• Energy Research

It is important to consider the thermal management of lithium-ion batteries to overcome their limitations in usage and improve their performance and life cycles. In this study, a novel cooling system for the thermal management of lithium-ion battery packs is proposed by using an inner cylinder in the cooling channel and different-shaped nanoparticles in the base fluid, which is used as the cooling medium. The performance improvements in a 20 Ah capacity battery are compared by using a water–boehmite alumina (AlOOH) nanofluid, considering cylinder-, brick-, and blade-shaped nanoparticles up to a solid volume fraction of 2%. The numerical analysis is conducted using the finite element method, and Reynolds numbers between 100 and 600 are considered. When the efficacy of the coolants utilized is compared, it is apparent that as the Reynolds number increases, both cooling media decrease the highest temperature and homogenize the temperatures in the battery. The utilization of the cylinder in the mini-channel results in a 2 °C temperature drop at Re = 600 as compared to the flat channel. A boehmite alumina nanofluid with a 2% volume fraction reduces the maximum temperature by 5.1% at Re = 200. When the shape effect of the nanofluid is examined, it is noted that the cylinder-shaped particle improves the temperature by 4.93% as compared to blade-shaped nanoparticles and 7.32% as compared to brick-shaped nanoparticles. Thus, the combined utilization of a nanofluid containing cylindrical-shaped nanoparticles as the cooling medium and a cylinder in the mini-channel of a battery thermal management system provides an effective cooling system for the thermal management of the battery pack. The outcomes of this work are helpful for further system design and optimization studies related to battery thermal management.

It is important to consider the thermal management of lithium-ion batteries to overcome their limitations in usage and improve their performance and life cycles. In this study, a novel cooling system for the thermal management of lithium-ion battery packs is proposed by using an inner cylinder in the cooling channel and different-shaped nanoparticles in the base fluid, which is used as the cooling medium. The performance improvements in a 20 Ah capacity battery are compared by using a water–boehmite alumina (AlOOH) nanofluid, considering cylinder-, brick-, and blade-shaped nanoparticles up to a solid volume fraction of 2%. The numerical analysis is conducted using the finite element method, and Reynolds numbers between 100 and 600 are considered. When the efficacy of the coolants utilized is compared, it is apparent that as the Reynolds number increases, both cooling media decrease the highest temperature and homogenize the temperatures in the battery. The utilization of the cylinder in the mini-channel results in a 2 °C temperature drop at Re = 600 as compared to the flat channel. A boehmite alumina nanofluid with a 2% volume fraction reduces the maximum temperature by 5.1% at Re = 200. When the shape effect of the nanofluid is examined, it is noted that the cylinder-shaped particle improves the temperature by 4.93% as compared to blade-shaped nanoparticles and 7.32% as compared to brick-shaped nanoparticles. Thus, the combined utilization of a nanofluid containing cylindrical-shaped nanoparticles as the cooling medium and a cylinder in the mini-channel of a battery thermal management system provides an effective cooling system for the thermal management of the battery pack. The outcomes of this work are helpful for further system design and optimization studies related to battery thermal management.

In this study, impacts of using a sinusoidal shape encapsulated phase change material (PCM) packed bed (PB) system on the phase change and thermal performance are analyzed in multi-port vented cavity under a partially active magnetic field during hybrid nanoliquid convection. The current study is performed for different magnetic field strengths of domains (Hartmann number between 0 and 50), wave number (between 1 and 8), wave amplitude (between 0.01 H and 0.15 H), and nanoparticle loading (between 0 and 2%) by using the finite element method. The sinusoidal shape of the PCM-PB zone and varying its geometrical form are both found to affect the phase change process and thermal performance. When wave amplitude (Hp) rises from 0.01 H to 0.15 H, full phase change time (t-fr) increases by about 33% while average Nu increases by about 55%. When a partially active magnetic field is imposed at the highest value, up to 30.3% reduction in t-fr is obtained, while average Nu rises by about 9% at t = 18 min. The value of t-fr is reduced by about 15% while spatial average Nu rises by about 55% at the highest nanoparticle loading.

In this study, impacts of using a sinusoidal shape encapsulated phase change material (PCM) packed bed (PB) system on the phase change and thermal performance are analyzed in multi-port vented cavity under a partially active magnetic field during hybrid nanoliquid convection. The current study is performed for different magnetic field strengths of domains (Hartmann number between 0 and 50), wave number (between 1 and 8), wave amplitude (between 0.01 H and 0.15 H), and nanoparticle loading (between 0 and 2%) by using the finite element method. The sinusoidal shape of the PCM-PB zone and varying its geometrical form are both found to affect the phase change process and thermal performance. When wave amplitude (Hp) rises from 0.01 H to 0.15 H, full phase change time (t-fr) increases by about 33% while average Nu increases by about 55%. When a partially active magnetic field is imposed at the highest value, up to 30.3% reduction in t-fr is obtained, while average Nu rises by about 9% at t = 18 min. The value of t-fr is reduced by about 15% while spatial average Nu rises by about 55% at the highest nanoparticle loading.

