Project description
Extending the useful life of Lithium batteries are of increasing importance considering the uptake of Lithium cells in modern society, particularly electric vehicles. A promising approach is to use repurposed cells previously used in EV applications in stationary energy systems where energy density is less of a concern. In this use case, safety must remain a top priority. A system such as this should be designed to accommodate cells with less precisely known State of Health (SOH) and adapt to the fluctuations in SOH, often observed at lower values. It must ensure reliability even when faced with rapid changes in cell performance during charging and discharging. This pack will form the basis of a standardised energy system that will be utilised by, and directly facilitate, multiple active areas of Flinders research projects, such as: robotics, solar car and energy generation. This project will design and develop a standardised modular battery pack system based on an existing set of lithium cells. These packs will initially focus on a selection of used cells currently available at Flinders but will extend to include a design capable of supporting a wide selection of used cells from various sources such as expired electric vehicle packs. Project will involve designing a circuit, using currently available electronics, to support the robustness and safety of lithium cells, the evaluation and development of algorithms for the coordinated utilisation of lithium cells as well as the evaluation, development and implementation of an appropriate intra- and inter-pack communication protocols. The pack will support cell management and safety capable of supporting cells of advanced age as well as charging from a range potential sources, such as: 12V automotive systems, 240V grid power, and solar power and able to output regulated 12V DC and 240V AC. The system will need to support a reconfigurable modular structure to facilitate multiple modules to operate as a single system via a standardised internal communication interface. A standardised external wireless communication interface will be required to allow monitoring of the system such as pack and cell voltages and currents, State of Charge (SoC), and future support for State of Health (SoH) estimates and projections. This project will advance the development of a circular economy by maximizing the reuse of existing lithium cells. Within the university, this energy system will be invaluable for supporting initiatives like the solar car and field robotics projects by providing a reliable power source in remote locations without access to existing infrastructure. Additionally, it can be directly utilized in renewable energy projects.
Co-supervisors
Robert Chadwick Rocco Zito
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