Cooling Performance Investigation of Commercially Available Paraffin and Nanographene Enhanced Paraffin as Working Material in Thermal Management

Abstract:

Lithium-Ion batteries, when subjected to high discharge rates (C rate), exhibit elevated temperatures. When the temperature crosses the 323 K threshold, thermal runaway occurs, leading to fire and sometimes an explosion. To prevent this, the Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) is employed. The current study investigates the cooling performance of mass-produced paraffin and Graphene-based (in 1,3, and 5 wt% concentrations) experimentally synthesized Nano-enhanced Phase Change Material (NePCM). Characterization of NePCM indicated elevated thermal conductivity by 23.32, 53.22, and 66.95% and density by 3.75, 6.5, and 13.5% but decreased latent heat by 3.17, 4.20, and 11.37% and specific heat by 4.30%, 4.93%, and 7.16% for each NePCM sample, respectively. Paraffin and NePCM were numerically computed in Li-Ion cell BTMS discharged at 3C. The results indicated the successful cooling performance of PCM with temperature reduction of 11.69, 11.78, 12.23, and 12.38% concerning Bare Cell temperature, respectively. Cost analysis conducted with similar studies involving specialized Phase Change Material (PCMs) showed that the present BTMS was, at maximum, 63.23% less costly.

• Periodical: Journal of Metastable and Nanocrystalline Materials (Volume 44)
• Pages: 11-29
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-17YAGe
• Online since: August 2026
• Authors: Jvalant Trivedi*, Mitesh Shah, Aditya Bais
• Keywords: Graphene Nanomaterial, Phase Change, Thermal Management

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