Maintaining optimum operating temperatures for applications where overheating and thermal runaway might be a risk is the role of thermal management technologies, which can vary greatly in approach depending on application type. IDTechEx's portfolio of Thermal Management Research Reports and Subscriptions covers some of the largest markets for thermal management and fire protection systems, including battery energy storage systems and electric vehicles.
Why is thermal management necessary?
As systems utilizing battery energy storage systems (BESS) increase in numbers and capacities scale up, thermal management systems need to be designed to keep up in order to minimize the risk of thermal runaway. Li-ion batteries, most commonly used for BESS, have been known to cause large-scale thermal runaway events, and therefore can pose a threat to safety if not well maintained as a result of not only fire, but the toxic volatile organic compounds that can be released during these events. There are financial risks to thermal runaway too, with the potential for high costs to be incurred from damage caused to assets. The global BESS thermal management and fire safety market is expected to hit US$25.7 billion by 2036, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.4%.
Similarly, thermal runaway events within electric vehicles have been recorded, causing regulation to ramp up surrounding their thermal management approaches. As vehicles often contain passengers, the safety standards for EVs are extremely high, meaning technologies need to be strict and regulated to minimize the risk of danger. IDTechEx's reports, "Thermal Management, Fire and Explosion Protection for BESS 2026-2036: Materials, Technologies and Players" and "Thermal Management for Electric Vehicles 2026-2036: Materials, Markets, and Technologies", discuss the regulations that are coming into place to ensure that batteries are properly managed.
The technologies behind successful thermal management
Thermal insulating materials is one approach to thermal management for BESS and electric vehicle (EV) batteries as a passive option that can prevent heat from spreading and reduce the risks of thermal runaway propagation between cells and packs. While currently less common for BESS than in EV batteries, these materials can transfer heat away from cells to reduce the likelihood of hotspot formation and that cooling performance can be improved.
Mica, ceramics, aerogels, and foams are common insulating materials used in fire protection systems that can be used as cell spacers to prevent heat transfer between cells, with low thickness and heat containment being desirable properties. This approach is common amongst BESS and EV applications as a cell-level solution. Integrating sensing technologies into battery systems is another way to monitor potential issues within batteries, at the pack or cell level, by detecting gas levels and catching problems early to allow for successful intervention. Advanced sensing technologies currently entering the market are providing a huge step up from traditional technologies that might detect problems too late, to improve overall system safety.
Liquid cooling is another well-known approach used across BESS and EV batteries for thermal management, with great potential to work effectively at reducing thermal runaway. Within EV batteries, water-glycol is used in liquid cooling to keep battery cells at the right operating temperature, though sees competition with other thermal management strategies which could include air, refrigerants, phase change materials, or immersion.
For more information on the wider landscape of thermal management, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Thermal Management Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest research on technologies for BESS, EVs, data centers, semiconductor packaging, and spacecraft.
