Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

3b

Thermal Modeling of a Cylindrical L i-i o n B a t t e r y i n 2 D

Introduction
Thermal management is crucial for safety and for ensuring long lifetimes of batteries. High temperatures typically shorten the battery lifetime by increasing the rate of the degrading processes, and therefore active cooling may be needed for high power applications. Another aspect of thermal management is that large temperature gradients within a single battery, or battery pack, need to be avoided since they may lead to non-uniform current densities and non-uniform aging phenomena. The varying length scales and complex geometries of a Li-ion battery requires some consideration. The individual layers forming the battery cells are typically of the scale of tens of micrometers in the normal direction to the layers, but up to tens of centimeters in the sheet direction, and are usually wound into multilayer geometries. When it comes to the actual battery or battery pack, the geometries may be in the scale of centimeters up to meters (for the case of an electric vehicle), and can consist of hundreds of individual cells. Resolving these geometries with a full three-dimensional model of the battery chemistry is computationally costly. However, since the heat conductivity of the components of a lithium-ion battery is quite high in relation to the heat generated, one can in many cases assume the battery to have a fairly uniform temperature profile. Furthermore, if the battery chemistry is not heavily affected by small temperature changes, little detail is lost by describing the battery chemistry using a lumped model, based on the average temperature of the battery. This model example simulates an air-cooled cylindrical 18650 lithium-ion battery during a charge-discharge cycle, followed by a relaxing period. A one-dimensional cell model is used to model the battery cell chemistry, and a two-dimensional axi-symmetrical model is used to model the temperature in the battery. The two models are coupled by the generated heat source and the average temperature, see Figure 1.

2013 COMSOL

1 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

avg(T) Cell model (1D) Thermal model (2D-axi)

s, l, cl, cs

T
avg(Qh)

Figure 1: Coupling between the cell and thermal model using the average values for the temperature and generated heat.

Model Definition
CELL MODEL

The cell model is created using the Lithium Ion Battery interface. A more detailed description on how to set up this type of model can be found in the model example 1D Isothermal Lithium-Ion Battery. The cell model consists of the following five domains: Negative current collector (Al, 7 m) Negative porous electrode (LixC6, 55 m) Separator (Electrolyte 1:2 EC/DMC in LiPF6, 30 m) Positive porous electrode (LiyMn2O4, 55 m) Positive current collector (Cu, 10 m) The temperature is set to the mean temperature in the active battery material of the thermal model using an integration model coupling. A square wave function is used to set the an alternating charge/discharge current at a 5C rate with a cycle time of 600 s followed by a relaxing period after 1500 s, see Figure 3. (A 1C rate corresponds to the charge/discharge current required to fully charge or discharge in one hour, 5C corresponds to a five times higher current). The cell is set to an initial state of charge of 30%.
THERMAL MODEL

The thermal model is in 2D with axial symmetry, using the Heat Transfer in Solids interface. The reason for using axial symmetry is that, for a spirally wound battery of this type, the heat conduction in the spiral direction can be neglected (Ref. 2)

2 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

The geometry (9 mm radius, 65 mm high, see Figure 2) consists of three domains: Battery canister (steel, 0.25 mm thick) Active battery material domain (wound sheets of cell material) Mandrel (nylon isolator around which the battery cell sheets are wound, 2 mm radius)

Active Battery Material Canister Mandrel

r=0

Figure 2: Geometry of the thermal model The active battery material is assumed to consist of one or several battery cells wound spirally into a cylinder. As an effect of this, the thermal conductivities are anisotropic in the thermal model, with a higher thermal conductivity along the battery sheets, the cylinder length direction, than in the normal direction to the sheets, the radial direction, see Ref. 1. In the radial direction the thermal conductivity, kT,r, is calculated from the formula Li k T, r = --------------------------L i k T, i

(1)

where Li are the thicknesses of the different layers of the cell, and kT,i the thermal conductivities of the materials constituting these layers.

