UNA TABELLA DI MARCIA VERSO LA MOBILITÀ SOSTENIBILE: MIGLIORARE L'EFFICIENZA DEI MOTORI A COMBUSTIONE INTERNA ED ESPLORARE GLI E/BIO COMBUSTIBILI E VEICOLI ELETTRICI PER LA DECARBONIZZAZIONE DEI POWERTRAIN SUPPORTATA DA ANALISI CFD

The objective of this thesis, conducted at “Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.a.” in Valenzano (BA), is to conduct a comparative analysis of various technologies crucial for mitigating the impact of climatic changes, especially focusing on the transport system. Two key technologies are the focus: Lithium-ion batteries and Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), supported by a comprehensive study employing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The primary activities encompass: • Analysis of the global warming issue and current policies: This part includes understanding the global situation, forecasting future scenarios, and proposing solutions to reduce the environmental impact of internal combustion vehicles. • Analysis and benchmarking of ICEs: This study is comparative and computational in nature. A CFD analysis part is first performed using Ansys Forte, after which the existing database at the research center is updated. Among all existing cases, a comparison between a conventional engine, a hydrogen engine and a methanol engine is performed by implementing state of the art technologies. • Analysis and benchmarking of BTMS: Examine thermal management issues concerning Lithium-ion batteries using Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis with the Ansys Fluent tool. The analysis is centered on the electrochemical modeling of batteries, on the thermal management of a battery pack and on the optimization of an existing BTMS. • Life Cycle Assessment Comparison: Compare the entire life cycle assessments of BEVs and ICEVs using a Well-To-Wheel approach. These activities aim to provide valuable insights into these technologies, contributing to informed decisions for a sustainable and environmentally conscious transport system.