The Battery Thermal Management System Based on Animal Fat as Phase Change Material and Heat Pipe for Electric Vehicles Application
Wayan Nata Septiadi (a*), Cheto Rizkiantoro (a), Dandi Ramadhani (a), Muhamad Alim (a), Made Nara Pradipta Adi (a)

a) Mechanical Engineering Department, Udayana University
Badung, Indonesia
*wayan.nata[at]unud.ac.id

Abstract

The battery utilization in electric vehicles needs to be operated at its operating temperature range of 20-45 degree Celsius to hinder several issues, including a reduction of life capacity and thermal runaway. A battery thermal management system (BTMS) based on a phase change material (PCM) and the heat pipe are harnessed to maintain the battery temperature. In this research, the BTMS by harnessing animal fat as the PCM and a heat pipe was investigated through experimental methods. Characterization material with the T-history method and thermal performance testing with three different loads of 0.5 C, 1 C, and 2 C were conducted. The Findings showed that the proposed module batteries could be applied as the BTMS in electric vehicles due to their thermal properties, which had a melting temperature of 37.18 degree Celsius and a latent heat of 72.71 degree Celsius. The proposed BTMS could reduce the temperature by 14.7 degree Celsius at the highest load of 2 C discharge rate from three discharge loads. Moreover, the temperature differences among batteries can be retained below 5 degree Celsius. In conclusion, the proposed BTMS in this research has shown the ability to harness natural resources to reduce the battery temperature in electric vehicles. Thus, this can be a promising BTMS in the future.

Keywords: Electric vehicle, Battery thermal management system, Phase Change Material, Heat pipe, Animal fat

Topic: Cooling System for Electric Vehicle