Special Session #5: Auxiliary Systems (Balance-of-Plant) of Electrified Vehicles

Co-chair: Marie Hébert, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Canada
Co-chair: Christoph Hametner, TU Wien, Austria

Abstract: The auxiliary systems (i.e., the balance-of-plant) of electrified vehicles significantly impact cost and energy consumption. The optimization of the system while considering the balance-of-plant requires additional effort to include the multi-physics phenomena. More attention has been devoted to the auxiliary systems within the fuel cell and electric vehicle research communities. Thermal management of battery electric vehicles is essential to preserve range and prevent premature aging. However, the trade-offs between the advantages and the energy consumption of the thermal management auxiliary system must be further studied. For fuel cells, single-stack and multi-stack systems still present challenges for simulation-based and experiment-based studies. For example, the parasitic load of a fuel cell compressor can reach 20% of gross power. Control strategies and optimization of the operating parameters of a single-stack system have been studied. The architecture and sizing of multi-stack systems with the required auxiliary systems have also been investigated.

This special session aims to provide those working on electrified vehicles (xEV) and their auxiliary systems a forum to exchange about their recent results, new ideas, and potential collaborations. Simulation and experimental studies are warmly welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
— Modelling of auxiliary systems included in the balance-of-plant (e.g., thermal management system, compressor, humidifier,
storage, etc.)
— Energy management strategies considering the impact of balance-of-plant systems
— Sizing and system design for the optimization of cost or energy consumption including the impact of balance-of-plant
systems
— Optimization of operating parameters considering the multi-physics interaction within the systems

 

Chair’s bio:

Marie Hébert

Marie Hébert, Assistant professor at the Université du Québec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR) in the department of mechanical engineering, Marie Hébert received her Ph.D. in Mechanical and Mechatronics engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2020. She developed her expertise in mechatronics and fluid dynamics. As a member of the Hydrogen Research Institute, she is actively involved in projects for the electrification of various vehicles with fuel cell systems. Her research interests include multiphysics systems, modelling, fuel cell systems, fluid dynamics, control, optimization of fluid supply, and microfluidics. She was awarded the Mechanical engineering medal in 2016 from Concordia University and has been the recipient of several scholarships such as the Nanofellowship from the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, and the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS D) from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Christoph Hametner

Christoph Hametner received the M.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering, the Ph.D. degree in technical sciences, and the Habilitation (Professorial Qualification) degree in control theory and system dynamics from TU Wien, Vienna, Austria, in 2005, 2007, and 2014, respectively. He is currently Associate Professor and Head of the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Control and Monitoring of Automotive Powertrain Systems, TU Wien. His research interests include nonlinear system identification, modeling, and control.