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are becoming more widely acknowledged as essential elements in thermal energy storage, greatly aiding the pursuit of lower building energy consumption and the achievement of net-zero energy goals. PCMs are frequently constrained by their subpar heat conductivity, despite their expanding importance. This in-depth research includes a thorough categorization and close examination of PCM features. The most current developments in nanoencapsulated PCM (NEPCMs) techniques are also highlighted, along with recent developments in thermal energy storage technology. The assessment also emphasizes how diligently researchers have worked to advance the subject of PCMs, including the creation of devices with improved thermal performance using nano-enhanced PCMs (NEnPCMs). This review intends to highlight the progress made in improving the efficiency and efficacy of PCMs by providing a critical overview of these improvements. The paper concludes by discussing current challenges and proposing future directions for the continued advancement of PCMs and their diverse applications.

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are becoming more widely acknowledged as essential elements in thermal energy storage, greatly aiding the pursuit of lower building energy consumption and the achievement of net-zero energy goals. PCMs are frequently constrained by their subpar heat conductivity, despite their expanding importance. This in-depth research includes a thorough categorization and close examination of PCM features. The most current developments in nanoencapsulated PCM (NEPCMs) techniques are also highlighted, along with recent developments in thermal energy storage technology. The assessment also emphasizes how diligently researchers have worked to advance the subject of PCMs, including the creation of devices with improved thermal performance using nano-enhanced PCMs (NEnPCMs). This review intends to highlight the progress made in improving the efficiency and efficacy of PCMs by providing a critical overview of these improvements. The paper concludes by discussing current challenges and proposing future directions for the continued advancement of PCMs and their diverse applications.

In the current paper, different thermal energy storage unit-integrated photovoltaic thermal (PVT) air collectors with and without nanoparticles have been designed, fabricated and tested. Aluminum oxide nanoparticles have been integrated into the thermal storage unit to increase the performance of the PVT collector. The developed collectors have been tested in a drying application at two different mass flow rates. The major goals of this work are upgrading the performance of the PVT air collector by employing a nano-embedded thermal energy storage unit and analyzing the impacts of using nanoparticles in the latent heat storage unit in the PVT collector on the drying performance of the system. The drying time was reduced by approximately 15–22% by employing nanoparticles in the thermal storage unit. Moreover, overall exergy efficiency values were obtained in ranges of 12.49–14.67% and 13.64–16.06%, respectively, for modified and unmodified PVT air collectors. It should be indicated that the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the PVT air collectors were improved in the ranges of 6.91–6.97% and 9.20–9.47%, respectively, by using nanoparticles in the thermal energy storage unit. The combination of increasing the flow rate and integrating nanoparticles into the storage unit improved the overall exergetic efficiency of the PVT air collector by 28.58%. The mean exergetic efficiency of the drying room was between 48.33 and 54.26%. In addition to the experimental analysis, dynamic models for thermal and exergy efficiencies of developed collectors were constructed by employing the system identification method.

In the current paper, different thermal energy storage unit-integrated photovoltaic thermal (PVT) air collectors with and without nanoparticles have been designed, fabricated and tested. Aluminum oxide nanoparticles have been integrated into the thermal storage unit to increase the performance of the PVT collector. The developed collectors have been tested in a drying application at two different mass flow rates. The major goals of this work are upgrading the performance of the PVT air collector by employing a nano-embedded thermal energy storage unit and analyzing the impacts of using nanoparticles in the latent heat storage unit in the PVT collector on the drying performance of the system. The drying time was reduced by approximately 15–22% by employing nanoparticles in the thermal storage unit. Moreover, overall exergy efficiency values were obtained in ranges of 12.49–14.67% and 13.64–16.06%, respectively, for modified and unmodified PVT air collectors. It should be indicated that the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the PVT air collectors were improved in the ranges of 6.91–6.97% and 9.20–9.47%, respectively, by using nanoparticles in the thermal energy storage unit. The combination of increasing the flow rate and integrating nanoparticles into the storage unit improved the overall exergetic efficiency of the PVT air collector by 28.58%. The mean exergetic efficiency of the drying room was between 48.33 and 54.26%. In addition to the experimental analysis, dynamic models for thermal and exergy efficiencies of developed collectors were constructed by employing the system identification method.