Silver Nanofluid-Based Thermal Management for Effective Cooling of Batteries in Electric Vehicle Systems

To achieve efficient cooling capabilities in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, battery thermal management systems with higher power density have garnered significant attention. This work introduces a novel computational analysis method to assess the temperature distribution within the designed multiple EV battery cooling module's, investigating the flow of both water and silver-based nanofluids as coolants. The EV battery module under study comprises ten cylindrical lithium-ion batteries of model 18,650 types. This comprehensive simulation considered various factors, such as the coolant's flow path, flow rate and type, appear to have significantly influencing temperature distribution. The analysis identifies “Case IV” as the most effective cooling configuration utilizing water as the coolant and demonstrating superior cooling capabilities compared to the conventional cooling module (“Case I”). This finding marks a critical step toward optimizing battery cooling methods and achieving efficient thermal management. The incorporation of silver nanoparticles in the base fluid (water) enhances the nanofluid's thermal conductivity and heat transfer efficiency, showcasing improved cooling capabilities beyond that of water alone. The performance of different nanofluid concentrations including 0.25% and 0.50% by volume was evaluated to demonstrate their impact on battery cooling efficiency. To contextualize the results, the cooling performance of silver nanofluids has been compared with that of TiO₂ nanofluids reported in previous studies. The outcomes of this research underscore the potential of the computational analysis technique to advance temperature management systems for EV batteries, improving EVs performance and reliability and contributing to a more sustainable and efficient future of transportation.