Battery thermal energy management in electric vehicles

Degree type

PhD

Closing date

27 March 2023

Campus

Hobart

Citizenship requirement

Domestic/International

About the research project

Transportation electrification is a novel green industrial revolution to tackle the transportation emission issues. The booming electric vehicle (EV) industry stimulates the development of onboard rechargeable power battery technologies towards a target of higher specific power & energy, greater safety & reliability, more environmental friendliness as well as increasing affordability. On the other hand, the revolutionary progress in battery technologies also drives the rapid development of the EV industry. In recent years, the lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells are favoured by many EV giants including Tesla, General Motors, Honda, Ford, Nissan, BMW, and BYD etc... Studies have shown that LIB cells can cycle more than 2000 times during 1C charging and discharging. With the rocketing specific energy and power values of modern battery technologies, the heat generation rates of the power battery packs increase rapidly. Although the theoretical operating temperature range of LIB is from -10 to +50°C, the optimal operating temperature range is 15 to 35°C as recommended in a report by Pesaran et al. from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In addition, the temperature difference between different battery cells within a battery pack should be lower than 5°C. Much research verified that the battery degradation rate and aging phenomenon would be accelerated when the battery temperature was over 50 °C. This is a big challenge for batteries to cope with the extreme ambient temperatures or the abusive heat generations during fast charging/ discharging without compromising cycle life and output performance. As a result, to tackle the challenges of extreme ambient temperatures and heat generations during normal or abuse operations, an appropriate battery thermal management system (BTMS) is crucial and necessary to maintain optimal operating temperature range, improve durability, and prolong the life cycle. This project aims to develop and investigate different battery management systems used in EVs.

Primary Supervisor

Meet Prof Xiaolin Wang

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

  • a living allowance stipend of $31,500 per annum (2023 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
  • a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
  • a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Selection Criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded.  Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

  • Must possess the knowledge in thermodynamics

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

  • Renewable energy and thermodynamics

Application process

There is a three-step application process:

  1. Select your project, and check you meet the eligibility and selection criteria;
  2. Contact the Primary Supervisor, Prof Xiaolin Wang to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
  3. Submit an application by the closing date listed above.
    • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
    • As part of your application, you will be required to submit a covering letter, a CV including 2 x referees and your project research proposal.

Following the application closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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