Search Results (770)

This work presents the design, modeling, and experimental validation of an innovative, highly autonomous, and economically viable photovoltaic solar cooker, integrating a robust battery storage system. The system combines 1200 Wp photovoltaic panels, a control block with DC/DC power converters and digital control for intelligent energy management, and a thermally insulated heating plate equipped with two resistors. The objective of the system is to reduce dependence on conventional fuels while overcoming the limitations of existing solar cookers, particularly insufficient cooking temperatures, the need for continuous solar orientation, and significant thermal losses. The optimization of thermal insulation using a ceramic fiber and glass wool configuration significantly reduces heat losses and increases the thermal efficiency to 64%, nearly double that of the non-insulated case (34%). This improvement enables cooking temperatures of 100–122 °C, heating element surface temperatures of 185–464 °C, and fast cooking times ranging from 20 to 58 min, depending on the prepared dish. Thermal modeling takes into account sheet metal, strengths, and food. The experimental results show excellent agreement between simulation and measurements (deviation < 5%), and high converter efficiencies (84–97%). The integration of the batteries guarantees an autonomy of 6 to 12 days and a very low depth of discharge (1–3%), allowing continuous cooking even without direct solar radiation. Crucially, the techno-economic analysis confirmed the system’s strong market competitiveness. Despite an Initial Investment Cost (CAPEX) of USD 1141.2, the high performance and low operational expenditure lead to a highly favorable Return on Investment (ROI) of only 4.31 years. Compared to existing conventional and solar cookers, the developed system offers superior energy efficiency and optimized cooking times, and demonstrates rapid profitability. This makes it a sustainable, reliable, and energy-efficient home solution, representing a major technological leap for domestic cooking in rural areas. Full article

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently widely used in the electric vehicle sector and have become one of the core components of new energy vehicles. To ensure that the maximum temperature (T_max) and maximum temperature difference (∆T_max) remain within acceptable limits after high-rate discharge, this study proposes a novel air-cooled battery thermal management system (BTMS). This BTMS features innovative design elements in its novel battery case walls and contour-following fin structure. Through physical testing of 21,700 LIB discharges and comparative numerical simulations, the accuracy of the simulation model is ensured. Orthogonal experimental analysis is conducted at four distinct levels for each of the four structural factors involved. The final results demonstrate that the novel battery pack wall and contour-shaped fin structure proposed in this paper significantly enhance the heat dissipation capability of air-cooled BTMS. The proposed Model 9 configuration exhibits optimal thermal performance metrics. The T_max after 3C rate discharge reaches 39.4 °C, with a ∆T_max of 7.4 °C. This study demonstrates significant application potential in the structural implementation of air-cooled BTMSs. Full article

Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are key enablers of power-electronics converters for aerospace platforms, where high efficiency, weight reduction, and thermal robustness are critical requirements. This paper presents the main challenges associated with the use of these technologies, including protection requirements, electromagnetic compatibility, and thermal management, as well as the material advantages that enable higher switching frequencies and lower losses compared to conventional Si technologies. A comparative analysis of semiconductor technologies and suitable power-conversion topologies for the aerospace context is provided. Representative laboratory-scale experimental validation is presented, including the development of a DC–DC boost converter and a DC–AC full-bridge inverter, which are linked through the common DC-link and are used for interfacing batteries and an electrical motor, both based on GaN and SiC diodes. The results demonstrated the correct operation, with stable high-frequency performance under controlled laboratory conditions, supporting aerospace-oriented development, although evaluated in a laboratory environment, confirming the potential of WBG technologies for future power-conversion architectures. Full article

The dynamic growth of the electrified vehicle (xEV) market, including both electric and hybrid vehicles, has increased the demand for advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS). From an energy-systems perspective, xEV batteries act as distributed energy storage units that strongly interact with power grids, renewable generation, and charging infrastructure, making their efficient control a key element of low-carbon energy systems. Traditional BMS methods face challenges in accurately estimating key battery states and parameters, especially under dynamic operating conditions. This review systematically analyzes the progress in applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced computational and data-driven algorithms to improve the performance of xEV battery management with a particular focus on energy efficiency, safe utilization of stored electrochemical energy, and the interaction between vehicles and the power system. The literature analysis covers key research trends from 2020 to 2025. This review covers a wide range of applications, including State of Charge (SOC) estimation, State of Health (SOH) prediction, and thermal management. We examine the use of various methods, such as deep learning, neural networks, genetic algorithms, regression, and also filtering algorithms, to solve these complex problems. This review also classifies the research by geographical distribution and document types, providing insight into the global landscape of this rapidly evolving field. By explicitly linking BMS functions with energy-system indicators such as charging load profiles, peak-load reduction, self-consumption of photovoltaic generation, and lifetime-aware energy use, this synthesis of contemporary research serves as a valuable resource for scientists and engineers who wish to understand the latest achievements and future directions in data-driven battery management and its role in modern energy systems. Full article

