Performance improvement and thermal management of a lithium-ion battery by optimizing tab locations and cell aspect ratio

This study is focused on finding a proper shape for a 14.6 Ah lithium-ion battery cell to control the temperature at an optimal range and improve the performance of LIB. To this end, the impacts of twelve tab locations, cell aspect ratios, and C-Rates on the temperature deviation and performance of LIBs are examined by means of 3D numerical simulations. A comprehensive D factor as the non-dimensional parameter is used to evaluate the impacts of effective parameters on the uniformity analysis of the temperature, potential, and current. Compared to the conventional LIB with nominal lab (case 1), changing the tab locations to the counter and l-shape tabs (cases 3 and 8) reduces the maximum temperature and increases the potential discharge. Results indicate that optimizing the cell aspect ratio in the LIBs with the nominal, counter, and l-shape tabs (cases 1, 3, and 8) can effectively decrease the temperature difference and enhance the life and performance of LIBs. Results illustrate that the effect of optimizing the cell aspect ratio in the LIB with the counter tab (case 3) is more than in LIBs with the nominal and l-shape tabs (cases 1 and 8).