Graphene or h-BN paraffin composite structures for the thermal management of Li-ion batteries

A multiscale investigation

authored by: Bohayra Mortazavi, Hongliu Yang, Farzad Mohebbi, Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Timon Rabczuk
Abstract: The reliability and safety of lithium-ion batteries can be affected by overheating issues. Phase change materials like paraffin due to their large heat capacities are among the best solutions for the thermal management of batteries. In this investigation, multiscale modelling techniques were developed to explore the efficiency in the thermal management of rechargeable batteries through employing the paraffin composite structures. A combined atomistic-continuum multiscale modelling was conducted to evaluate the thermal conductivity of paraffin reinforced with graphene or hexagonal boron-nitride nanosheet additives. In addition, heat generation during a battery service was simulated using the Newman's electrochemical model. Finally, three-dimensional heat transfer models were constructed to investigate the effectiveness of various paraffin composite structures in the thermal management of a battery system. Interestingly, it was found that the thermal conductivity of paraffin nanocomposites can be enhanced by several times but that does not yield significant improvement in the batteries thermal management over the pure paraffin. The acquired findings can be useful not only for the modelling of nanocomposites but more importantly for the improvement of phase change materials design to enhance the thermal management of rechargeable batteries and other electronic devices.
External Organisation(s): Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Technische Universität Dresden
Tongji University
Type: Article
Journal: Applied energy
Volume: 202
Pages: 323-334
No. of pages: 12
ISSN: 0306-2619
Publication date: 15.09.2017
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Building and Construction, General Energy, Mechanical Engineering, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.175 (Access: Closed)