Principal investigator: Pritpal Singh
University: Villanova University
Industry partners: East Penn Manufacturing Co.
Lead acid batteries are widely used in many applications including automotive (starting and accessory power) and backup power (e.g. for telecommunication and data centers). East Penn Manufacturing is a Pennsylvania-based leading manufacturer of lead acid batteries with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Lyons Station, PA. There are many process steps in manufacturing lead acid battery electrodes, which culminate in a process to dry the electrodes in large drying ovens. A lot of energy is consumed in this drying process that is controlled by fans, heaters, and baffles. In this project, we will explore using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to optimize the variables used to control the drying procedure to reduce the total amount of energy consumed in this process.