Modelling of batteries’ fire resistance test

Master Thesis Title
Modelling of batteries’ fire resistance test
Introduction
Volvo Construction Equipment is a company with a purpose; to build the world we want to live in! One of the actions to achieve this is to commit to the science-based targets. This means reducing the carbon footprint of our machines. A step towards the goal is the ambition to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by the year 2030.
Electrification is the key to achieve this ambition. Rechargeable energy storage system (REESS) is an important part of the electric vehicles, but one of the concerns in the electric vehicles is the safety of the batteries in different scenarios.
Mechanical and Simulation Engineering is a department in Volvo Construction Equipment Wheel Loader organization in Eskilstuna. The group focuses on different areas within simulation and mechanical engineering.
Background
One of the requirements of a REESS regarding its safety is passing either the vehicle-based or the component-based fire resistance test. In the test the battery is exposed to an open fire and shall not exhibit any evidence of explosion as the result of this test.
To skip several expensive and time-consuming tests, simulations is preferred as an evaluation method. A model of the vehicle-based fire resistance test is developed in FDS software. The model should be calibrated and improved based on the test results and published studies.
FDS is an open-source software, and the goal of this project is to achieve a reliable model either in FDS or in STAR-CCM+.
Description
The main task of the thesis work is to create the vehicle-based model of the fire resistance test, calibrate the model based on the tests.
The work consists of 3 main parts:
Perform literature review to choose the optimum method to tackle the problem (one way coupling of FDS and STAR-CCM+, complete model in FDS, complete model in STAR-CCM+)
Build the model in the selected software
Calibration of the model based on the previous test results in Volvo
Simulate the battery as it is installed in wheel loader

Qualifications
The student/students should have a background in Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Physics. An interest in calculation or simulation is essential.
Contacts
Tutor: Elahe Talebiahooie elahe.talebiahooie@volvo.com 016-541 5368
Manager: Lars Serander lars.serander@volvo.com 016-541 5982