Thermal-electrical-aging coupled model of lithium iron phosphate batteries considering the non-uniformity of internal current

Jun LIU, Ling HAO, Lei CHEN, Yong MIN, Fei XU

Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2026, Vol. 66 ›› Issue (3) : 542-552.

PDF(11358 KB)
PDF(11358 KB)
Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2026, Vol. 66 ›› Issue (3) : 542-552. DOI: 10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2025.26.045
Power Grid Disaster Emergency Science

Thermal-electrical-aging coupled model of lithium iron phosphate batteries considering the non-uniformity of internal current

Author information +
History +

Abstract

Objective: The excellent electrochemical stability, high safety, and long service life of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries have led to their widespread use in energy storage systems. However, in practical applications, large-capacity energy storage batteries often suffer from significant inhomogeneity of the internal current. This uneven current distribution can lead to localized temperature variations, alter the shape of the battery's terminal voltage curve, and accelerate degradation processes such as the formation of lithium dendrites and thermal stress. Existing models fail to comprehensively account for the coupled thermal-electrical-aging characteristics when modeling LiFePO4 batteries, rendering them incapable of accurately reflecting the variations in the voltage curve caused by inconsistencies in the internal current distribution. Furthermore, such models lack credible and systematic validation across multiple operating conditions. Methods: Thus, in this study, a 280.000 Ah LiFePO4 battery was selected as the research target for investigating a thermal-electrical-aging coupling model for large-capacity LiFePO4 batteries that considers changes in the shape of the voltage curve. By modeling the battery as a parallel combination of multiple subcells with varying electrical characteristics, the internal inhomogeneity of the battery and the resulting influence on deformation of the voltage curve are effectively simulated, where the voltage of the parallel battery pack serves as the terminal voltage output by the model. A temperature estimation module is integrated to simulate the processes of heat generation and transfer, while an aging module is introduced to capture the evolution of capacity degradation. Together, these modules form a comprehensive thermal-electrical-aging coupling model. By constructing a comprehensive thermal-electrical-aging coupling model, the terminal voltage, temperature, and capacity of the battery can be obtained directly from the input current. The model is then validated under constant current discharge conditions with variations in temperature, dynamic operating conditions, and multiple charge-discharge cycle conditions. Results: Experimental validation using LiFePO4 batteries demonstrated that the proposed model could accurately predict the voltage, temperature, and aging state with relatively low computational complexity. Specifically, during constant current discharging of LiFePO4 batteries, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the temperature estimation remained below 1.0 ℃ across different temperatures and discharge rates, except under the highest rate condition. The increased RMSE at the highest discharge rate was attributed to a larger internal-external temperature gradient, which reduced the accuracy of the estimation. Additionally, faster heat dissipation at lower temperatures further reduced the precision of the temperature prediction. Because the thermal and electrical models were coupled, their respective errors were compounded. Across the four dynamic conditions, the absolute error in the voltage simulated by the model was below 20.0 mV for all intervals, except at the current-switching points, and the absolute error for the temperature estimation was below 1.0 ℃. The RMSEs for capacity degradation estimated through simulation using the coupled model were 0.223, 1.640, 1.320, and 2.700 Ah for cycling aging at 35.0 ℃/0.5 C, 35.0 ℃/1.0 C, 45.0 ℃/0.5 C, and 45.0 ℃/1.0 C, respectively—all below 1% of the total capacity—demonstrating the strong ability of the model to accurately simulate the battery capacity after aging. Conclusions: The proposed thermal-electrical-aging coupling model effectively addresses the limitations of traditional equivalent circuit models, which often lack the capability to account for inhomogeneity in the internal current, temperature variations, and aging effects. This model thus provides a solid theoretical foundation and practical methodology for estimating the state of the battery in real-time, diagnosing faults, and predicting the lifetime of energy storage systems.

Key words

lithium iron phosphate battery / equivalent circuit model / thermal-electrical-aging coupling model

Cite this article

Download Citations
Jun LIU , Ling HAO , Lei CHEN , et al . Thermal-electrical-aging coupled model of lithium iron phosphate batteries considering the non-uniformity of internal current[J]. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology). 2026, 66(3): 542-552 https://doi.org/10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2025.26.045

