Optimize Lithium-Ion Batteries with CFD

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

Rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries are widely used in power packs for portable electronics and in many applications in the automotive, medical device and aerospace and defense industries because of their great energy density and characteristics like minimal memory effects. Developing Li-Ion devices presents an intriguing array of multiphysics challenges, which is why you should get a charge out of the resource guide on the other side of today's Check it Out link.

Designing Li-Ion batteries for high-performance, reliability and safety calls on several engineering disciplines, including electrical, fluidics, mechanical, thermal, electro-chemistry and embedded controls. This brings together tools like CFD (computational fluid dynamics), structural analysis, electronics and systems-level simulation. ANSYS' new “Develop Reliable Lithium-Ion Batteries Using CFD Simulation” Tech Tip Web resource demonstrates how to leverage CFD and multiphysics to virtually prototype safe and practical Li-Ion cells and battery packs quickly and cost-effectively.

The Tech Tip offers two articles illustrating how solutions such as ANSYS Fluent CFD, which includes standard Li-Ion battery models, can simulate the performance of individual cells and entire battery packs. Both well-illustrated articles focus on developing Li-Ion energy storage systems for hybrid and all-electric vehicles.

The first article, a case study titled “Automating Battery Pack Design,” reports on how an engineering research team developed a battery pack design toolkit that extends the capabilities of systems-level simulation software to provide high levels of automation and flexibility for evaluating multiple configurations. Interestingly, the ANSYS also offers a complementary on-demand webinar to this article. In "Accelerating the Development of EV Batteries Through Computer-Aided Engineering," the simulation approach known as the Multi-Scale Multi-Dimensional model framework receives close scrutiny.

The second article, “End-To-End Cell Pack System Solution,” is a technical white paper exploring a simulation-based approach that enables designers to optimize battery performance, safety and lifespan.

Should those articles spike your interest, be sure to check out the “A Total Li-Ion Battery Simulation Solution” webinar. This presentation shows you a complete model for a Li-Ion battery pack. Featured here is a reduced order model that enables a battery pack model to finish a complete charge-discharge cycle within seconds of simulation time.

A complete lithium-ion battery development process requires multiphysics simulation capabilities, including computational fluid dynamics, structural analysis, electronics and systems. This ANSYS screen capture shows the temperature distribution on a battery module. Image courtesy of ANSYS Inc.

ANSYS does a great job on its Tech Tip Web resources. If you know little of Li-Ion development, you'll find “Develop Reliable Lithium-Ion Batteries Using CFD Simulation” a highly engaging way to learn something about it. If Li-Ion cells are your thing, this Web resource is a must. Hit the Check it Out link and enjoy.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Access the “Develop Reliable Lithium-Ion Batteries Using CFD Simulation” Web resource here.