Fedeli Duccio
FOTO
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duccio-fedeli-b6a557142/
CV: CV_dfedeli
Contact mail – office
Cycle: 38
Curriculum: Industrial Engineering
Title of the PhD Project:
Fluid-dynamics on BEVs – Development and validation of thermal management systems for batteries
Supervisor(s)
Alessando Mariotti
Maria Vittoria Salvetti
Abstract of the PhD project:
The rapid electrification of the automotive sector has intensified the need for accurate thermal management strategies for lithium-ion batteries, whose performance, durability, and safety depend critically on maintaining operation within a narrow temperature window. Excessive heat generation accelerates degradation mechanisms and increases the risk of thermal runaway, making predictive thermal analysis essential for the design of reliable battery systems.
This PhD project develops and validates a comprehensive CFD and CHT methodology for the prediction of temperature fields in electric-vehicle battery cells and packs. The framework is first established at the single-cell level by coupling a cell-specific electrochemical model with a CFD solver. Multiple charge–discharge profiles and cooling strategies are simulated to assess the model’s sensitivity and robustness under varying operating conditions. Validation is conducted through wind-tunnel experiments at the University of Pisa, where a fully instrumented cell equipped with thermocouples and thermal resistances is subjected to controlled cycling using a battery cycler to replicate the simulated electrical loads.
Building on the single-cell results, the procedure is extended to a full battery pack. The CFD methodology is adapted to capture inter-cell thermal interactions within a 3×3 module, with particular focus on the central cell, which typically experiences the most severe thermal conditions. Experimental validation is again performed in the wind tunnel under matched cycling and cooling configurations.
The resulting workflow provides a reliable and scalable tool for the thermal assessment of electric-vehicle batteries, supporting the design of efficient thermal management systems and contributing to improved performance, longevity, and safety.
Conferences:
- DTE & AICOMAS 2025
3rd IACM Digital Twins in Engineering Conference (DTE 2025) &
1st ECCOMAS Artificial Intelligence and Computational Methods in Applied Science (AICOMAS 2025) in Paris, France, 17-21 Feb 2025
- COUPLED SYSTEMS 2025
XI International Conference on Coupled Problems in Science and Engineering in Villasimius (Sardinia), Italy, 25-28 May 2025
- MOST – National Center for Sustainable Mobility in Rome, Italy, 11-12 Nov 2025