Experimental and analytical study on heat generation characteristics of a lithium-ion power battery

A combined experimental and analytical study has been performed to investigate the transient heat generation characteristics of a lithium-ion power battery in the present work. Experimental apparatus is newly built and the investigations on the charge/discharge characteristics and temperature rise behavior are carried out at ambient temperatures of 28 °C, 35 °C and 42 °C over the period of 1 C, 2 C, 3 C and 4 C rates. The thermal conductivity of a single battery cell is experimentally measured to be 5.22 W/(m K). A new transient model of heat generation rate based on the battery air cooling system is proposed. Comparison of the battery temperature between simulated results and experimental data is performed and good agreement is achieved. The impacts of the ambient temperature and charge/discharge rate on the heat generation rate are further analyzed. It is found that both ambient temperature and charge/discharge rate have significant influences on the voltage change and temperature rise as well as the heat generation rate. During charge/discharge process, the higher the current rate, the higher the heat generation rate. The effect of the ambient temperature on the heat generation demonstrates a remarkable difference at different charge states.