2013 COMSOL

3 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

The thermal conductivity in the cylinder length direction, kT,ang, is calculated according to L i k T, i k T, ang = ----------------------Li The density, batt, and heat capacity, Cp,batt, for the active battery material are calculated similarly according to Li i batt = -----------------Li C p, batt =

(2)

L i C p, i -----------------------L i

(3)

(4)

The heat source based in the active battery domain is set to the average of the generated heat in cell model using a model coupling integration variable. On the battery canister surface, a heat flux boundary condition is specified using a heat transfer coefficient of h = 20 W/(m2K) and an external temperature of 298.15 K. This would typically correspond to air cooling by low velocity forced convection. The initial temperature of the battery is set to 298.15 K.

4 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

Results and Discussion

Figure 3 shows the cell potential and the load cycle current.

Figure 3: Cell potential and current load. Figure 4 shows the maximum, minimum and average temperatures of the battery during the simulation. The temperature differences between the minimum and maximum never exceed 2 K. The difference in heating rate between charge and discharge is due to the difference in entropy change for the charge and discharge reactions (set by the dEeqdT parameter).

2013 COMSOL

5 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

Figure 4: Mean, maximum, and minimum temperature. Returning to Figure 3 it is also seen that the cell potential of the different cycles is not largely affected by the temperature changes in Figure 4. A more temperature-dependent cell model could, for instance, also include temperature dependence of the diffusivities and conductivities. Figure 5 shows the temperature in the battery cylinder at 1500 s. The temperature maximum is located in the active battery material in the center of the battery.

6 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

Figure 5: Temperature distribution in the battery at t=1500 s.

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

To improve to convergence of the time-dependent solver, use the operator nojac() when setting up the model couplings for the average temperature and heat source.

References
1. S.-C. Chen, Y.-Y. Wang, and C.-C. Wan, Thermal Analysis of Sprially Wound Lithium Batteries, J. Electrochem. Soc. , vol. 153, no. 4, pp. A637A648, 2006. 2. P.M. Gomadam, R.E. White, and J.W. Weidner, Modeling Heat Conduction in Spiral Geometries, J. Electrochem. Soc. , vol. 150, no. 10, pp. A1339A1345, 2003.

Model Library path: Batteries_and_Fuel_Cells_Module/Batteries/

li_battery_thermal_2d_axi

2013 COMSOL

7 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

Modeling Instructions
1 From the View menu, choose Model Library. 2 Go to the Model Library window. 3 In the Model Library tree, select Batteries and Fuel Cells Module>Batteries>li battery 1d for thermal models. 4 Click Open.
ROOT

In the Model Builder window, right-click the root node and choose Add Model.
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window. 2 Click the 2D button. 3 Click the 2D axisymmetric button. 4 Click Next. 5 In the Add physics tree, select Heat Transfer>Heat Transfer in Solids (ht). 6 Click Add Selected. 7 Click Next. 8 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies for Selected Physics>Time Dependent. 9 Click Finish.
GEOMETRY 2

Rectangle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Geometry 2 and choose Rectangle. 2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section. 3 In the Width edit field, type r_batt. 4 In the Height edit field, type h_batt. 5 Click the Build Selected button.

Rectangle 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 2 and choose Rectangle. 2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.

8 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

3 In the Width edit field, type r_batt-d_can. 4 In the Height edit field, type h_batt-2*d_can. 5 Locate the Position section. In the z edit field, type d_can. 6 Click the Build Selected button.

Rectangle 3
1 Right-click Geometry 2 and choose Rectangle. 2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section. 3 In the Width edit field, type r_mandrel. 4 In the Height edit field, type h_batt-2*d_can. 5 Locate the Position section. In the z edit field, type d_can. 6 Click the Build All button.
DEFINITIONS

Explicit 6
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit. 2 Right-click Explicit 6 and choose Rename. 3 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Battery Can in the New name edit

field.
4 Click OK. 5 Select Domain 1 only.

Explicit 7
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit. 2 Right-click Explicit 7 and choose Rename. 3 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Active Battery Material in the New name edit field. 4 Click OK. 5 Select Domain 3 only.

Explicit 8
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Selections>Explicit. 2 Select Domain 2 only. 3 Right-click Model 2>Definitions>Explicit 8 and choose Rename.

