Seminar
1:30 - 2:30 pm, Friday, April 12, 2024
OKT N277 (MAE Department Conference Room)
Research at the intersection of disciplines in battery systems – from fundamentals to applications
Dr. Krishna Shah
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Alabama, TuscaloosaEmail: krishna.shah@ua.edu
Abstract:
Battery systems and their applications involve various disciplines ranging from materials science to aerodynamics. Although batteries are fundamentally electrochemical systems, battery system design and control to achieve desired performance and life require consideration to additional aspects such as manufacturing/fabrication, thermal, mechanical, and electrical as well as application specific aspects. An empirical understanding of these aspects falls short in elucidating the intricate interplay among them and their relationship with electrochemical processes. For example, the significant effect of temperature and the need for robust thermal management is widely acknowledged but a holistic understanding of the effect of thermal conditions on the underlying electrochemical processes in the battery cells is limited. As a result, there is limited fundamental understanding of uneven aging and charge imbalance in battery packs which are at least partially driven by thermal conditions. Deeper understanding of such phenomena can unlock doors to holistic design of battery systems. In this seminar talk, I will be discussing our ongoing research at multiple intersections of disciplines spanning fundamental research on studying new battery electrolytes to applied research on analyzing battery performance in applications, including electric aircraft. I will also discuss potential applications and limitations of machine learning algorithms in enabling physics-based analysis of battery systems. Through this talk, I hope to initiate a meaningful conversation on multidisciplinary collaborative research on battery systems in the wider engineering community.
Speaker’s Short-Bio:
Prof. Krishna Shah is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (UA). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2017. Prior to joining UA, he was a postdoctoral scholar in the Texas Materials Institute (TMI) at the University of Texas, Austin. His current research is focused on sustainable energy systems, including comprehensive research on Li-ion and beyond Li-ion batteries. He has published more than 20 articles in peer reviewed journals. He has been recognized with awards and honors for his contributions in research, mentoring, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. This includes being awarded the Rajeshwar and Krishnan Endowed Fellowship in Energy and Sustainability at UT Arlington and being selected as one of the 30 rising stars in Mechanical Engineering to participate in a workshop focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM at University of California, Berkeley.
Host Contact:
Dr. George Nelson, Professor and Department Chair, MAE Department, george.nelson@uah.edu, (256)-824-6154.
Dr. Guangsheng Zhang, Assistant Professor, MAE Department, gz0002@uah.edu, (256)-824-6893.
