Optimizing Battery Thermal Management: Enhanced Thermal Performance for Nano‐Enhanced Phase Change Material Using Diverse Fin Configurations

This study investigates the thermal performance of n‐octadecane, a phase change material (PCM), in a Li‐ion battery cell through novel “N” shape fin configuration and the incorporation of Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). The thermal management efficiency was assessed based on temperature variations, liquid fraction, energy storage, entropy, and heat generation. Adding 1% v/v. MWCNTs lowered the peak temperature to 301.9 K, indicating improved thermal conductivity. Energy storage results showed that the energy accumulation process centers on PCM melting: as the battery temperature rises, heat transfers to the PCM, which absorbs it until it melts and then dissipates it via natural convection. Enhancing PCM with MWCNTs improves thermal performance, allowing for greater energy absorption and faster battery cooling. Heat generation was highest at 53,347 W/m 3 for pure n‐octadecane but reduced to 21,996 W/m 3 in the eight‐fin configuration, and surface heat flux improved from −10.75 to −18.67 W/m 2 . These findings demonstrate that structural modifications and advanced materials substantially enhance thermal management performance, optimizing battery efficiency and longevity in energy storage applications. The proposed battery thermal management system (BTMS) shows significant promise for applications such as electric cars and renewable energy storage systems that require rapid charging and discharging.