PhD Studentship: Two-Phase Dielectric Oil Immersion Cooling for High-Performance Battery Packs

Project Supervisor - Dr Stefano Landini

The rapid evolution of electric vehicles (EVs), data centers, and high-performance energy storage is driving the need for battery systems that manage heat effectively under increasingly demanding operating conditions. Thermal management based on direct contact two-phase boiling dielectric oil immersion strategies offer a transformative route, using liquid-vapour phase change phenomena to achieve high heat transfer rates at the cell and pack level. By harnessing latent heat, such systems deliver far more efficient cooling than conventional air or single-phase liquid methods, facilitating improved battery lifespan, reliability, and safety during ultra-fast charging and high discharge cycles. 

However, the multi-scale thermofluid dynamics complexities of boiling-based immersion cooling remain largely underexplored. Open questions persist regarding the optimisation of boiling initiation, nucleation and bubble dynamics, and control of vapour-liquid interfaces in confined battery geometries. Advanced modelling—including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and transient thermal analysis—is required to accurately capture heat flux distributions, temperature uniformity, and convective transfer rates under realistic loading scenarios. Integration of these models with bespoke experimental validation would provide robust data on thermal performance, stability, and response during dynamic power delivery. Further challenges include the design of effective vapour management and condensate removal systems to maintain consistent cooling without compromising electrical connectivity or mechanical integrity. The interaction between fluid velocity, vapour generation, and pack geometry must be quantified to enable scalability for mobile and stationary applications. 

This PhD project will focus on the advancement of mechanical and thermal engineering principles underlying two-phase dielectric oil boiling immersion cooling for lithium-ion batteries. The candidate will develop CFD models, conduct experimental investigations, and explore innovative approaches to optimise heat transfer and fluid dynamics within battery packs. The research promises impactful contributions to next-generation electrochemical energy storage systems and offers interdisciplinary training at the intersection of fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and applied energy engineering. 

Entry Requirements

Acceptable first degree - Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering, General Engineering.

The standard minimum entry requirement is 2:1.

Start Date: 1 October 2026 

Additional Funding Information

This PhD project is in a competition for a Faculty of Science funded studentship. Funding is available to UK applicants and comprises ‘home’ tuition fees and an annual stipend for 3 years.

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