2013 COMSOL

9 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

4 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Mandrel in the New name edit field. 5 Click OK.

Average 1
Define a model coupling operator for the average temperature in the active battery material to use in the 1d battery model.
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Model Couplings>Average. 2 In the Average settings window, locate the Source Selection section. 3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary. 4 Select Boundary 8 only.

Variables 1
Define a variable for the average temperature from the 2d thermal model and set the temperature to this variable throughout the 1d-model. Use nojac() to improve the time-dependent solver convergence.
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Definitions node, then click Variables 1. 2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Variables section. 3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name T Expression nojac(mod2.aveop1(mod2. T)) Description Average temperature in active battery material

Average 2
Now define an average operator for the 1d model to use for calculating a mean heat source.
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Model Couplings>Average. 2 In the Average settings window, locate the Source Selection section. 3 From the Selection list, choose All domains.
DEFINITIONS

Define a variable for the heat source. Use nojac() to improve the time-dependent solver convergence.

10 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

Variables 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Definitions and choose Variables. 2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Variables section. 3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name Qh Expression nojac(mod1.aveop2(mod1. liion.Qh)) Description Average heat source from 1d battery model

MATERIALS

Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Materials and choose Open Material Browser. 2 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Steel AISI 4340. 3 In the Material_browser window, click Add Material to Model.

Steel AISI 4340

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2>Materials click Steel AISI 4340. 2 In the Material settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. 3 From the Selection list, choose Battery Can.

Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Materials and choose Open Material Browser. 2 In the Material Browser settings window, In the tree, select Built-In>Nylon. 3 In the Material_browser window, click Add Material to Model.

Nylon
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2>Materials click Nylon. 2 In the Material settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. 3 From the Selection list, choose Mandrel.
H E A T TR A N S F E R I N S O L I D S

Heat Transfer in Solids 2

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Heat Transfer in Solids and

choose Heat Transfer in Solids.

2 In the Heat Transfer in Solids settings window, locate the Domain Selection section.

2013 COMSOL

11 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

3 From the Selection list, choose Active Battery Material. 4 Locate the Heat Conduction, Solid section. From the k list, choose User defined. From

the list, choose Diagonal.

5 In the k table, enter the following settings:
kT_batt_r

0
kT_ bat t_a ng

6 Locate the Thermodynamics, Solid section. From the list, choose User defined. In

the associated edit field, type rho_batt.

7 From the Cp list, choose User defined. In the associated edit field, type Cp_batt.

Heat Source 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Heat Transfer in Solids and choose Heat Source. 2 In the Heat Source settings window, locate the Domain Selection section. 3 From the Selection list, choose Active Battery Material. 4 Locate the Heat Source section. In the Q edit field, type Qh.

Heat Flux 1
1 Right-click Heat Transfer in Solids and choose Heat Flux. 2 Select Boundaries 2, 7, and 12 only. 3 In the Heat Flux settings window, locate the Heat Flux section. 4 Click the Inward heat flux button. 5 In the h edit field, type 20. 6 In the Text edit field, type T_init.

Initial Values 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2>Heat Transfer in Solids click Initial Values 1. 2 In the Initial Values settings window, locate the Initial Values section. 3 In the T edit field, type T_init.
DEFINITIONS

Create probes for the mean, max, and min temperature changes in the thermal model.

12 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Definitions and choose Probes>Domain Probe. 2 In the Domain Probe settings window, locate the Probe Settings section. 3 In the Probe variable edit field, type MeanT. 4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Selection list, choose Active Battery Material. 5 Locate the Expression section. In the Expression edit field, type T-T_init. 6 Right-click Model 2>Definitions>Domain Probe 1 and choose Duplicate. 7 In the Domain Probe settings window, locate the Probe Settings section. 8 From the Type list, choose Maximum. 9 In the Probe variable edit field, type maxT. 1 0 Right-click Model 2>Definitions>Domain Probe 2 and choose Duplicate. 1 1 In the Domain Probe settings window, locate the Probe Settings section. 1 2 From the Type list, choose Minimum. 1 3 In the Probe variable edit field, type minT. 1 4 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2>Definitions right-click Domain Probe 1

and choose Rename.

