Thermally optimized high-performance battery
The current lithium ion battery technology used in the automotive sector is based on metal oxide (NMC) and graphite electrodes, which offer high energy and power densities. This combination of materials delivers high electrochemical performance, but thermally it is quite vulnerable; high temperatures lead not only to accelerated ageing, but various mechanisms may lead to cell failure, and even to spontaneous combustion (“thermal runaway”). For this reason the cells need to be kept at their optimal temperature, that is between 20 and 40°C, at all times. Composite materials can avoid thermal resistance and thermal buffers can smooth out temperature peaks.
The thermophysics laboratory is analysing the used Pouch cells as well as the developed phase change compound material (PCCM) based on a phase change material (PCM) with a high conductive graphite matrix. The results of these measurement will influence the development of the PCCM as well as the subsequent system simulations for the innovative cooling concepts.
Start: 04/2019
Duration: 2 Years
More Information: https://www.ait.ac.at/en/research-topics/sustainable-thermal-energy-systems/projects/whole-battery-project/