Utilizing waste heat from EV battery cooling systems for power generation via organic Rankine cycle

Authors : Bayram Kılıç, Emre Arabacı

Pages : 245-254

Doi:10.18245/ijaet.1746293

View : 82 | Download : 239

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly common, managing battery temperature has become a key engineering challenge. During the cooling process, EV batteries release a considerable amount of heat that often goes to waste. This study explores how that residual heat can be converted into electricity using the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). A theoretical analysis compares the performance of three working fluids (R123, SES36, and R134a) under the same conditions. The results show that R123 and SES36 reached up to 15% thermal efficiency, while R134a was slightly lower at 14%. The highest turbine outputs were achieved between 20–25°C condenser temperatures and 75–80°C steam generator temperatures. R123 and SES36 produced around 14.7–14.8 kW, while R134a produced 14.4 kW. Interestingly, both peak efficiency and power were observed at the lowest fluid flow rates. What makes this work unique is its focus on applying ORC technology directly to EV battery cooling systems (a concept that has not been widely explored). The findings suggest a new path for improving energy use in EVs and reducing their environmental footprint.
Keywords : Organik Rankine Çevrimi, Elektrikli Araçlar, Batarya Soğutma Sistemi, Atık Isı

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