Abstract
Research and/or Engineering Questions/Objective
To accurately predict the multidisciplinary fields, including the inside electro-chemical field, temperature field and strain-stress field (ETSS Fields) of a lithium-ion battery, is key technology for the enhancement of battery thermal management, the improvement of battery performances and the guarantee for battery safety. But, the conventional finite element modeling and calculation is high computation time consuming due to the multi-scale effect of battery components’ geometry. The objective of this study was to search after a novel multi-scale modeling and simulation of battery coupled dynamics fields based on similarity theory.
Methodology
Firstly, the dimensional analysis method is used to derive similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients of battery interior electro-chemical fields, based on the governing partial differential equations describing the three-dimensional electro-chemical field. Secondly, the dimensional analysis method is applied to derive similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients of battery interior temperature fields, based on the governing partial differential equations describing the three-dimensional transient temperature field. Thirdly, the dimensional analysis method is used to derive similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients of battery interior stress and strain fields, based on the governing partial differential equations describing the three dimensional steady-state thermo-elastic mechanics. Finally, to validate the similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients, three dimensional finite element models of battery multidisciplinary fields are established by using the COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS software, on the assumption that the battery has multi-layers structure.
Results
In the paper, the similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients of battery temperature field and strain-stress field and outside air flow field of a lithium-ion battery were derived. The FEM simulation results show that the similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients are certified correct, and they can be used for battery multidisciplinary fields modeling, simulation and analysis.
Limitations of this study
An important limitation of the current study is the unconsummated experimental validation of the modeling and simulation for an actual battery, because the measurement of multidisciplinary fields inside battery is very difficult.
What does the paper offer that is new in the field including in comparison to other work by the authors?
The multidisciplinary and multi-scale FEM modeling and simulation based on similarity theory presented in this paper is novel as well the derived the similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients.
Conclusions
The multidisciplinary and multi-scale FEM modeling and simulation based on similarity theory have been developed. The derived the similarity criterions and the similarity coefficients can be used for battery multidisciplinary fields analysis by using only single software.
KEYWORDS: Lithium-ion battery; ELECTRO-CHEMICAL field; Temperature field; Strain-stress field; Similarity theory; Finite element model