Numerical Analysis of Transient Thermal Temperature Distribution in a Thermal Chamber: A Comparative Study of Heating and Cooling Conditions for Energy Component Testing

Abstract

The demand for thermal testing systems with high accuracy and stability is increasing, particularly for evaluating the performance of energy components such as electric vehicle batteries and materials under extreme temperature conditions. However, conventional thermal chambers still face thermal non-uniformity caused by complex heat transfer mechanisms, resulting in large temperature gradients and reduced testing validity. This study aims to numerically analyze temperature distribution within a thermal chamber using a transient thermal simulation approach based on the finite element method (FEM) by evaluating heating and cooling characteristics over time in a closed system. The analysis considered heat transfer mechanisms including conduction through chamber walls, convection with the surrounding environment, and boundary conditions in the form of heat flux. Heating and cooling processes were simulated to evaluate temperature distribution, thermal gradients, and thermal stability. The results show that during heating for 600 s, the average temperature increased from 16.09°C to 44.86°C, with a maximum temperature of approximately 65°C and a minimum temperature of about 22°C, indicating non-uniform heat distribution. During cooling, the average temperature decreased from 6.49°C to 1.41°C, with a minimum temperature of −11.76°C while the maximum temperature remained around 21.6°C, revealing significant thermal deviation within the chamber. Overall, the results demonstrate that temperature distribution is strongly influenced by heat transfer mechanisms and boundary conditions. Thermal non-uniformity remains a critical factor affecting testing accuracy, highlighting the need for design optimization to improve thermal homogeneity, system stability, and the reliability of thermal chambers for modern energy component testing applications.