This paper presents a practical thermal control strategy to enhance the output performance of oxide-based all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), which typically exhibit low ionic conductivity at room temperature. A lightweight polyimide (PI) film heater was designed, fabricated, and integrated into the cell stack to locally maintain the optimal operating temperature range (≈65–75 °C) for electrolyte activation. Unlike previous studies limited to liquid or sulfide-based batteries, this work demonstrates the direct integration and coupled numerical–experimental validation of a PI film heater within oxide-based ASSBs. The proposed design achieves high heating efficiency (~92%) with minimal thickness (<100 μm) and long-term stability, enabling reliable and scalable thermal management. Finite-element simulations and experimental verification confirmed that the proposed heater achieved rapid and uniform heating with less than a 10 °C temperature deviation between the cell and heater surfaces. These findings provide a foundation for smart battery management systems with distributed temperature sensing and feedback control, supporting the development of high-performance and reliable solid-state battery platforms. Full article

To address the limitations of the standard Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) in complex optimization problems—such as insufficient convergence accuracy and susceptibility to local optima—this paper proposes a Composite Strategy Sparrow Search Algorithm (CSSA) for multidimensional optimization. The algorithm first employs chaotic mapping during initialization to enhance population diversity; second, it integrates coordinate axis pattern search to strengthen local exploitation capabilities; third, it applies intelligent crossover operations to promote effective information exchange among individuals; and finally, it introduces an adaptive vigilance mechanism to dynamically balance exploration and exploitation throughout the optimization process. Compared with seven state-of-the-art algorithms, CSSA demonstrates superior performance in both 30-dimensional low-dimensional and 100-dimensional high-dimensional test scenarios. It achieves optimal solutions in three real-world engineering applications: thermal management of electric vehicle battery packs, photovoltaic power system configuration, and data center cooling systems. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests further confirm the statistical significance of these improvements. Experimental results show that CSSA significantly outperforms mainstream optimization methods in terms of convergence accuracy and speed, demonstrating substantial theoretical value and practical engineering significance. Full article

Improving the architecture and control strategies of thermal management systems (TMSs) is crucial for minimizing energy consumption in heating and cooling components, thereby enhancing the driving range of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). This study presents a holistic approach for developing an Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS) based on an Octo-valve-type architecture, designed to efficiently manage the thermal demands of both the cabin and powertrain components. Empirical data were collected under various heating and cooling scenarios across a wide operating temperature range (−20 °C to 40 °C), and these data were used to parametrize and validate key ITMS components. Experimental results demonstrated that the parametrized simulation model closely replicated the cabin and battery thermal behavior observed in vehicle tests, particularly under cooling conditions. Minor deviations, such as cabin temperature overshoot during heating scenarios, were attributed to duct thermal effects and control tuning limitations. Overall, the optimized Octo-valve-based ITMS architecture exhibited thermal trends consistent with literature references and effectively validated the proposed control strategy, demonstrating improved thermal efficiency and potential range enhancement for BEVs across diverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, ITMS energy consumption over the indicated temperature range is quantified in this research paper. Full article

The global shift toward renewable energy and circular economy models requires industrial systems that minimize waste and recover value across entire life cycles. This review synthesizes recent advances in by-product recovery technologies supporting renewable energy and circular industrial processes. Thermal, biological, chemical/electrochemical, and biotechnological routes are analyzed across battery and e-waste recycling, bioenergy, wastewater, and agri-food sectors, with emphasis on integration through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) coupled to process simulation, digital twins, and artificial intelligence tools. Policy and economic frameworks, including the European Green Deal and the Critical Raw Materials Act, are examined in relation to technology readiness and environmental performance. Hybrid recovery systems, such as pyro-hydro-bio configurations, enable higher resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact compared with stand-alone routes. Across all technologies, major hotspots include electricity demand, reagent use, gas handling, and concentrate management, while process integration, heat recovery, and realistic substitution credits significantly improve life cycle outcomes. Harmonized LCA-TEA-MCDA frameworks and digitalized optimization emerge as essential tools for scaling sustainable, resource-efficient, and low-impact industrial ecosystems consistent with circular economy and renewable energy objectives. Full article

