Electric Vehicle Modelling for Future Technology and Market Penetration Analysis

Data Availability Statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.The transportation sector is generally thought to be contributing up to 25% of all greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions globally. Hence, reducing the usage of fossil fuels by the introduction of electrified powertrain technologies such as hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is perceived as a way towards a more sustainable future. With a seemingly more significant shift towards BEV development and roll-out, the research and development of BEV technologies has taken on increasing importance in improving BEV performance and ensuring its competitiveness. Numerical simulation, using MATLAB, is performed as a tool to investigate and to improve the overall performance of BEVs. This study provides an overview of the possible technology outcome and market consequences for future compact BEVs along with HEVs, FCEVs and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV). The techno-economics of BEVs, market projection and cost analysis up to 2050 are investigated, as are important BEV characteristics alongside those of other types of vehicles. Well-to-wheel analysis of BEVs is also studied and compared with HEV, FCEV and ICE

Potential of thermal storage for hot potable water distribution in cruise ships

Hot potable water preparation in ships requires lots of energy from the power plant; this is particularly true in modern cruise ships with a high demand of potable water for people, restaurants, spa and pools. Usually the required amount of hot water is instantly produced using a number of different energy sources available on board. However, the use of direct heaters on peak demand conditions increases fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important in the case of ship in port configuration, due to the reduced number of active engines and therefore the reduced amount of waste heat from the cooling line usually employed for this task. This paper investigates possible solutions to size a hot water thermal storage in order to compensate the mismatch between heat generation during cruise and heat required during ship in port configuration. The performances of different solutions are compared using dynamic thermal simulations of the ship’s hot water distribution system with different regimes and time dependent heat requirements. Moreover it will be introduced the use of PCM materials with the aim to further improve system’s performance

Potential of thermal storage for hot potable water distribution in cruise ships

Hot potable water preparation in ships requires lots of energy from the power plant; this is particularly true in modern cruise ships with a high demand of potable water for people, restaurants, spa and pools. Usually the required amount of hot water is instantly produced using a number of different energy sources available on board. However, the use of direct heaters on peak demand conditions increases fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important in the case of ship in port configuration, due to the reduced number of active engines and therefore the reduced amount of waste heat from the cooling line usually employed for this task. This paper investigates possible solutions to size a hot water thermal storage in order to compensate the mismatch between heat generation during cruise and heat required during ship in port configuration. The performances of different solutions are compared using dynamic thermal simulations of the ship\u2019s hot water distribution system with different regimes and time dependent heat requirements. Moreover it will be introduced the use of PCM materials with the aim to further improve system\u2019s performance

An empirical study for the correction of the thermal parameters of a Li–Po battery with carbon-graphene-silicone coatings

The large use of batteries as energy storage systems for stationary applications and mobility has increased the concern about some limitations and issues, particularly in thermal management. This work presents the effect of coatings for battery heat dissipation with different conductivity, varying from 0.67 to 6 W/mK, and thicknesses, from 0.5 to 1 mm. The investigation is performed during the discharge phase with two current ratings, 0.5C and 1C, that correspond to 1.65 A and 3.3 A, respectively. Measurements of 2D temperature distribution are performed with thermal imaging while local data are collected with a thermocouple. The influence of the battery coatings is analyzed in terms of the temperature gradient, highlighting a lower increment in surface temperature for coatings with high conductivity. Then, the correction of the thermal parameters as the convective heat transfer coefficient and the specific heat capacity is considered for a reliable temperature prediction. In particular, the evaluation of these unknown parameters is performed simultaneously and in non-stationary conditions using two theoretical tools. The convective heat transfer coefficient must be changed from 14 to 17 W/m2K and the specific heat capacity from 2900 to 3500 J/kgK to model the battery behavior with the coatings. The methods applied for this evaluation are the finite-difference method and Newton's cooling law. A reverse approach is applied, using the experimental data to find the thermal parameters, only one method suits for this application. The predictions of the finite difference method have a lower standard deviation than the Newton's law model, 10% versus 50%. Moreover, it is more robust for the test cases with high noise-to-signal ratio and it is sensitive to the coating material and thickness. The presented results highlight that the method that best fits these applications requires characteristics such as good reliability, higher flexibility, and low sensitivity to experimental data fluctuations. The parameters estimated with the finite-difference method are also validated in real driving conditions, representative of a homologation test cycle. In this case, the battery temperature is still well predicted, showing that underestimating the model temperature of only 1.5% produces the best fit for the experimental data

Spectroscopic measurements of premixed combustion in diesel engine

Digital imaging and spectroscopic techniques, with high temporal and spatial resolution, were applied in order to study the low temperature combustion process. Injection and combustion phases were analysed by digital imaging. Mixing process, autoignition and pollutants formation were investigated by broadband ultraviolet–visible extinction spectroscopy and flame emission measurements. Moreover, fuel distribution and oxidation were studied as well. Liquid fuel and vapour phase, injected around the top dead centre, were analysed. The liquid diesel fuel was observed by extinction measurements when the liquid jet reached the bowl rim and aromatic compounds due to fuel decomposition were identified. On the other side, the vapour fuel was detected about 2� after the injection start and liquid fuel disappeared. Then, radicals and species were detected in the combustion chamber. They are interesting in order to study the chemical kinetics of low temperature combustion process. The chemiluminescence spectra of HCCI combustion appeared as well as several distinct peaks corresponding to the emission from HCO, HCHO, CH, and OH. In particular, this latter was clearly evident during the whole premixed combustion and dominated the process also after the end of the premixed phase of the heat release. Advancing the combustion, bright spots due to not homogeneous charge were detected. They were the source of the very little soot amount detected at the exhaust pipe. Finally, the injection pressure effect on the development of low temperature combustion was analysed

Carbon and Graphene Coatings for the Thermal Management of Sustainable LMP Batteries for Automotive Applications

The increment of battery temperature during the operation caused by internal heat generation is one of the main issues to face in the management of storage systems for automotive and power generation applications. The temperature strongly affects the battery efficiency, granting the best performance in a limited range. The investigation and testing of materials for the improvement of heat dissipation are crucial for modern battery systems that must provide high power and energy density. This study presents an analysis of the thermal behavior of a lithium-polymer cell, which can be stacked in a battery pack for electric vehicles. The cell is sheltered with layers of two different materials: carbon and graphene, used in turn, to dissipate the heat generated during the operation in natural convection. Optical diagnostics in the infrared band is used to evaluate the battery surface temperature and the effect of the coatings. Experiments are performed in two operating conditions varying the current demand. Moreover, two theoretical correlations are used to estimate the thermal parameters of the battery with a reverse-logic approach. The convective heat transfer coefficient h and the specific heat capacity cp of the battery are evaluated and provided for the Li-ion battery under investigation for different coatings’ conductivity. The results highlight the advantage of using a coating and the effect of the coating properties to reduce the battery temperature under operation. In particular, graphene is preferable because it provides the lowest battery temperature in the most intense operating condition