Enhancing EV battery cooling using magnetic nanofluid and external magnetic field synergies

Abstract

This study delves into the computational exploration of the impact of magnetic intensity, magnetic nanofluid, flow rates and heat transfer coefficient in the form of Nusselt number on inclined ribbed channels with both parallel and staggered configurations for the cooling of sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Employing Fe3O4 + H2O as the working fluid, within a minichannel with multiple magnets at different locations, namely 15 mm, 25 mm and 15 mm and 25 mm, the parallel and staggered inclined ribbed channel Nusselt number (Nu) increased with magnetic field intensity, reaching maximum of 152.81% for staggered ribbed minichannel configuration at 2000 Gauss (G). Similarly, the skin friction experienced an increment with magnetic field intensity for staggered ribbed minichannel configuration and for parallel ribbed minichannel when both the magnets were placed at the location of 15 mm and 25 mm from the inlet but decreased with increasing Reynolds number. Notably, the thermal enhancement factor (TEF) consistently surpassed greater than unity for all investigated cases. These findings carry significant implications, particularly in EV cooling, offering valuable insights for developing more efficient and tailored cooling solutions for advanced EV battery thermal management.