Temperature Sensing and Evaluation of Thermal Effects on Battery Packs for Automotive Applications

In this paper, we introduce the need for real-time temperature monitoring in battery packs used in automotive applications so to have an accurate estimation of battery life and performances. Advanced energy storage management systems should sense operating and ambient temperature of battery packs in order to implement proper strategies to improve the efficiency of charge and discharge processes and to extend battery life. The proposed evaluation technique is based on an innovative and dynamic circuital model, which allows to accurately represent the functioning of a battery pack (in charge and discharge) in the various operating conditions. Each circuital parameter of the model has a well-defined function which highlights its dependence on temperature, state of charge, state of health and number of cells. The model characterization has been made through tests on different battery sets. A climatic chamber has been used to simulate different operating conditions of ambient temperature. The analysis of the parameters evolution in time has led to the identification of an ideal ambient temperature range for the type of batteries under examination in order to improve their performances over time in terms of energy efficiency and extension of useful life.