1 5 Go to the Rename Domain Probe dialog box and type Mean Temperature in the New name edit field. 1 6 Click OK. 1 7 Right-click Model 2>Definitions>Domain Probe 2 and choose Rename. 1 8 Go to the Rename Domain Probe dialog box and type Max Temperature in the New name edit field. 1 9 Click OK. 2 0 Right-click Model 2>Definitions>Domain Probe 3 and choose Rename. 2 1 Go to the Rename Domain Probe dialog box and type Min Temperature in the New name edit field. 2 2 Click OK.
MATERIALS

LixMn2O4 Electrode (Positive, Li-ion Battery)

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Model 1>Materials node, then click LixMn2O4 Electrode (Positive, Li-ion Battery).

2013 COMSOL

13 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

2 In the Material settings window, locate the Material Contents section. 3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Property Name Value Eeq_int1(soc )-T*dEeqdT -0.00022

Equilibrium potential Temperature derivative of equilibrium potential

STUDY 1

Eeq dEeqdT

Step 1: Time Dependent

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 node, then click Step 1: Time Dependent. 2 In the Time Dependent settings window, locate the Study Settings section. 3 In the Times edit field, type range(0,150,2100). 4 Select the Relative tolerance check box. 5 In the associated edit field, type 0.001. 6 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.

Click on the Probe Plot 1 tab to place the probe plot in focus while solving.
RESULTS

When the solver has finished you have four default plots in addition to the probe plot.

Temperature, 3D (ht)
This plot shows the temperature inside the battery at the end of the simulation interval. Change the time to 1500 s.
1 In the Model Builder window, click Temperature, 3D (ht). 2 In the 3D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section. 3 From the Time list, choose 1500. 4 Click the Plot button. 5 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

Compare the resulting plot with that shown in Figure 5.

Probe 1D Plot Group 5

Next, modify the probe plot to show only the cell potential and load cycle current.

14 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Probe 1D Plot Group 5 node, then

click Probe Table Graph 1.

2 In the Table Graph settings window, locate the Data section. 3 From the Plot columns list, choose Manual. 4 In the Columns list, choose Electric potential (V), Point Probe Expression 1 and liion.Isx/i_1C (1), Point Probe Expression 2. 5 Click to expand the Legends section. Select the Show legends check box. 6 From the Legends list, choose Manual. 7 In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends Cell potential (V) Battery load (C-rate)

8 Click the Plot button. 9 In the Model Builder window, click Probe 1D Plot Group 5. 1 0 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Title section. 1 1 From the Title type list, choose Manual. 1 2 In the Title text area, type Cell potential and load. 1 3 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the x-axis label check box. 1 4 In the associated edit field, type Time (s). 1 5 Right-click Probe 1D Plot Group 5 and choose Rename. 1 6 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Load Cycle in the New name

edit field.
1 7 Click OK. 1 8 Right-click Probe 1D Plot Group 5 and choose Plot.

Compare with Figure 3.

Load Cycle 1
Now duplicate this plot group and modify it to reproduce the plot in Figure 4.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Load Cycle and choose Duplicate. 2 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Title section. 3 From the Title type list, choose Manual.

2013 COMSOL

15 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b

4 In the Title text area, type Temperature change. 5 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the x-axis label check box. 6 In the associated edit field, type Time (s). 7 Select the y-axis label check box. 8 In the associated edit field, type DELTA T (K). 9 In the Model Builder window, expand the Load Cycle 1 node, then click Probe Table Graph 1. 10 In the Table Graph settings window, locate the Data section. 11 In the Columns list, choose T-T_init (K), Mean Temperature, T-T_init (K), Max Temperature, and T-T_init (K), Min Temperature. 12 Locate the Legends section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends Mean Max Min

13 Click the Plot button. 14 In the Model Builder window, right-click Load Cycle 1 and choose Rename. 15 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Temperature vs Time in the New name edit field. 16 Click OK.

16 |

THERMAL MODELING OF A CYLINDRICAL LI-ION BATTERY IN 2D

2013 COMSOL