Accessibility statement

Fuel Cell and Battery Technologies - ELE00181M

« Back to module search

  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Eli Hosseinzadeh
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

This module introduces the underlying principles, characteristics, operating conditions and design of a range of energy storage systems including batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors for various applications, such as electric vehicles, residential, power plants and medical devices. Electrical, thermal, safety and degradation of the energy storage devices are discussed from the underlying electrochemical perspective. You will learn how to model, design and analyse different energy storage devices with different levels of fidelity, through various modelling and simulation platforms.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To be able to explain different energy storage devices, and their applications
  • To be able to explain electrochemical/electrical principles, operating conditions and limitations of batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors
  • To be able to identify different characterisation techniques and hands on experience of batteries
  • To be able to designing and optimising a power source for different applications


Graduate skills:

  • To be able to design an energy storage system by employing technical principles concisely and accurately.
  • To be able to technically specify appropriate energy storage components for a specific application using professional specification principles.
  • To be able to explain the issues associated with the operational and monitoring system used in a relevant energy storage system.
  • To develop skills to write a scientific report on a specific subject area

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Examine the technical properties and design of energy storage systems.
  • Analyse the properties of different energy storage systems
  • Evaluate the characteristics and operating conditions of batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors
  • Design appropriate fabrication processes for different energy storage technologies.


Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Work as a team on a design of an energy storage system using a variety of fabrication techniques.
  • Explain the advanced characteristics of various energy storage technologies.

Module content

Overview of energy storage technologies

  • Importance of energy storage in various applications
  • Energy storage market trends and future prospects
  • Main differences between various type of energy storage devices (fuel cell, battery, supercapacitor)

Fuel Cell Technologies

  • Introduction to fuel cell technologies,
  • Different types of fuel cells (hydrogen, methanol, solid oxide, etc.)
  • Fuel cell operation and efficiency, application of fuel cells in various sectors


Fuel cell Modelling and Design

  • Fundamentals of electrochemistry (Thermodynamics, cell voltage and efficiency, I-V curve)
  • Modelling and simulation of a single cell and a fuel cell stack
  • Design considerations


Battery Technologies

  • Overview of different battery chemistries (lithium-ion, sodium-ion, solid state, etc.) and formats (cylindrical, pouch, prismatic).
  • Battery characteristics, and operating principles.
  • Electrochemical reactions, state of charge, overpotential, resistance, voltage, energy and power
  • Battery ageing
  • Battery Safety
  • Battery management system (BMS)

Mathematical and numerical modelling of energy storage devices

  • Simulation techniques and software tools for energy storage analysis, comparing different modelling approaches
  • Validation and verification of models through experimental data


Professional Practice embedded into this module:

  • Health and Safety
  • Laboratory Practice
  • Written communication skills
  • Personal and Group Skills
  • Design for Manufacturability (understanding of tolerances, material limitations)
  • Engineering standards and Regulation.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Fuel Cell and Battery Technologies		 2 hours 50
Essay/coursework
Continuous Assessment		 N/A 50

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

Feedback Statement:


(i) Formative Feedback

  • Feedback during Lab sessions, (computer labs and practical):
  • You will have a chance to engage with MATLAB/Simulink and COMSOL Multiphysics software packages, as well as experimental facilities for battery testing and receive verbal feedback on your knowledge regarding energy storage technologies.
  • Feedback through online support and/or VLE:
  • After-class learning materials (webpage, YouTube linkage) on the module Wiki page help you to gain feedback on your understanding of the key module material covered in the lectures.
  • During workshops, you will have the opportunity to practice understanding energy storage systems and apply them to real-world problems.
  • Further feedback is made available by sending emails to the module coordinator.


(ii) Summative Feedback

  • Written feedback is provided for each assessment.
  • You will receive a customised feedback sheet, showing the mark breakdown in each of the key areas being assessed along with personalised feedback and suggestions for improvement. The comments explain how well you have met the learning objectives, and give you feedback about the things you could improve in future assignments).

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Indicative reading

  • Jiang, J., Zhang, C. Fundamentals and Applications of Lithium-ion Batteries in Electric Drive Vehicles. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.
  • Dicks, A.L., Rand, D.A.J. Fuel Cell Systems Explained. John Wiley & Sons, 3rd Ed.2018


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.