Battery Packs and Battery Management
Students will explore various battery cell types, their characteristics, and how they are integrated into modular and vehicle-level battery packs. A significant focus will be placed on understanding the functions of a battery management system (BMS), including cell balancing, thermal management, state-of-charge/health estimation, and fault detection. Practical sessions will cover high-voltage safety procedures, diagnostic tool usage, and component-level service of battery packs and associated control units. The course emphasizes diagnostic workflows, preventive maintenance, and adherence to industry-standard safety regulations for servicing advanced energy storage systems.
InstructorJacob CalhounPrerequisites
Course outline
Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.
Syllabus
["Week 1: Lesson 1: Introduction to High-Voltage Battery Systems & Safety Fundamentals","Week 2: Lesson 2: Battery Cell Chemistries, Types, and Characteristics","Week 3: Lesson 3: Battery Pack Architectures, Modules, and Cooling Strategies","Week 4: Hands-on Lab: High-Voltage System Identification & Safety Lockout/Tagout Procedures","Week 5: Lesson 4: Battery Management System (BMS) Functions and Components","Week 6: Lesson 5: State of Charge (SoC), State of Health (SoH), and Power (SoP) Estimation","Week 7: Lesson 6: Cell Balancing Techniques and Thermal Management Operations","Week 8: Hands-on Lab: BMS Diagnostics, Sensor Verification & Midterm Review","Week 9: Lesson 7: High-Voltage Contactor Control and Pre-Charge Circuits","Week 10: Lesson 8: Battery Pack Fault Detection, Diagnostics, and Error Codes","Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Battery Pack Inspection, Module-Level Troubleshooting & Service","Week 12: Lesson 9: Advanced Thermal Management Systems and Refrigerant Circuits","Week 13: Lesson 10: Battery Recycling, Disposal, and Environmental Considerations","Week 14: Capstone Service Project: High-Voltage Battery System Diagnostics and Repair Simulation"]