Numerical Study of Battery Pack Cooling for Electric Vehicles

This study presents a systematic CFD-based investigation of air-cooled lithium-ion battery pack thermal management using a novel U-shaped channel. The U-shaped domain was selected due to its ability to promote recirculation and uniform air distribution, which enhances cooling effectiveness compared to conventional straight and Z-type channels. A systematic parametric optimization of inlet position and airflow velocity was performed to minimize hotspot formation and improve temperature uniformity. Results reveal that shifting the inlet from 30 mm to 20 mm and increasing velocity from 2 m/s to 3 m/s reduced the maximum battery temperature by 3.46 K, from a baseline of 333 K to 329.54 K, while maintaining minimal pressure drop. These findings highlight that strategic control of inlet parameters can yield significant thermal improvements with high cost-effectiveness and geometric simplicity.