The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery applications calls for efficient and reliable thermal management to ensure safety and performance. Liquid thermal management systems (LTMS) offer high cooling efficiency and uniform temperature control, effectively preventing thermal runaway. This review focuses on composite LTMS that integrate phase change materials and nanofluids and discusses how thermal modeling optimizes key material parameters. Despite notable progress, challenges remain in compatibility, stability, and sustainability. Emerging smart, self-healing, and AI-assisted materials are expected to drive the next generation of intelligent battery cooling systems. Compared with air-cooling systems (maximum temperature ≈ 55 °C, temperature difference ΔT ≈ 10 °C), liquid-based systems can reduce the peak temperature to below 42 °C and improve temperature uniformity (ΔT ≤ 5 °C). Particularly, nanofluid-enhanced LTMS achieve up to 15%~20% higher heat transfer efficiency and 3~5 °C lower surface temperature compared with conventional water-glycol cooling. Direct immersion cooling using dielectric fluids such as HFE-7000 further decreases the maximum temperature to ≈37 °C with ΔT ≈ 3.5 °C, achieving a cooling efficiency above 88%. Thermal modeling results show that accurate representation of material parameters (e.g., interfacial thermal resistance R₍int₎ and thermal conductivity k) can reduce simulation error by more than 30%. This work uniquely bridges materials science with thermal system engineering through AI-driven innovation, providing a data-guided route for next-generation adaptive LTMS design. Full article

Distributed energy systems (DESs) are crucial for renewable deployment, but decentralised generation substantially increases flexibility requirements. Flexibility is framed as a system property that emerges from the coordinated operation of demand, storage and dispatchable generation across multi-energy carriers. Demand response schemes and demand-side management can provide flexibility, but their effective potential is constrained by user participation. Sector-coupling strategies and energy storage systems enable temporal and cross-sector decoupling between renewable generation and demand. Electrochemical batteries are technically mature and well suited for short-term balancing, but costs and environmental impacts are significant. Power-to-Heat with heat pumps and thermal energy storage is a cost-effective solution, especially when combined with low-temperature district heating. Electric vehicles, when operated under smart-charging and vehicle-to-grid schemes, can shift large charging demands feeding energy into the grid, facing battery degradation and infrastructure costs. Power-to-Gas and Power-to-X use hydrogen and electrofuels as long-term storage but are penalised by low round-trip efficiencies and significant capital costs if power-to-power with fuel cells is applied. On the supply side, micro-CHP can provide dispatchable capacity when fuelled by renewable fuels and combined with seasonal storage. Costs and efficiencies are strongly scale-dependent, and markets, regulation, digital infrastructure and social acceptance are key enablers of flexibility. Full article

The global transition from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to hybrid (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) is fundamentally reshaping lubricant design requirements, driven by evolving thermal demands, electrical constraints, and material compatibility challenges. Conventional ICE lubricants are primarily formulated to withstand high operating temperatures, mechanical stresses, and combustion-derived contaminants through established additive chemistries such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), with thermal stability and wear protection as dominant considerations. In contrast, HEV lubricants must accommodate frequent start–stop operation, pronounced thermal cycling, and fuel dilution while maintaining performance across coupled mechanical and electrical subsystems. EV lubricants represent a paradigm shift, where requirements extend beyond tribological protection to include electrical insulation and conductivity control, thermal management of electric motors and battery systems, and compatibility with copper windings, polymers, elastomers, and advanced coatings, alongside mitigation of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). This review critically examines lubricant behavior, formulation strategies, and performance requirements across ICE, HEV, and EV powertrains, with specific emphasis on heat transfer, electrical performance, and lubricant–material interactions, covering mineral, synthetic, and bio-based fluids. Additionally, regulatory drivers, sustainability considerations, and emerging innovations such as nano-additives, multifunctional and smart lubricants, and AI-assisted formulation are discussed. By integrating recent research into industrial practice, this work highlights the increasingly interdisciplinary role of tribology in enabling efficient, durable, and sustainable mobility for next-generation automotive systems. Full article

