Researcher Jesús Vence, from the Center for Research in Technologies, Energy and Industrial Processes (CINTECX), has been awarded the Best Paper Award at the sixth edition of the International Conference on Fluid Flow and Thermal Science (ICFFTS 2025), held in Barcelona from October 28 to 31. His participation in this international conference, one of the most prominent in the field of thermal and fluid engineering, was made possible thanks to mobility grants awarded by CINTECX, funded by FEDER, which promote the internationalization of research and the transfer of knowledge.
Improving thermal management in batteries
The awarded paper, Analysis of the ideal micro-channel count and contact height of wavy cold plates for efficient single-sided cooling of cylindrical cells, focuses on enhancing the thermal management of batteries composed of cylindrical cells—a key aspect to ensure the safety, efficiency, and durability of energy storage systems, especially in applications such as electric mobility.
The study presented by Jesús Vence, researcher at the Energy Technologies Group (GTE) of CINTECX, uses numerical simulations to analyze how two factors—the number of channels in the cooling plate and the contact height with the cell—affect the system’s thermal performance, hydraulic behavior, and overall weight.
When a battery operates—particularly under demanding conditions such as fast charging or intensive use—it generates heat. If that heat is not properly dissipated, it can impair performance, shorten lifespan, or even cause failures. To ensure battery safety and efficiency, cooling systems are used to keep the temperature under control.
Vence’s work proposes improving the cooling of these batteries using cold plates with micro-channels, a kind of miniature radiator placed in contact with the battery. This smart solution allows for optimizing the design of the plates to cool more effectively, weigh less, and operate more efficiently. Such optimization not only enhances battery performance but also contributes to the development of lighter, safer, and more sustainable technologies, especially in high-demand energy applications.
Participation in this international conference was made possible thanks to mobility grants awarded by CINTECX, co-funded by European Funds under the Feder Galicia 2021–2027 operational program, which support the internationalization of research and the transfer of knowledge.
