Thermal management system of lithium-ion battery module based on micro heat pipe array

Temperature affects the performance of electric vehicle battery. To solve this problem, micro heat pipe arrays are utilized in a thermal management system that cools and heats battery modules. In the present study, the heat generation of a battery module during a charge-discharge cycle under a constant current of 36 A (2C) was computed. Then, the cooling area of the condenser was calculated and experimentally validated. At rates of 1C and 2C, the thermal management system effectively reduced the temperature of the module to less than 40 degrees C, and the temperature difference was controlled less than 5 degrees C between battery surfaces of the module. A heating plate with 30-W power effectively improved charge performance at low temperature within a short heating time and with uniform temperature distribution. Charge capacity obviously increased after heating when battery temperature was below 0 degrees C. This study presents a new way to enhance the stability and safety of a battery module during the continuous charge-discharge cycle at high temperatures and low temperatures accordingly.