This paper investigates pouch-type lithium-ion battery cells with a nominal voltage of 3.7 V and a nominal capacity of 57 Ah. A numerical model of the cell was developed and implemented using the NTGK method, which accurately predicts electrochemical and thermal processes. The results of numerical modeling matched with the experimental results of battery cell temperature measurements—the average deviation was about 4.5%; therefore, it can be considered reliable for further engineering research and construction of battery modules. In the experimental part of the paper, the battery cell was loaded in various C-rates (from 0.5 to 2 C), using heat flux sensors, thermocouples, and a thermal imaging camera. The studies revealed that the highest temperature is in the tabs area of cells. The temperature on the face of the cell surface exceeds 35 °C already from a load of 1.35 C, which accelerates cell degradation and reduces the number of cycles. Thermal imaging revealed uneven temperature distribution, whereby the top of the cell heats up more than the bottom of the cell and the temperature gradient can reach 2–4 °C. It was observed that during faster charge/discharge modes, the temperature rises from the tabs of the cell, and during slower ones, more in the middle face surface of the cell. The studies highlight the need to apply additional cooling solutions, especially cooling of the upper cell face, to ensure durability and uniform heat distribution. Full article

At present, composite phase change materials are widely studied for battery thermal management. However, to ensure the battery’s thermal safety, it is necessary not only to control the temperature during regular operation, but also to prevent sudden thermal runaway. This basic function depends on the flame-retardant properties of the composite phase change materials. In this study, a hexagonal double-layer hollow nanocage S2 with defect orientation was prepared and combined with carbon nanotubes (PNT) derived from polypyrrole (PPy) tubes to form a high adsorption mixture. Multifunctional composite phase change material PNT/S2@PEG/TEP was prepared by adsorbing and coating polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG-8000) and triethyl phosphate (TEP) with microfibrillated cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as the skeleton. The characterization shows that its thermal conductivity is 0.65 W/m·K and its phase transition enthalpy is 146.1 J/g, demonstrating its excellent thermal regulation. Microcalorimetric testing (MCC) confirmed its flame-retardant ability, attributed to the strong adsorption of PNT/S2 on PEG-8000 and TEP, the improvement in PNT’s thermal conductivity, and the contribution of CNF to flexibility. This composite phase change material, with excellent comprehensive properties, has broad application prospects in thermal safety for electronic equipment, significantly expanding its practical scope. Full article

In this research, we assess the feasibility of employing hybrid friction stir channeling (HFSC) to produce composite panels that combined an 8 mm thick AA6082-T6 aluminum alloy and 5 mm thick glass-fiber-reinforced Noryl GFN2. HFSC is an innovative solid-state technology that combines both friction stir joining and channeling characteristics, which enable the generation of integral internal channels while joining different components. A parametric study was outlined to explore the effects of the travel speed, probe length, and tool plunging on the resulting composite panels. The resulting composite panels were subsequently subjected to a comprehensive analysis encompassing exterior ceiling quality, internal channel, and joining interface morphology. Depending on the processing parameters, the geometry of the channels was found to be quasi-rectangular or quasi-trapezoidal, with significant variability on cross-sectional area, resulting in hydraulic diameters ranging from 1.2 to 2.9 mm. The joining interface was characterized by a concavity of aluminum that was extruded downwards into the polymeric molten pool, which was clinched after polymeric re-solidification. The experimental results prove the ability to join metals and polymers while creating an integral channel in a single process step using HFSC. Despite the positive effect of irregular shaped channels on heat exchange, the numerical models evidenced a detrimental effect of 14.3 and 16.3% on ultimate tensile and flexural loads, respectively. This way, this fabrication technology evidenced promising characteristics that are suitable for manufacturing thermal management systems such as conformal cooling for plastic injection molding or battery trays for EVs. Full article

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in energy storage systems, and temperature is an important factor that affects the battery aging performance. Battery aging tests have been conducted in environmental chambers in numerous studies. The ambient temperature is usually regarded as an indicator that affects the battery aging performance. However, with the same ambient temperature but different heat exchange conditions, the battery cycle aging life can still vary. In this study, a side face temperature control device and end faces temperature control device for a cylindrical battery were designed and made. Together with the environmental chamber, three types of heat exchange conditions were used to conduct cycle aging tests for the 21700 cylindrical battery. Based on the aging results of batteries under different heat exchange conditions, the battery aging mechanisms were analyzed. At the end of the battery’s life, the maximum loss rate of the active anode material is close to 20%, and the loss rate of the lithium inventory of most test groups is approximately 10%. The internal resistance growth rate of the aged battery can exceed 50%. During the battery aging process, battery temperature data were monitored, and the cumulative time-averaged surface temperature (CTAT) was proposed as a new metric to assess the temperature level for the long-term operating battery. The aging results of the 21700 cylindrical batteries show that within the temperature range of this study, the lower the CTAT, the faster the battery capacity degrades. The correlation between the battery temperature level and aging performance was also analyzed, which can be used to predict the battery cycle life. The analysis of battery aging mechanisms and the proposed temperature metric in this study provide guidance for research on battery life sustainability, as well as the thermal management strategy design of the battery. Full article