References

1
鲁宗相, 林弋莎, 乔颖, 等. 极高比例可再生能源电力系统的灵活性供需平衡[J]. 电力系统自动化, 2022, 46 (16): 3- 16.
LU Z X , LIN Y S , QIAO Y , et al. Flexibility supply-demand balance in power system with ultra-high proportion of renewable energy[J]. Automation of Electric Power Systems, 2022, 46 (16): 3- 16.
2
中华人民共和国国家发展和改革委员会, 国家能源局. 国家发展改革委国家能源局关于印发《"十四五"新型储能发展实施方案》的通知. (2022-01-29). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/22/content_5680417.htm.National
Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China, National Energy Administration. Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration on the issuance of the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of New Energy Storage". (2022-01-29). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/22/content_5680417.htm. (in Chinese)
3
MENG J H , RICCO M , LUO G Z , et al. An overview and comparison of online implementable SOC estimation methods for lithium-ion battery[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2018, 54 (2): 1583- 1591.
4
LU L G , HAN X B , LI J Q , et al. A review on the key issues for lithium-ion battery management in electric vehicles[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2013, 226, 272- 288.
5
高铭琨, 徐海亮, 吴明铂. 基于等效电路模型的动力电池SOC估计方法综述[J]. 电气工程学报, 2021, 16 (1): 90- 102.
GAO M K , XU H L , WU M B . Review of SOC estimation methods for power battery based on equivalent circuit model[J]. Journal of Electrical Engineering, 2021, 16 (1): 90- 102.
6
HU X S , LI S B , PENG H E . A comparative study of equivalent circuit models for Li-ion batteries[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2012, 198, 359- 367.
7
TANG X P , WANG Y J , ZOU C F , et al. A novel framework for Lithium-ion battery modeling considering uncertainties of temperature and aging[J]. Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 180, 162- 170.
8
EDDINE N A , HUARD B , GABANO J D , et al. Initialization of a fractional order identification algorithm applied for Lithium-ion battery modeling in time domain[J]. Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 2018, 59, 375- 386.
9
DAI H F , XU T J , ZHU L T , et al. Adaptive model parameter identification for large capacity Li-ion batteries on separated time scales[J]. Applied Energy, 2016, 184, 119- 131.
10
DOYLE M , NEWMAN J , GOZDZ A S , et al. Comparison of modeling predictions with experimental data from plastic lithium ion cells[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1996, 143 (6): 1890- 1903.
11
DOYLE M , FULLER T F , NEWMAN J . Modeling of galvanostatic charge and discharge of the lithium/polymer/insertion cell[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1993, 140 (6): 1526- 1533.
12
苏振浩, 李晓杰, 秦晋, 等. 基于BP人工神经网络的动力电池SOC估算方法[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2019, 8 (5): 868- 873.
SU Z H , LI X J , QIN J , et al. SOC estimation method of power battery based on BP artificial neural network[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2019, 8 (5): 868- 873.
13
柳杨. 锂离子电池建模及一致性量化评估研究[D]. 北京: 北京交通大学, 2023.
LIU Y. Modeling and consistency quantitative evaluation of lithium-ion batteries [D]. Beijing: Beijing Jiaotong University, 2023. (in Chinese)
14
ASHWIN T R , CHUNG Y M , WANG J H . Capacity fade modelling of lithium-ion battery under cyclic loading conditions[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2016, 328, 586- 598.
15
NEWMAN J S , TOBIAS C W . Theoretical analysis of current distribution in porous electrodes[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1962, 109 (12): 1183.
16
金强, 李军. 锂离子动力电池建模方法综述[J]. 汽车工程师, 2021 (7): 11- 14.
JIN Q , LI J . Review of modeling techniques for lithium-ion traction batteries[J]. Automotive Engineer, 2021 (7): 11- 14.
17
SPOTNITZ R . Simulation of capacity fade in lithium-ion batteries[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2003, 113 (1): 72- 80.
18
PEREZ H E , HU X S , DEY S , et al. Optimal charging of Li-ion batteries with coupled electro-thermal-aging dynamics[J]. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 2017, 66 (9): 7761- 7770.
19
QIAN Y M , ZHENG J , DING K , et al. Fast open circuit voltage estimation of lithium-ion batteries using a relaxation model and genetic algorithm[J]. IEEE Access, 2022, 10, 96643- 96651.
20
耿陈, 孟锦豪, 彭乔, 等. 基于弛豫过程特征提取的锂离子电池健康状态估计[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2023, 12 (11): 3479- 3487.
GENG C , MENG J H , PENG Q , et al. Estimation of the state of health of lithium-ion batteries based on feature extraction of the relaxation process[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12 (11): 3479- 3487.
21
徐智慧, 类延香, 龚敏明, 等. 锂离子电池脉冲优化充电法的研究[J]. 电源技术, 2019, 43 (7): 1113- 1115.
XU Z H , LEI Y X , GONG M M , et al. Optimal charging of lithium-ion battery by current pulse[J]. Chinese Journal of Power Sources, 2019, 43 (7): 1113- 1115.
22
CHEN C Q , HUANG Y F , YU X Y , et al. Improving the accuracy of voltage estimation in the low charge state range at low temperature: An equivalent circuit model considering the influence of temperature on solid phase diffusion process[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 88, 111577.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
PDF(11358 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/