Centre of Excellence

Centre of Excellence in Automotive Battery Management Systems in Association with iDEX, Ministry of Defence, India

Project Development Areas
  • Autonomous operation of diesel alternator for charging Li-ion battery (Indian Navy)
  • Design & development of converter and gyro unit (Indian Army)
Battery Management System (BMS) Overview

The BMS manages charging/discharging of lithium-ion battery packs and communicates via Modbus RS485. It integrates with HMI for user interface, PLC for system control, IoT Edge device for remote monitoring, and relay to control the generator charging process.

System Components & Function
  • Battery Assembly: Two 32-cell lithium-ion prismatic packs (3.2 V, 100 A, ~10 kW each) provide voltage and capacity.
  • BMS Control Card Slave Boards: Monitor voltage and temperature of individual cells to prevent overcharge, over-discharge, and overheating.
  • 32S BMS Power Distribution Unit (PDU): Coordinates cell balancing and protection across the battery pack.
  • CAN Port: Enables communication with external systems for coordination and safety.
  • Shunt Resistor: Measures pack current to evaluate state of charge (SoC) and health (SoH).
  • Breaker: Disconnects the battery pack for safety or maintenance.
Prototype & Testing Setup
  • 32S battery pack tested with 250 A contactors, peltier cooling system, and radiators.
  • 6.6 kW charger with CC-CV control and CAN interface charges battery pack.
  • Autonomous control panel equipped with Siemens PLC, relays, DC-DC chopper, contactors, and distribution blocks for safe genset and battery operations.
  • 62.5 kVA Kirloskar genset interfaced with HMI displaying engine and generator parameters for smooth operation.
Dashboard & Mobile Application Features

User Interface:

  • Real-time dashboard presenting SoC, voltage, temperature, capacity
  • Graphs & charts for monitoring trends and history
  • Alerts for warnings like over-temperature or low charge

    • Monitoring:

  • State of charge, voltage, temperature, capacity, health
  • Charge/discharge cycles and rates for lifespan estimation

    • Control:

  • Remote charging start/stop
  • User-defined charging thresholds and temperature limits
  • Historical data for performance analysis
  • Remote operations such as genset start based on battery status

    • Security:

  • User authentication to restrict access
  • Data encryption for secure communication
    • Key Advantages
    • Efficient energy management through autonomous operation
    • Real-time monitoring and control of battery and genset
    • Enhanced safety via cell balancing, temperature control, and breaker use
    • Supports integration with Army and Navy applications under iDEX initiative

      • Equipment Highlights:

    • High voltage BMS system
    • 50 kW battery pack and control panel with PLC
    • Robust communication and monitoring infrastructure
    • This Centre of Excellence strengthens indigenous development in automotive battery management systems tailored to defense applications.

    CDAC IoT Research Lab – Sri Sairam Engineering College

    Sri Sairam Engineering College’s CDAC IoT Research Lab stands at the forefront of fostering innovation and research in the rapidly evolving field of the Internet of Things. Established through a collaboration with C-DAC Bengaluru, the lab serves as a multidisciplinary hub for students and faculty passionate about exploring IoT technologies and applications.

    Key Features of the CDAC IoT Lab:

    • State-of-the-Art Infrastructure: The lab is fully equipped with advanced IoT development kits and components, including Ubimote, BLE Mote, Ubi Sense, WingZ Gateway Simulator, and dedicated debugging equipment. These tools enable experiential learning and hands-on experimentation for a variety of IoT scenarios.
    • Training & Knowledge Sharing: Regular workshops and training sessions are offered by industry experts and in-house faculty, promoting skill development in IoT system design, firmware development, wireless sensor networks, and edge computing.
    • Interdepartmental Collaboration: The lab welcomes participation from students and faculty across departments, encouraging interdisciplinary research, project development, and innovation in fields such as Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, and Computer Science.
    • Support for Entrepreneurship: Beyond technical skills, the lab emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking by providing guidance on converting innovative ideas into viable IoT products and solutions.
    • Project Development: Students are encouraged to design, prototype, and test IoT-enabled systems for real-world applications. The lab’s resources support academic research as well as industry-oriented projects.