Experimental and Theoretical Efficiency Investigation of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery Thermal Management Systems

In this study, a thermodynamic model of a hybrid electric vehicle battery thermal management system (TMS) is developed and the efficiency of the system is determined based on different parameters and operating conditions. Subsequently, a TMS test bench is used with a production vehicle (Chevrolet Volt) that is fully instrumented in order to develop a vehicle level demonstration of the study. The experimental data are acquired under various conditions using an IPETRONIK data acquisition system, along with other reported data in the literature, to validate the numerical model results. Based on the analyses, the condenser and evaporator pressure drop, compressor work and compression ratio, evaporator heat load and efficiency of the system are determined both numerically and experimentally. The predicted results are determined to be within 6% of the conducted experimental results and within 15% of the reported results in the literature.