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ESE Seminar - Matthais Preindl: "Software-Defined Power Electronics in EV Charging and Battery Management Systems"

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Abstract

This talk examines the role of soft-switching inverters in electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery management systems (BMS), focusing on technological advancements and their impact. The integration of variable frequency critical soft-switching (VF-CSS) with wide-bandgap semiconductors, optimized AC filters, and real-time control enables the production of stable sine wave output voltages and currents. These inverters are stackable, allowing for the development of reconfigurable and partially redundant software-defined power converters suitable for both onboard and offboard EV charging. VF-CSS effectively reduces leakage currents and supports transformerless charger designs, which are cost-effective and facilitate vehicle-to-everything (V2X) services.

The talk also explores the use of power electronics for lithium-ion battery (LIB) diagnostics and management. LIB degradation is typically assessed at three levels: mechanisms, modes, and metrics. Recent advancements in diagnostics and prognostics are driven by machine learning (ML), which offers a detailed multi-level perspective on LIB degradation. The pulse injection aided machine learning (PIAML) technique is highlighted for its ability to improve diagnostic accuracy without requiring specialized sensors or electronics. This technique matches or surpasses existing methods, offering a practical approach to optimizing lithium-ion system management. By extending battery life and reducing costs, the PIAML framework supports effective battery management and aligns with contemporary battery pack designs and requirements.

Bio

Matthias Preindl received the B.Sc. degree from the University of Padua (summa cum laude, 2008), the M.Sc. degree from ETH Zurich (2010), and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Padua (2014), in electrical engineering. He is an Associate Professor at Columbia University, USA. Prior to joining Columbia in 2016, he was an R&D Engineer of Power Electronics and Drives at Leitwind AG (2010-2012), a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at McMaster University, Canada (2014-2015).

Dr. Preindl serves as Area Editor of IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology and VTS Distinguished Lecturer (class 2023). He was the general chair of 2022 IEEE/AIAA ITEC+EATS. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, Fellow of IET, recipient of the NSF CAREER Award (2017), and co-recipient of the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Innovation of the Year (2023). His research interests include the design and control of motor drives, power electronics, and batteries for transportation electrification.

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