Dergiler / Journal of Aviation / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 3

Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Behavior of Air-Cooled 26650 Lithium-Ion Battery Modules under Different Cell Arrangements and Discharge Rates

Kaan Süleyman Uz(Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Graduate Education Institute, Department of Mechanical Engineering)0000-0003-0510-5533
Merve Şentürk Acar(Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Engineering Faculty, Mechanical Engineering Department)0000-0003-1442-4560
Fatih Ünal(Mersin University, Engineering Faculty, Mechanical Engineering Department)0000-0001-6660-9984
Sayfa
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Yayın Tarihi
2026-10-25
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⚡ TL;DR(1 Cümlede Hızlı Çıkarım)

These findings suggest that passive geometric optimization through cell arrangement improves the thermal uniformity of air-cooled cylindrical battery modules with only a negligible increase in hydraulic power requirement, providing useful design guidance for battery thermal management systems in electric mobility and aviation applications.

📌 3 Maddede Bu Makale

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Amaç & Hipotez:The thermal performance of lithium-ion battery modules is a critical design issue for electric and hybrid-electric aviation systems, where safe operation, temperature uniformity, and compact system architecture are essential.
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Temel Bulgular & Veri:In this study, the transient thermal behavior of air-cooled 26650 lithium-ion battery modules was numerically investigated under different cell arrangements and discharge rates.
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Sonuç & Katkı:These findings suggest that passive geometric optimization through cell arrangement improves the thermal uniformity of air-cooled cylindrical battery modules with only a negligible increase in hydraulic power requirement, providing useful design guidance for battery thermal management systems in electric mobility and aviation applications.
🔬Tür:Modelleme & Sayısal Simülasyon
📍Kapsam:2021 Verileri
⚙️Değişkenler:Air-cooled battery · Lithium-ion battery · CFD analysis

Abstract

The thermal performance of lithium-ion battery modules is a critical design issue for electric and hybrid-electric aviation systems, where safe operation, temperature uniformity, and compact system architecture are essential. In this study, the transient thermal behavior of air-cooled 26650 lithium-ion battery modules was numerically investigated under different cell arrangements and discharge rates. Two battery module configurations, consisting of 25 cylindrical cells, were modelled: an aligned cell arrangement and a staggered cell arrangement. Three-dimensional transient CFD analyses were performed using ANSYS Fluent 2021 R2 under incompressible flow conditions. Forced air cooling was provided at an inlet velocity of 1 m/s, while the battery cells were modelled as equivalent homogeneous solid regions with volumetric heat generation rates corresponding to 1C–5C discharge conditions. The maximum temperature values of the two configurations were very close under identical discharge conditions. However, the staggered arrangement exhibited lower ΔT values, indicating improved temperature uniformity. It also resulted in a slightly higher pressure drop (1.28 Pa) and hydraulic power requirement (0.050 W) than the aligned configuration (1.22 Pa and 0.048 W, respectively), although these increases were negligible compared with the improvement in thermal uniformity. The maximum cell temperature increased from 300.075 K at 1C to 300.774 K at 5C. These findings suggest that passive geometric optimization through cell arrangement improves the thermal uniformity of air-cooled cylindrical battery modules with only a negligible increase in hydraulic power requirement, providing useful design guidance for battery thermal management systems in electric mobility and aviation applications.

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Bu Makaleye Atıf Yap

Uz, K. S., Acar, M. Ş., Ünal, F. (2026). Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Behavior of Air-Cooled 26650 Lithium-Ion Battery Modules under Different Cell Arrangements and Discharge Rates. Journal of Aviation, Volume: 10 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1959220

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