Internship/master thesis on batteries - Validation of multiphysics models for redox flow batteries

The internship/master thesis will focus on multiphysics modeling of redox flow batteries. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are a promising technology for large scale energy storage. In RFBs power and energy are decoupled: the former depends mainly on the size of the stack while the latter on the size tanks containing the redox active species. This feature makes RFBs ideal for economical, large-scale energy storage. However, cost reduction is in order for allowing a widespread diffusion of this technology. Cell and stack design is a core task required for the development and upscaling of flow battery systems but redox flow cells models can be very complex due to the multitude of physical phenomena that need to be considered: electric fields, fluid flow, mass and specie transport in different components, electrochemical reactions, heat transfer. All these phenomena need to be considered to identify cell-limiting mechanisms, forecasting cell performance and optimizing the design.

We are looking for a motivated intern to support the development and validation of a multiphysics solver for redox flow battery simulations. The role involves working with an in-house existing solver based on OpenFOAM, testing it on various cell geometries, and conducting detailed post-processing. The intern will compare simulation results with experimental and literature data to enhance model accuracy and performance. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in CFD and multiphysics modeling and contribute to the advancement of energy storage technologies.