Postgraduate Diploma in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management. 8 modules covering ISO 12405-4, IEC 62660-1 and MATLAB/Simulink. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Characterise severe duty cycles from field data.
Quantify heat generation in batteries and power electronics.
Design thermal management systems for heavy-duty vehicles.
Build electrothermal models and system-level simulations.
Define thermal control and preconditioning strategies.
Estimate degradation and service life under thermal stress.
Plan thermal validation tests and correlation with simulation.
Who it's for
- Thermal management engineer looking to specialise in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management.
- CAE simulation engineer looking to specialise in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management.
- Battery systems engineer looking to specialise in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management.
- Vehicle validation engineer looking to specialise in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management.
- Power electronics reliability specialist looking to specialise in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management.
- Thermal control calibration engineer looking to specialise in Severe Duty Cycles and Thermal Management.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 12405-4
- IEC 62660-1
- ISO 6469-1
- Reglamento UNECE R100
- SAE J2464
- IEC 60068-2-14
- ISO 16750-4
- AQG 324
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Mission profiles in heavy-duty vehicles1.2Standardised and real-world driving cycles1.3Prolonged gradients at maximum load1.4Repetitive start-stop cycles1.5Continuous power versus peak power1.6Extreme temperature environments1.7Statistical analysis of measured cycles1.8Construction of representative cycles1.9Field data obtained by telemetry1.10Practice: building a mission cycle
2.1Heat generation in cells2.2Reversible and irreversible heat2.3Losses in inverters and motors2.4Thermal conductivity of materials2.5Thermal gradients in modules2.6Optimal operating temperature ranges2.7Effect of cold on power2.8Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC)2.9Thermal propagation between cells2.10Laboratory: heat balance of a module
3.1Forced-air cooling3.2Liquid cooling with cold plates3.3Dielectric immersion cooling3.4Heat pumps integrated in the vehicle3.5PTC heaters for cold climates3.6Refrigerant circuits with chiller3.7Phase change materials3.8Integrated vehicle thermal management3.9Valve and flow rate control3.10Workshop: designing a cooling circuit
4.1Lumped-parameter models4.2Coupled electrothermal cell models4.3One-dimensional simulation of thermal systems4.4CFD of cold plates and channels4.5Simulation of complete mission cycles4.6Model validation with tests4.7Model reduction techniques4.8Digital twin of the thermal system4.9Thermal design optimisation4.10Laboratory: electrothermal model in Simulink
5.1Battery temperature control5.2Preconditioning before operation5.3Temperature-based power derating5.4Predictive control using navigation data5.5Thermal management during fast charging5.6Strategies specific to cold climates5.7Strategies specific to hot climates5.8Energy consumption of auxiliaries5.9Optimisation of available range5.10Practice: preconditioning strategy
6.1Calendar and cycle ageing6.2Effect of temperature on degradation6.3Lithium metal plating during charging6.4Thermal fatigue in power electronics6.5Power cycling of IGBT and SiC modules6.6Service life models6.7Accelerated life tests6.8Weibull statistical analysis6.9Warranties and operating limits6.10Case study: service life estimation of a pack
7.1Climatic chamber tests7.2Battery test benches7.3Power cycling tests7.4Thermal tests on complete vehicles7.5Thermal instrumentation with thermocouples7.6Applied infrared thermography7.7ISO 12405 test procedures7.8Correlation between simulation and testing7.9Preparing validation reports7.10Laboratory: thermal test plan
8.1Definition of the severe cycle8.2Thermal model of the system8.3Design of the cooling system8.4Thermal control strategy8.5Estimation of expected degradation8.6Validation through simulation8.7Verification test plan8.8Technical design report8.9Written report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, AVL Cruise M, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real design procedures for battery cooling systems for heavy-duty vehicles, simulation of severe mission cycles, and thermal validation in climatic chambers. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Characterise severe duty cycles from field data.
Quantify heat generation in batteries and power electronics.
Design thermal management systems for heavy-duty vehicles.
Build electrothermal models and system-level simulations.
Define thermal control and preconditioning strategies.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
Work is carried out with MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, AVL Cruise M. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher-level programme. Consult the recognition policy when you enrol.
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