Heat‐pipe‐based thermal management and temperature characteristics of Li‐ion batteries

Thermal management of a Li‐ion battery is a critical issue affecting its performance, endurance, and operation security. This paper focuses on the effects of a self‐designed thermal management module (TMM) on the temperature characteristics of the Li‐ion battery. This TMM uses heat pipes as the main elements for heat transfer with the aid of a heat collecting plate and cooling fins. The thermal issues and necessity of using this TMM are evaluated. The influences of heat collecting plate, heat pipe layout, and air‐blowing operation are all discussed. The influential factors and related mechanisms are accordingly analyzed. Results indicate that the use of a heat collecting plate, the setup of a dual heat pipe, and forced air convection are all helpful to reduce the battery temperature. The simulation results based on Icepak also suggest that this heat‐pipe‐based TMM is able to depress the temperature rise of the battery pack at an appropriate level.