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Switchable Heat Pipes for Eco-Friendly Battery Cooling in Electric Vehicles: A Life Cycle Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Maike Illner

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Kai Thüsing

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, Nöthnitzer Straße 44, 01187 Dresden, Germany)

  • Ana Salles

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Str. 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany)

  • Anian Trettenhann

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, Fraunhoferstr. 10, 83626 Valley, Germany)

  • Stefan Albrecht

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Markus Winkler

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Köhler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany)

Abstract

Battery thermal management systems (BTMSs) ensure that lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electric vehicles (EVs) are operated in an optimal temperature range to achieve high performance and reduce risks. A conventional BTMS operates either as an active system that uses forced air, water or immersion cooling, or as a complete passive system without any temperature control. Passive systems function without any active energy supply and are therefore economically and environmentally advantageous. However, today’s passive BTMSs have limited cooling performance, which additionally cannot be controlled. To overcome this issue, an innovative BTMS approach based on heat pipes with an integrated thermal switch, developed by the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials (CPM), is presented in this paper. The suggested BTMS consists of switchable heat pipes which couple a passive fin-based cold plate with the battery cells. In cold state, the battery is insulated. If the switching temperature is reached, the heat pipes start working and conduct the battery heat to the cold plate where it is dissipated. The environmental benefits of this novel BTMS approach were then analysed with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Here, a comparison is made between the suggested passive and an active BTMS. For the passive system, significantly lower environmental impacts were observed in nearly all impact categories assessed. It was identified as a technically promising and environmentally friendly approach for battery cooling in EVs of the compact class. Furthermore, the results show that passive BTMS in general are superior from an environmental point of view, due their energy self-sufficient nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Maike Illner & Kai Thüsing & Ana Salles & Anian Trettenhann & Stefan Albrecht & Markus Winkler, 2024. "Switchable Heat Pipes for Eco-Friendly Battery Cooling in Electric Vehicles: A Life Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:4:p:938-:d:1340417
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yuqiang Zeng & Buyi Zhang & Yanbao Fu & Fengyu Shen & Qiye Zheng & Divya Chalise & Ruijiao Miao & Sumanjeet Kaur & Sean D. Lubner & Michael C. Tucker & Vincent Battaglia & Chris Dames & Ravi S. Prashe, 2023. "Extreme fast charging of commercial Li-ion batteries via combined thermal switching and self-heating approaches," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
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