Experimental study on performance of new type of pulsating heat pipe for battery cooling

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20231309

Abstract

Abstract:

A C-shaped pulsating heat pipe (PHP) for battery cooling was proposed, it has better heat dissipation and wrapping characteristics. Methanol, acetone, deionized water, ethanol and methanol-acetone mixture were selected as the working medium of PHP, and the performance of PHP under different heating power (30—210 W) and filling rate (FR) (30%, 45%, 55%, 65%, 75%) was investigated experimentally. The results show that too high or too low FR is not conducive to the stable operation of PHP. In practical application, thermal resistance, heat transfer limit and other indicators need to be comprehensively considered to select the appropriate FR. In the range of experimental research, the optimal FR of PHP is about 45%. Under this FR, PHP has low thermal resistance, small fluctuation of evaporation temperature, and stable operation. The thermal properties of the working medium significantly affect the working characteristics of PHP. Considering the evaporation temperature and thermal resistance, the PHP filled with methanol-acetone mixture shows better performance. The battery cooling system based on C-shaped PHP is able to meet the battery cooling requirements of the second generation Mirai, allowing a maximum volume power density of 6 kW/L of the battery, which can control its surface temperature below 84℃. It is necessary to select the working medium and layout mode of C-shaped PHP according to the application, and reasonable deployment of C-shaped PHP can ensure the safe operation of controlled objects. The relevant conclusions provide an important reference for the design of battery thermal control system.

Key words: pulsating heat pipe, heat transfer, thermodynamic properties, gas-liquid flow, phase change

摘要：

提出一种电池冷却用C形脉动热管（pulsating heat pipe，PHP），具有较好的散热性和包裹特性。选择甲醇、丙酮、去离子水、乙醇和甲醇-丙酮混合物为PHP工质，实验研究了不同加热功率和充液率（filling rate，FR）工况下PHP的性能。结果表明，FR过高或过低均不利于C形PHP稳定运行，实际应用中需综合考虑热阻、传热极限等指标，选取合适的FR。实验研究范围内，C形PHP最佳FR在45%左右。综合考虑蒸发温度与热阻，甲醇-丙酮混合物C形PHP具备更好的性能，能够满足第二代Mirai电池冷却需求，可将其表面温度控制在84℃以下，允许的电池最大体积功率密度为6 kW/L。依据应用场合选择工质和布置方式后，PHP能保证受控对象的安全运行。相关结论为电池热控制系统设计提供了重要的参考和借鉴。

关键词: 脉动热管, 传热, 热力学性质, 气液两相流, 相变

CLC Number:

TK 79

Xinze LI, Shuangxing ZHANG, Honghai YANG, Wenjing DU. Experimental study on performance of new type of pulsating heat pipe for battery cooling[J]. CIESC Journal, 2024, 75(6): 2222-2232.

李新泽, 张双星, 杨洪海, 杜文静. 基于电池冷却用新型脉动热管性能的实验研究[J]. 化工学报, 2024, 75(6): 2222-2232.

Figures/Tables 16

Fig.1 The schematic diagram of C-shaped PHP and arrangement of cooling PEMFC

Fig.2 Experimental device and temperature measurement point

Table 1 Detailed parameters of related devices

设备名称	设备参数
无纸记录仪	厂家：YOKOGAWA；型号：GX20；精度：± 0.1℃
交流电源	厂家：国电亚光电源有限公司；型号：HYB1760-0.5 KVA；精度：± 0.1 A，± 0.1 V
T型热电偶	测温范围：-200~350℃；精度：± 0.5℃

Table 2 Maximum uncertainty of main experimental parameters

参数	最大不确定度/%
T_c	± 1.85
T_e	± 1.85
Q	± 0.14
R	± 3.49

Fig.3 The change of thermal properties of working medium with temperature

Fig.4 Phase diagram of methanol-acetone mixture

Fig.5 The evaporation and condensation temperature of C-shaped PHP of methanol with different filling ratio

Fig.6 Thermal resistance of methanol C-shaped PHP with different filling rates

Fig.7 Thermal resistance of acetone C-shaped PHP with different filling rates

Fig.8 Acetone C-PHP evaporation and condensation temperature when FR is 30%

Fig.9 Evaporation and condensation temperatures of C-shaped PHP using different working media

Fig.10 The thermal resistance of C-shaped PHP using different working media varies with the input power

Fig.11 Average evaporation temperature of C-shaped PHP with different working medium after steady state

Fig.12 Evaporation temperature of C-shaped PHP of methanol, acetone and their mixed working medium

Fig.13 Average evaporation temperature of methanol, acetone and their mixed working medium C-shaped PHP after steady state

Fig.14 Thermal resistance of C-shaped PHP of methanol, acetone and their mixed working medium

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