermal management systems.