Managing Battery Thermal Performance
Working closely with Optima Batteries, AeroVironment, Bipolar Batteries, and Arias, we were able to solve complex battery thermal management problems for General Motors. We analyzed thermal and fluid flow behavior of hybrid vehicle battery packs and provided a specific design for the distribution system so that cool air could be uniformly distributed to the batteries, while meeting the fan power requirements.
We also designed and fabricated a battery enclosure for temperature control of sodium sulfur batteries for the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC). Using vacuum insulation, we fabricated and tested enclosures that met and exceeded USABC requirements.
For Ford Motor Company, we worked hand-in-hand with its supplier, Johnson Controls Battery Group, to assess the packaging, fluid flow, and thermal behavior of a battery pack for a "low-storage" hybrid vehicle. We provided solutions for structural components for staking batteries, battery spacing, and pressure drop/fan power requirements, and we fabricated a battery pack enclosure that "fit like a glove."
For more information, visit the Energy Storage Web site.
