A state-of-the-art review on numerical investigations of liquid-cooled battery thermal management systems for lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles

In recent decades, the electric vehicle (EV) industry has expanded at a quicker rate due to its numerous environmental and economic advantages. The battery thermal management system (BTMS) is an essential part of an EV that keeps the lithium-ion batteries (LIB) in the desired temperature range. Amongst the different types of BTMS, the liquid-cooled BTMS (LC-BTMS) has superior cooling performance and is, therefore, used in many commercial vehicles. Considerable ongoing research is underway to improve the performance of LC-BTMS, with most of the focus on numerical simulations. In view of this, the present article conducts a comparative assessment of the numerical simulation methodologies adopted for the analysis of LC-BTMS and systematically reviews the recent investigations of the design, operational, and performance aspects of LC-BTMS designs. The recently studied designs of LC-BTMS for both cylindrical and prismatic batteries are considered and further classified on the basis of main design attributes. Based on the existing literature, challenges with the current LC-BTMS technologies are analyzed, and areas of further development are identified. The review will serve as the basis for guiding future numerical simulations and the advancement of LC-BTMS technologies.