Thermal Energy Production in an Electrochemical Cell and Heat Transfer to Its Dark Surroundings

The theoretical formulation presented in this abridged paper was developed to predict the transient cell average temperature of a lithium-based cell during its discharge in dark, extremely low material density surroundings where the predominant mechanism of heat exchange between its shroud surface and surroundings is the thermal radiation process for a given cell discharge current and its initial temperature. The average computed temperature of an ideal lithium-based button cell, such as Li(s)/electrolyte/CF(s), is presented as a function of time in the form of plots at two discharge currents as an example of the application of the derived formulation. The presented data are briefly discussed in light of the lithium-based cell component stability and its safe discharge operation.