Battery Pack Cooling Topology

For this pack, there are several possible ways of transferring heat from the cells. For all of them, a difference in temperature is required.

1. Convective - Collision of atoms between two items in contact.
   1. Thermal pad between the bottom of the module and the top of the carbon fiber catamaran.
2. Conductive - Movement of a fluid between two objects.
   1. Forced air cooling
3. Radiative - Infrared light emission by objects.

We are currently evaluating the feasibility of convective and conductive cooling methods.

Testing will be conducted on the modules, with thermistors attached to each cell. The temperature will be monitored during tests under multiple conditions:

1. Control Test
   1. Module in closed box, no active cooling, no cooling other than natural convection
2. Thermal Pad Test
   1. Module in closed box, no active cooling, thermal pad on bottom to carbon fiber plate (significantly larger than the module)
3. Open Air
   1. Module with no cardboard box around it (natural convection cooling)
4. Fan Test
   1. Module in closed box, fan blowing air over it, test at different fan speeds, etc.
5. Fan and Thermal Pad
   1. Both a fan and a thermal pad will be used together

The purpose of these tests will be to evaluate whether we can cool the pack under all conditions while using minimal power.

Test Results

We need a fan, and the carbon fiber plate does not transfer any heat at all. Refer to the Battery Cooling pages for more details.