BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - 2023/4

Module Overview

Developing high-performance energy storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries could greatly promote the development of portable electronics, vehicle electrification and smart grid, alleviate environmental pollution and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, addressing the “grand challenges” in the sustainability and resilience of environments. This module aims to introduce fundamental scientific, technological or engineering principles and technology applications of batteries used in different electrical systems. Students will learn as to the battery types, battery parts and how to test/monitor a battery. Battery performance requirement by electric vehicles, smart grids, next-generation electronics and electrical systems will also be covered in this module. The discussion of new materials goes beyond that found in EEE3037 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

YANG Kai (CS & EE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Some knowledge of semiconductor science, electrochemistry and device engineering are expected.

Module content

Indicative content includes the following:

1. Battery Fundamentals: Describe battery types, battery parts and operation Understand how a battery converts chemical energy to electrical energy Learn how to test and monitor a battery and discover what causes batteries to fail and why testing is still in its infancy

2. Battery for electric vehicles: Describe battery performance requirement by vehicle application Introduce rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical supercapacitors for electric vehicle

3. Battery for smart grids: Describe how battery systems can integrate renewable energy in smart grids Introduce sodium ions batteries, multivalent ion batteries and flow battery for smart grids

4. Batteries for next-generation electronics and electrical systems: Introduce microscale, flexible, transparent battery for next-generation multifunctional electronics Introduce metal–oxygen and metal-sulfur batteries: fundamentals and applications

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the learning outcomes. The coursework will help the student for their independent study. The written examination will assess the knowledge and assimilation of terminology, concepts and theory of the different parts of the module.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following.
· Coursework: Students analyse experimental methods and data to draw conclusions on the device performance and application scenarios
· 4-hour, open-book written examination
Formative assessment and feedback
For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.
· During lectures, by question and answer sessions
· During tutorials/tutorial classes
· By means of unassessed tutorial problem sheets (with answers)

Module aims

• Introduce the battery requirement by electric vehicles, smart grids, next-generation electronics and electrical systems
• Provide the key principles and operation of batteries used in different electrical systems
• Help students understand how to test and monitor a battery and discover what causes batteries to fail
• The module also aims to provide opportunities for students to learn about the Surrey Pillars listed below.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy include regular lectures, in-class discussions and assignments from Week 1 to 10. Three hours of the final tutorial will take place in Week 11. Lecture notes and recorded lectures will be provided, and students are expected to do independent learning in addition to attending lectures and tutorials.

Learning and teaching methods include the following.

Lectures where key concepts will be introduced, and students will learn about fundamental battery science and engineering.  

Problem classes with full sample solutions to allow the students to pace their learning at the pace they are comfortable with.

Revision sessions of past examination papers; students will be encouraged to attempt the examination papers in advance and to compare their answers with the model solution.

Individual assignments where students will be able to research into battery materials and characterisation.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEEM065

Other information

• The module shows how energy efficient batteries can be developed once an understanding of the factors that influence electrical storage and transport are understood; this will contribute to students’ understanding of sustainability for affordable and clean energy especially via UNSDG no. 7 which states “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all".  

• The student’s digital capabilities will be enhanced via the use of advanced modelling software, such as MATLAB, to perform advanced calculations and analysis which will be related the battery material’s structural and electronic properties to the resultant transport characteristics.  

• Students’ resourcefulness and resilience will be enhanced as the they will need to think critically and exercise engineering judgment underlying the some of the assumptions they would need to employ in advanced calculations and identify the limitations of those assumptions. The calculations required require a degree of coding skills and so code presentation and debugging will be needed to run the programme correctly.

• The module provides ample opportunity for students to demonstrate their mastery of advanced calculations which will aid the student’s employability as the student will be able to call upon examples of where they have performed calculations, discussed the approach taken and also the assumptions and limitations used in their calculations. The students will also have had an opportunity to present the outcomes of these calculations in written form. 

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.