Effect of simultaneous use of water-alumina nanofluid and phase change nanomaterial in a lithium-ion battery with a specific geometry connected solar system

Abstract

This paper investigates numerically the thermal management of a lithium-ion (Li-iNB) battery connected to a solar system using the finite element method. The Li-iNB uses a combined cooling system (CLS), i.e. phase change nanomaterial (N-PCM) and nanofluids (NFs). A bionic geometry is used around the Li-iNB in the presence of PCM between the NFs flow channels. Water-alumina NFs and CaCl2_6H2O/Graphene N-PCM are used, and the NF flows through the N-PCMs and charges the N-PCMs. The results show that using N-PCM instead of simple N-PCM leads to the absorption of more heat from the Li-iNB. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in the N-PCMs causes the volume percentage (VOP) of melted N-PCM to increase at the same time. The outlet temperature of the CLS is enhanced by adding NPs to the N-PCM and intensifying the inlet velocity of the NFs. An increment in the NFs velocity enhances the value of the Nu and reduces the average CLS temperature. The increase in velocity results in a better charge of the N-PCM, leading to more percentage of melting volumes of N-PCM. Finally, it is found that the use of a hybrid system of NFs-N-PCM improves the performance of the Li-iNB thermal management system.