Computational modeling of battery thermal energy management system using phase change materials

Similar to an IC (Internal combustion) engine which requires cooling to operate at optimum temperature for better efficiency; electric vehicles do require a similar system. There are various methods used in the current market for thermal management of batteries, of these our paper focuses on phase change materials (PCM). This cooling strategy can store an enormous amount of heat produced inside a battery because of its high latent heat capability. A 3D model of the battery using the multi-scale multi-dimension model (MSMD) for battery simulation and Solidification/melting models were used to showcase the melting of PCM due to the heat generated from a cell. ANSYS fluent was used to carry out the simulations. These computations are carried out at different C-rate to find the time taken for a battery to discharge and to find the impact of C-rate on PCM performance. Besides, temperature data for the cell was recorded before and after PCM was involved to compare the temperature difference between various PCM's.

Rheological Behaviour of Cementitious Materials Incorporating Solid–Solid Phase Change Materials

Nowadays, thermal regulation of the indoor environment is mandatory to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The incorporation of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and especially solid–solid PCMs (s/s PCMs) into building materials can be a major step forward in reducing energy consumption. Such materials are used for their high latent heat to save and release heat during phase change. To integrate these products in the fabrication of cementitious materials, it is essential to predict their influence on the rheological behaviour of construction materials. In this work, rheological measurements were carried out on composite suspensions made of cement or mortar plus s/s PCMs. Results showed that the fitting of the Herschel–Bulkley model with a constant value of flow exponent was reliable. The s/s PCMs influenced the consistency and the yield strength values, with the yield strength value being only slightly affected. The adaptation of an existing viscosity model is proposed to predict the consistency value of suspensions. Finally, an innovative approach to predict the flow behaviour is proposed and we highlight the research needs to mainstream the use of s/s PCMs in construction materials.

The Effect of Arachidic Acid Mixtures on the Cooling Performance of a Heat Sink

The temperature of an electronic device is one of the most important parameters to deal with. Any increase above the temperature limits results in a failure in the device. Thus, to ensure good operation, an electronic device should be cooled. One promising technique is the use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for their well-known ability to absorb the heat dissipated by the device, thanks to their high latent heat of fusion. Arachidic acid is a fatty acid that, when mixed with sodium decanoate and potassium oleate salts, can be used as a promising PCM due to its high latent heat. This paper aims to shed light on the use such mixtures of Arachidic acid for cooling in a heat sink. An experimental setup was built for this purpose. The results show that the Arachidic acid mixtures are suitable for applications requiring intermediate heat dissipation.