Graduate students and Johnson Controls Fellows Kevin Frankforter (left) and Jacob Dubie in the Johnson Controls Energy Storage Research Lab at the Wisconsin Energy Institute on the UW–Madison campus. (Image courtesy of Matthew Wisniewski.)
Sometimes, the best place to look for solutions to industrial problems is in the university sphere, which explains the wide variety of collaborations between industry players and engineering schools.
An example of this comes from a pair of multi-year research projects aimed at enhancing vehicle fuel efficiency—something of a holy grail in automotive engineering.
This new team-up is between the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and Johnson Controls, one of the largest manufacturers of auto batteries.
Absorbent Glass Mat Batteries in Stop-Start Technology
The first project plans to focus on identifying the aging mechanisms of absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries and supporting systems in automotive start-stop applications. They will also be exploring vehicle optimization strategies.
Start-stop technology automatically shuts off the vehicle’s engine when idling and restarts it when the brake pedal is released. This technology can provide up to five percent greater fuel efficiency, as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
When the engine is off, the vehicle’s electrical system draws energy from the AGM battery to power all electrical loads in the vehicle. This results in the AGM battery being required to restart the engine many times over the course of a typical day of driving. Overall efficiency of the stop-start system will improve with batteries that last longer and perform better, which is what the project hopes to achieve.
Improved Energy Storage for Peak Power and Cycling
The second project will explore ways to leverage other energy storage devices in order to discover new ways to provide peak power acceptance and cycling capability. The project team hopes that their explorations into these technologies will inspire breakthroughs in power storage efficiency.
“Our goal is to pursue important battery research objectives that hold great promise to deliver vital improvements in future Johnson Controls battery products while simultaneously educating bright graduate students who are preparing themselves for rewarding careers in the battery industry,” said Thomas Jahns, professor of power electronics and electrical machines at UW-Madison’s electrical and computer engineering department.
Engineering Graduate Students Leading the Charge
Both projects are being funded through $500,000 fellowship grants. The research is being conducted at the Johnson Controls Energy Systems Laboratory at UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Energy Institute, as well as at the advanced battery laboratories at UW-Milwaukee.
UW–Madison graduate students Jacob Dubie and Kevin Frankforter, the first recipients of the Johnson Controls Distinguished Graduate Fellowships, will carry out the projects.
These projects are two of several technology and research collaborations between Johnson Controls and UW-Milwaukee, which focus on optimizing battery system performance, interactions with a vehicle’s powertrain and electrical architecture and pursuing the development of future stationary energy applications.
“We are bringing together students and the world’s best energy storage and powertrain engineers to tackle challenges in advancing vehicle technology. The results will help future vehicle technology to deliver optimum performance and environmental efficiency,” said MaryAnn Wright, group vice president industry relations at Johnson Controls Power Solutions.
For more information, visit Johnson Controls or the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.