Safety assessment of wireless chargers for electric vehicles considering thermal characteristics

Abstract

Abstract This study employs the transient finite element method and electromagnetic heat transfer theory to assess the heating generated by high-power wireless chargers during electric vehicle charging. The analysis includes simulating and analyzing the temperature distribution of two different types of shielding plates of the wireless charger and the specific absorption rate (SAR) and head temperature rise of both adults and children in close proximity to the charger. Simulation results show that the maximum temperature rise of the copper shielding plate is 16°C lower than that of the aluminum shielding plate after charging for 1 h. This temperature increase does not affect the chassis’ s equipment. Regarding human safety, the induced electric field strength and SAR values in the child’s head tissue are higher than those in the adult, meeting the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) limits. When the initial temperature is set to 37°C, the temperature rise in the heads of both adults and children is approximately equal after 1 h of charging, reaching a maximum temperature rise of 0.21 and 0.23°C, respectively. These values remain below the thermal limit of ICNIRP (2°C for Type 2 tissues). The findings indicate that the copper shielding plate can provide both electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation functions, and the electromagnetic exposure absorbed by the human body and head temperature rise within safe ranges.