Byeng Youn and Team Receive MIPS Grant

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Assistant Professor Byeng Dong Youn

"This project will enhance our capabilities to support existing and future customers by providing safer and more reliable batteries."

PCTEST Engineering Laboratory, Inc., corporate research partner

ME Assistant Professor Byeng Youn and Professor Ali Mosleh received a two-year Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) grant of $620K for their research "Smart Thermal Management Platforms for Li Battery." MIPS, administered by the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), is a program that accelerates the commercialization of technology in Maryland by jointly funding collaborative R&D projects between companies and University System of Maryland faculty.

With Youn and Mosleh as Co-PI’s of the project, the research team plans to develop a total thermal management solution for a Li-ion battery system (including battery cells, packs, hosts, and adaptor), which will be conducted through close collaboration with partner company, PCTEST Engineering Laboratory, Inc., of Columbia, Md. PCTEST is one of the few approved CTIA authorized test companies capable of testing and certifying lithium batteries used in mobile phones, notebook computers, and others.

The expected outcomes of the research include: (a) a plug-in computer simulation platform for battery thermal analysis, (b) statistical thermal load profiles, (c) a hierarchical computer model validation, and (d) a virtual qualification tool for the battery system. Applications of comprehensive smart thermal management analysis for Li-Ion battery systems include: solutions to design issues in portable wireless devices, handsets, laptop computers, power tools, and automotive hybrid electric vehicles (HEV/PHEV).

A representative from PCTEST states, "This project will enhance our capabilities to support existing and future customers by providing safer and more reliable batteries." Thus, the results of Youn and Mosleh’s research have the potential of being far-reaching and influential.

Published October 27, 2009