Contributed by: Sajjad Fekriasl, sajjad.fekriasl@vito.be
Postdoc Position: Embedding Physics-Based Modelling in Battery Management Systems to Improve Battery
State Estimation and Control
MSCA-PF2021 Call: Embedding Physics-Based Modelling in Battery Management Systems to Improve Battery State Estimation and Control
Location: VITO/EnergyVille, Belgium
A postdoctoral scholar position is available under the Horizon Europe MSCA-PF-2021 Work Programme to research on advanced physics-based battery modelling to be embedded in BMS algorithms for real-time battery control applications. More and more applications are getting powered (or supported) by lithiumion batteries, including EVs, e-bikes, e-buses and e-trucks, many commercial applications such as ships, cranes and forklifts, and wider stationary energy storage systems for high penetration of renewable energy integration into the power grids. However, the operation of li-ion batteries is inherently subjected to safety risks as these batteries contain flammable materials, and thus must be retained outside their Safe Operating Area (SOA). In nowadays applications, the SOA and its limits are (at the best) set in a dynamic way and dependent on the actual use of the battery, the operating conditions, and the state of the battery, including State of Charge (SoC) and State of Health (SoH); these states are often estimated by the BMS using simple battery models (with low computational burden) embedded in the BMS processors. However, with various uncertainties on the actual state estimation of the battery, the SOA limits, or boundaries, are chosen in a conservative way - this will limit the intrinsic possibilities of the battery in terms of maximum charge power limit and/or energy capabilities. Such limiting factor ultimately has an impact on the economic viability of the battery based solutions.
The fellowship postdoctoral research will focus on the following tasks:
- Reduction on the computational burden of the physics-based battery model on a BMS leading towards improved battery state estimation, SoC, SoH and SOA.
- Support of the battery control based on the models so that eventually a closed-loop control can be hosted for accurate state estimation.
- Adaptation of the model based on the comparison of battery monitoring and model prediction to continuously improve the model.
Required Qualifications:
- Applicants should have a PhD degree in Engineering/Science, or related fields;
- Interested applicants will be invited to propose a more detailed and focused research approach within the scope of this MSCA-PF Fellowship as a part of their application. We would provide you with our initial assistance in developing competitive Marie Curie Individual Fellowship proposal;
- We are primarily looking for experienced researchers who wish to use this period as an opportunity to further develop their research and skills, and to develop longer-term research collaborations with VITO and other research institutions;
- The candidates as in principle must be eligible for a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
– please refer to the conditions to be set-out in the Horizon Europe MSCA-PF-2021 Work Programme, including taking into account the new MSCA Green Charter principles.
Desired Qualifications:
- An excellent track record in research is necessary to propose a competitive Marie Curie Fellowship application;
- Already published relevant research work in prestigious scientific journals;
- An open and cooperation-oriented nature, but with strong abilities for independent research work;
- Highly proficient in spoken and written English.
How to Apply:
With this call, we invite researchers to submit their resume (including track-record) and a one-page project description, that will be the basis for selecting candidates with whom we would collaborate toward a competitive MSCA-PF proposal.
Deadline for Applications:
Interested candidates should submit their resume (including track record) with one-page note describing the project for which a Marie Curie grant would be applied, no later than Friday 2 April 2021 17:00 (Brussels time).
Deadline for MSCA-PF 2021 Fellowship: Wednesday 15 September 2021 17:00 (Brussels time)
Target Start Date: The EU informs the results on the MSCA-PF applications in February 2022. Successful candidates are expected to be available to start within the following two months and no later than summer 2022.
Further information can be obtained from Dr. Sajjad Fekriasl via e-mail: sajjad.fekriasl@vito.be
For more information, please visit:
https://bit.ly/3dV1rNZ
