Trailblazers
The Trailblazer PhD studentships have been devised and developed by leading early-career researchers at Coventry University.
Internal temperature sensing towards advanced thermal management for lithium-ion batteries
Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required entry requirements
Duration: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term
Application deadline: 27 May 2024
Interview date: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates
Start date: September 2024
For further details contact Haijun Ruan
Introduction
Lithium-ion batteries have become predominant in e-mobility and grid-level energy storage, and their lifetime and safety is highly sensitive to their working temperatures. The thermal management system is thus essential, however, only the surface temperature is considered, neglecting the internal non-uniformities
Project details
The core temperatures of batteries are generally higher, especially at high currents, and this high temperature gradient commonly leads to an inhomogeneous degradation and potential lithium plating, resulting in accelerated deterioration and safety hazards. Here, this project will develop an advanced thermal management system through multi-objective optimization and sensing internal temperatures of batteries. Four specific objectives are:
- Utilise in-house developed, in-cell implantable thermal sensors to observe internal temperature and gradients, and understand the resulting current inconsistency within batteries.
- Develop an advanced electro-thermal coupled model to virtually sense internal states (temperatures and currents) of batteries.
- Investigate battery degradation under different cooling scenarios to relate battery aging behaviours with internal states.
- Develop a cooling optimisation framework that considers internal states, battery degradation, and cooling energy consumption to optimise the cooling parameters.
Funding
This is a fully-funded studentship, including tuition fees and stipend/bursary.
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills.
All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral College and Centre for Research Capability and Development, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.
Entry requirements
- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
PLUS
- The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a 3.5 years.
- A minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS academic overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).
How to apply
To find out more about the project, please contact Haijun Ruan
All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus a 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.
Apply to Coventry University
