Internal heating of energy storage composites containing lithium-ion polymer batteries

This paper investigates the temperature rise and heat dissipation in CFRP laminates containing an embedded pouch lithium ion polymer (LiPo) battery. Experimental testing and finite element (FE) modelling reveal that CFRP material has a cooling effect on embedded batteries due to heat dissipation arising from the thermal conductivity of the carbon fibres. A pouch LiPo battery was embedded into carbon-epoxy laminates, and during discharging its surface temperature only increased by several degrees (and was lower than the free-standing battery in air). FE modelling was able to predict the temperature rise in energy storage composites, including the effects of battery discharge rate, battery capacity and laminate thickness. The safe design limits to avoid excessive temperatures in energy storage laminates containing batteries are defined. Thermal properties (which are related to safety matters) of energy storage laminates with embedded batteries are one crucial aspect for their practical implementation.