This work employs a one-dimensional and a two-dimensional model to pre
dict the thermal behaviour of 30-A h hTi/MH batteries. The temperature
of battery can rise to about 45 degrees C during 15-A charging under
natural convection. Batteries. attached with aluminum fins exhibit an
effective heat-dissipation behaviour under either natural convection o
r forced convection conditions. The temperature is around 37 and 32 de
grees C under natural convection and forced convection, respectively.
During discharge, the temperature rise of the battery is only about 6
degrees C under adiabatic conditions. In a closely-packed module, natu
ral and forced convection is unable to reduce the temperature increase
in the central part of a module. Experimental results indicate that t
he one-dimensional model is sufficient for the system operating under
natural convection condition. For forced convection, the prediction is
more accurate with the two-dimensional model. In general, the simulat
ion results correlate well with measurements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc
e S.A. All rights reserved.