Introduction to battery-management systems Course Syllabus

Overview (80-120 words) describing structure and time commitment.

Module 1: Battery Boot Camp

Estimated time: 5 hours

• Introduction to battery terminology and fundamentals
• Basic electrochemical principles of battery operation
• Types of rechargeable batteries and their applications
• Overview of battery performance metrics: capacity, energy density, power density

Module 2: How Lithium-Ion Cells Work

Estimated time: 5 hours

• Internal components of lithium-ion cells: anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator
• Lithiation and delithiation processes during charge and discharge
• Advantages and limitations of lithium-ion technology
• Voltage characteristics and cycle life behavior

Module 3: BMS Sensing and High-Voltage Control

Estimated time: 6 hours

• Role of the battery management system in monitoring and control
• Techniques for accurate voltage, current, and temperature sensing
• High-voltage switching and isolation strategies
• Safety considerations in high-voltage battery systems

Module 4: BMS Design Requirements 2–5

Estimated time: 5 hours

• Protection mechanisms: overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, short-circuit
• Thermal management and temperature protection strategies
• System interface requirements: communication protocols and diagnostics
• Performance monitoring and state-of-charge estimation fundamentals

Module 5: How Are Cells Made? How Can They Fail?

Estimated time: 3 hours

• Manufacturing steps: electrode preparation, cell assembly, electrolyte filling, formation
• Common defects in manufacturing and their impact on performance
• Failure modes: thermal runaway, dendrite formation, mechanical damage

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 5 hours

• Analyze a real-world battery system scenario
• Design basic BMS functions for a given application
• Submit a report identifying safety risks and mitigation strategies

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic electrical engineering concepts (voltage, current, resistance)
• Understanding of fundamental physics and chemistry principles
• Basic knowledge of circuit analysis and electronic components

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Explain the core operation of lithium-ion battery cells
• Identify key components and functions of battery management systems
• Describe how BMS monitors voltage, current, temperature, and state-of-charge
• Recognize safety mechanisms and protection strategies in battery systems
• Understand manufacturing processes and potential failure modes of lithium-ion cells