Numerical modelling of non-Newtonian fluid flow during a battery pack filling

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Numeričko modeliranje strujanja nenjutnovskog fluida tijekom punjenja baterijskog modula
• Author: Matteo Kamenjašević
• Mentor: Željko Tuković (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-03-29, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: TECHNICAL SCIENCES; Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

During operation, electric vehicle components experience shocks and vibrations that can potentially damage cells within the battery pack. Foam encapsulation enhances the structural integrity of battery pack by securing cells in place, shielding them from potential damage. Structural foams undergo several distinct stages, including the flow of non-Newtonian fluid, curing and foaming before reaching a final stable stage. The main aim of this thesis was to develop a method for numerically modeling the pouring of non-Newtonian fluid into the battery pack. The flow is laminar, transient and the Volume of Fluid (VoF) method is employed to model a multiphase flow and free surface between phases. Three models were analyzed: model with two dispensers, model with one dispenser, and model with different gap size between cells and other components. The detailed investigation of non-Newtonian fluid flow during the filling of the battery pack is performed to determine the fluid distribution within the domain, which is prerequisite for uniform foam encapsulation. All numerical calculations were conducted using the computational fluid dynamics software ANSYS Fluent.

Abstract (croatian)

Prilikom vožnje, komponente električnih vozila izložene su udarcima i vibracijama koje mogu oštetiti ćelije unutar baterijskog paketa. Enkaspulacija pjenom povećava čvrstoću baterijskog paketa tako što osigurava ćelije na mjestu i štiti ih od mogućih oštećenja. Strukturne pjene prije formiranja stabilne faze moraju proći kroz nekoliko različith faza kao što su stvrdnjavanje i formiranje pjene uključujući i strujanje nenjutnovskog fluida. Glavni cilj ovog rada je razviti metodu za numeričko modeliranje ulijevanja nenjutnovskog fluida u baterijskom paketu. Strujanje je laminarno, nestacionarno i korištena je Volume of Fluid (VoF) metoda za modeliranje višefaznog strujanja i slobodne površine između različith faza. Analizirana su tri modela: model s dva dozatora, model s jednim dozatorom i model s različitim veličinama zazora između ćelija i ostalih komponenti. Detaljno istraživanje protoka nenjutnovkse tekućine tijekom punjenja baterijskog paketa provodi se kako bi se odredila distribucija tekućine unutar domene, što je preduvjet za jednoliku enkapsulaciju pjenom. Svi numerički proračuni provedeni su u programskom paketu za računalnu dinamiku fluida, ANSYS Fluent.

• Keywords: foam encapsulation; non-Newtonian fluid; shear-thinning fluid; battery cells; VoF; CFD; ANSYS Fluent
• Keywords (croatian): enkapsulacija pjenom; nenjutnovski fluid; shear-thinning fluid; baterijske ćelije; VoF; CFD; ANSYS Fluent
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:235:480113
• Study programme: Title: Mechanical Engineering; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra inženjer/inženjerka strojarstva (magistar/magistra inženjer/inženjerka strojarstva)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2029-03-29
• Created on: 2024-03-28 07:33:44