To introduce students to the principles of modern energy storage and batteries/fuel cells and their applications, including grid-scale storage, vehicle propulsion and portable electronics. The module will provide students with a firm grounding in the thermodynamic principles of electrochemical, electrical and and mechanical energy conversion with a focus on fuel cells and energy storage methods, e.g., batteries, supercapacitors and pumped hydro.
By the end of the module the student should be able to: • Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge the components of advanced battery and fuel cell systems, and autonomously apply the principles governing their operation to solve complex problems. • Independently perform systematic and detailed calculations to evaluate figures of merit, such as efficiency and power. • Show sound understanding of the components, operation, and limitations of advanced, state-of-the-art energy storage systems such as flow batteries, supercapacitors, and flywheels. • Evaluate the current, and hypothesize the future requirements of energy storage and fuel cell applications. • Evaluate specifications and demonstrate an autonomous ability to select and size appropriate energy storage technologies. • Demonstrate sound understanding of mechanical and thermal energy storage methods, and critique their effectiveness in various applications and illustrating technology limitations. • Critique the material requirements for current and future battery/fuel cell and energy storage technologies, and show a sound understanding of the main degradation mechanisms.