Engineering

This PhD will investigate novel ways to design Electric Vehicle (EV) battery pack with a focus towards sustainability, reliability, repairability & recyclability.

An opportunity is available for a PhD student to go back to the drawing board and completely re-envision the way a standard Electric Vehicle (EV) battery pack is designed and manufactured. The focus in the past five years has radically shifted towards significant emphasis on sustainability and recyclability. Other key performance metrics for an EV battery are energy density (how many kWh per kg or litre of battery pack) and charging rate (how quickly can the battery be charged up). 

 Potential topics that could be addressed as part of the PhD include:

• Non-permanent joining techniques between battery cells and current collectors (bus bars) – Modern batteries usually have the battery cell terminals permanently welded to the current collectors that makes repairing a faulty cell next to impossible. It is proposed that using of mechanical fastening/joining offers a non-permanent solution (with potential weight and space penalty) that allows repairing easy. Prospects of second life utility and recyclability is also greatly enhanced. 
• High charging rate capability requires highly effective cooling techniques that reject the heat generated in battery cells quickly. Novel cell cooling techniques like multi-phase dielectric cooling and selective surface texturing on current collectors (bus bars) to expunge heat quickly to coolant are some methods that may be investigated. 

This PhD would include some modelling and simulation activities to preface planned experimental activities towards accelerated ageing of cell terminal and current collector joining solutions, thermal and multi-physical modelling and simulation activities for novel cooling methods, and physical prototype development activities as well. 

Applicants must hold (or be near completion of) a first or upper-second class undergraduate degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics.  A successful PhD candidate would demonstrate mechanical engineering design (CAD) and modelling/simulation (CAE) expertise. Working knowledge of electric powertrain and batteries is desirable. Knowledge of MATLAB/Simulink, Solidworks, Autodesk Fusion etc. is desirable. Most of all, the applicant must demonstrate passion and curiosity to solve real world problems in this area. 

Note that the funding associated with this role is awarded via an internal competition and is therefore only confirmed sometime after the admission application is approved. 

For more information, please contact Dr Surojit Sen (Surojit.sen2@nottingham.ac.uk).

Please apply here https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/how-to-apply/apply-online.aspx

When applying for this studentship, please include the reference number (beginning ENG and supervisors name) within the personal statement section of the application.  

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The Faculty of Engineering provides a thriving working environment for all PGRs creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. Community and research culture is important to our PGRs and the FoE support this by working closely with our Postgraduate Research Society (PGES) and our PGR Research Group Reps to enhance the research environment for PGRs. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy’s Training Programme, those based within the Faculty of Engineering have access to bespoke courses developed for Engineering PGRs. including sessions on paper writing, networking and career development after the PhD. The Faculty has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners.