Research on the Design and Optimization of a Compact Air-Cooled Battery Module Structure

Due to the advantages of high energy density, long cycle life, and no memory effect, lithium-ion batteries play a crucial role in promoting the development of global new energy vehicles and achieving the “dual carbon” strategic goals. However, the temperature rise of the battery during charging and discharging may lead to a decrease in battery capacity and lifespan and even result in thermal runaway. Therefore, the development of an efficient thermal management system is essential. This paper proposes an innovative side-throat throttling air-cooled battery module design for parallel air-cooled battery modules that may experience excessive temperature rise and uneven temperature distribution in restricted spaces. Using FLUENT software to simulate the temperature distribution of individual cells in different parallel air-cooled and flow field distribution within the module, the specific impact of different wind speeds on thermal performance was thoroughly analyzed. The results show that the side-throat throttling air-cooling technology can effectively regulate the flow resistance of each branch flow path inside the module and optimize the uniformity of the internal flow field distribution, thereby enhancing the thermal performance of the module.