Trident™ Thermal Conductivity Application Highlight: Characterization of a Battery Pouch’s Anisotropic Thermal Conductivity

This Application Highlight illustrates C-Therm’s FLEX Transient Plane Source (TPS) system being utilized to investigate the anisotropic thermal conductivities of a lithium pouch battery cell using the Single-Sided Utility. Battery cells generate heat as they discharge electricity. Inadequate thermal management leads to capacity degradation, accelerated aging, and in extreme cases, thermal runaway, a self-sustaining exothermic reaction that can result in fire or rupture. 1 A comprehensive characterization of the battery cell's thermal properties, including its directional thermal conductivity, is essential for designing effective thermal management systems.

Measurements were performed using the Single-Sided Transient Plane Source (TPS) and Anisotropy Utility on the Trident Thermal Conductivity Instrument. The TPS method uses a flat spiral sensor that contacts the sample surface. In the standard bulk configuration, matching sample faces are placed on both sides of the sensor. The Single-Sided configuration combines a single-face measurement with the Anisotropy Utility, using knowledge of the sample's volumetric heat capacity (density times Cp) to separate the R- and Z-directional thermal conductivities.    

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