Effects of composite cooling strategy including phase change material and cooling air on the heat dissipation performance improvement of lithium ion power batteries pack in hot climate and its catastrophe evaluation.

In order to improve the heat dissipation performance of lithium-ion batteries in hot climate, a coupled heat dissipation model including different air inlet and air outlet arrangements and PCM thicknesses was established by extracting cooling air from a vehicle air-conditioner. At the condition of the fixed PCM thickness, the effects of air inlet and air outlet arrangement on heat dissipation performance (HDP) of battery pack were researched, and the results indicate that case 5 is the optimal choice because of the low energy consumption and good HDP. The results of PCM thickness on HDP of battery pack be investigated through catastrophe theory analysis method. Thus, the results reveal that case 8 has highest evaluation value 0.97536 of the heat dissipation level of the battery pack among them. Based on the above results, four cases had been investigated to pursue the lower temperature difference of battery pack, and the results indicate that case 10 is the optimal choice, because of the lower energy consumption and temperature difference. • A coupled heat dissipation model including different air inlet and air outlet arrangements and PCM thicknesses was established. • Effects of different conditions on the heat dissipation of the battery pack is studied. • Catastrophe model was used to evaluate the heat dissipation level of the battery pack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]