Phase Change Materials Application in Battery Thermal Management System: A Review

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Thermal Engineering
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Traditional battery thermal management systems (BTMS), such as air-cooling, are insufficient for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and require auxiliary power.
• Liquid cooling BTMS can be effective but involves complex system designs.
• The need for efficient, passive thermal management solutions for batteries is critical for safety and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of phase change materials (PCMs) applied in thermal storage devices, with a specific focus on their application in BTMS.
• To summarize current literature on PCM-based BTMS, highlighting their advantages over traditional methods.
• To identify and discuss key challenges and potential future directions for PCM utilization in thermal management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on PCMs in thermal storage and BTMS.
• Analysis of PCM properties and their integration with fillers like expanded graphite (EG) and metal foams.
• Evaluation of PCM performance in maintaining battery temperature within safe operating ranges.

Main Results:

• PCMs can effectively absorb heat from battery packs, maintaining stable temperatures for extended periods without external power consumption.
• Incorporating fillers like EG or metal foam, or using fins, significantly enhances the heat dissipation efficiency of PCM-based BTMS.
• PCMs demonstrate broad applicability beyond BTMS, including construction materials, solar thermal recovery, and textiles.

Conclusions:

• PCM-based BTMS represent a promising, energy-efficient trend for managing battery temperatures, offering superior performance compared to conventional methods.
• Further research into overcoming current challenges is essential for widespread adoption and optimization of PCM applications.
• This review offers insights into the potential of PCMs for advanced thermal management solutions.