1. Development and Validation of OpenFOAM Models for Redox Flow Batteries

Redox Flow Batteries (RFB) are an electrochemical energy storage technology that presents several advantages for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), such as decoupled power and energy and long useful life. However, cost reduction is required to favour the diffusion of the technology. Cell and stack design is a core task required for the development and upscaling of RFB systems, but redox flow cells models can be very complex due to the multitude of physical phenomena that need to be considered: electric fields, fluid flow, mass and specie transport in different components, electrochemical reactions, heat transfer. All these phenomena need to be considered to identify cell-limiting mechanisms, forecasting cell performance and optimizing the design.

The thesis will focus on the development and validation of multi-physics solver for simulation of Redox Flow Batteries (RFB) to support the design of the cell and of the stack, aimed at the development and upscaling of innovative RFB. The student will work on an in-house existing solver based on openFOAM, testing it on various cell geometries and conducting detailed post-processing. The student will compare simulation results with experimental and literature data to improve model accuracy and performance. 

Ideal candidate requisites: 

• MSc student in Energy, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Mathematical or Chemical Engineering
• Good fundamentals of theory of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, mass and heat transfer
• Fundamentals of numerical methods and their applications, in particular Finite Volume Method (FVM)
• Knowledge of general CFD concepts and workflow (pre-processing, runtime-processing, post-processing, meshing etc.)
• Good knowledge of one or more CAD softwares (e.g. SolidWorks, Salome, FreeCad, Blender) 
• Practical experience in at least one programming language. Ideally C, C++ or Python;
• Skills in problem solving
• Ability to work in a collaborative international environment with good autonomy
• Good level of English (both spoken and written).

Reference people: Maciej Marczak (mmarczak@fbk.eu), Marco Cecchetti (mcecchetti@fbk.eu)
 

2. Experimental validation of agile models for flow battery cell design

The BET unit is seeking a MSc student interested in the experimental validation of models to support the design of Redox Flow Battery (RFB) cells. 
Redox Flow Batteries are an electrochemical energy storage technology with several advantages for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), including decoupled power and energy and long lifetime. Cell and stack design, supported by modelling, is a key task in the development and upscaling of RFB systems, helping to reduce costs and enable their widespread adoption. Simplified cell modelling approaches have been developed to enable the rapid evaluation of different designs, but still require appropriate validation against experimental data. 
The thesis focuses on the validation of RFB cell models for flow field design. Experimental tests will be performed on RFB cells using vanadium- and iron-based aqueous electrolytes. Two models, a lumped model and a CFD-assisted model, will be calibrated against experimental data and adapted to accurately reproduce cell behaviour across different chemistries. The work will include experimental testing, model calibration and fitting, and results post-processing.

 Ideal candidate requisites: 

• MSc student in Energy Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering;
• Practical skills for management of experimental setups; 
• Ability to analyze experimental data (e.g., Python, Origin, Excel);
• Basic knowledge of programming software for lumped simulations, data elaboration and post-processing (e.g. Matlab, Python);
• Basic knowledge of CFD simulation software (e.g. Fluent, Comsol);
• Ability to summarize scientific results with presentations;
• Good communication and relational skills;
• Skills in problem solving;
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment with good autonomy.

Reference People: Mattia Duranti (duranti@fbk.eu), Marco Cecchetti (mcecchetti@fbk.eu)

 

3. Development of a stack design for innovative redox flow batteries

The BET unit is seeking a MSc student interested in the development of a mechanical design for a Redox Flow Battery (RFB) using innovative electrolytes. Redox Flow Batteries are an electrochemical energy storage technology with several advantages for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), including decoupled power and energy and long lifetime. Mechanical cell and stack design is a key task in the development and upscaling of RFB systems, helping to reduce costs and enable their widespread adoption. Stack materials and design may need customization depending on the specific electrolyte used. 
The thesis will focus on the mechanical design and prototyping of an RFB stack. The work will investigate possible materials and designs to obtain a compromise between optimal electrical performance and minimization of overall hydraulic losses. Particular attention will be given to the reduction of shunt current through the use of plastic frames. Structural analysis will be performed to assess contact pressure between parts and sealing effectiveness. Fluid-dynamic analysis may also be used to simulate flow distribution within the channels. The work will include the prototyping of a stack design and preliminary testing of its electrical and hydraulic performance.

Ideal candidate requisites: 

• MSc student in Mechanical engineering, Energy Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Materials Engineering;
• Ability to use CAD software and familiarity with assembly management (e.g. SolidWorks);
• Familiarity with structural simulations and mechanical and electrical material properties (e.g. Ansys Mechanical);
• Ability to analyze experimental data (e.g., Python, Origin, Excel);
• Ability to summarize scientific results with presentations;
• Good communication and relational skills;
• Skills in problem solving;
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment with good autonomy.

Reference People: Mattia Duranti (duranti@fbk.eu), Marco Cecchetti (mcecchetti@fbk.eu)
 

4. A combined morphological and electrochemical characterization of electrodes and membranes for innovative Redox Flow Batteries

Redox Flow Batteries (RFB) are an electrochemical energy storage technology that presents several advantages for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), such as decoupled power and energy and long useful life. The state-of-the-art is represented by Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) which have good performance, but the cost of vanadium electrolyte represents a challenge to a widespread commercialization of the technology due to its costs. Therefore, the research is focusing on developing RFB with non-critical and cheap electrolytes as alternative to vanadium. The process of developing a new RFB presents several challenges, one of which is the selection of the optimal materials for electrodes and membrane. These two components define the electrochemical performance of the cell, influencing the overall design of the battery. 

The thesis will focus on the investigation of materials for innovative redox flow batteries through physical, morphological and electrochemical characterization. The student will conduct experiments on different electrodes and membranes in lab-scale batteries, as well as data analysis with the possible support of models. The analysis will be complemented with physical characterizations such as conductivity, porosity, permeability, contact angle tests, and morphological tests like SEM. The student will combine the information obtained by physical, morphological and electrochemical characterization to investigate the influence of the component behaviour on the battery performance, therefore supporting the design of an innovative RFB. 

Ideal candidate requisites: 

• MSc student in Energy, Chemical, Mechatronic Engineering or Materials Science/Engineering
• Basic knowledge of batteries and energy storage technologies
• Basic knowledge of standard characterization techniques (e.g. CV, EIS, Polarisation Curves, Charge-discharge cycles)
• Knowledge of programming softwares (e.g. Python and MATLAB) 
• Ability to analyse experimental data (e.g. Python, Origin, Excel)
• Ability to summarize scientific results with reports and presentations
• Good communication and relational skills
• Skills in problem solving
• Ability to work in a collaborative international environment with good autonomy

Reference people: Marco Cecchetti (mcecchetti@fbk.eu), Mattia Duranti (duranti@fbk.eu)