Mr. Swart specializes in battery system failure analysis and in the design of battery systems, charging systems, and power conversion solutions. Mr. Swart has experience with single cell battery systems used for cellular devices and mobile consumer products; energy multi-cell battery systems for portable computer, mobile consumer products, telecommunication, and uninterrupted power supplies (UPS); long range electrical and plug in and hybrid vehicles (PHEV); and power battery systems for power tools and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications.
Mr. Swart’s expertise includes product safety performance evaluation. He also provides consulting services related to power electronics systems used in conventional, hybrid, and electrically powered vehicles. Mr. Swart’s extensive battery system knowledge and experience qualifies him to conduct due-diligence reviews for clients interested in adopting related new technologies, purchasing related companies and/or evaluating related intellectual property (IP).
Mr. Swart has designed and implemented analytical testing techniques applied to a variety of battery systems. He has applied Lithium Ion battery technology to a single-person vehicle and to an ATV. He has developed an automated test system with data acquisition capabilities for non-destructively monitoring external fault indicators associated with a desktop computer operated during abnormal power conditions. He developed and built an automated multi-electrochemical cell charger simulator and cycler, an automated power supply safety performance tester, and an analytical testing device using IR thermography to identify circuit board defects.
Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Swart was a Lecturer at Richtek College in South Africa and elected to serve as member of the College Executive Council. He spent two years in research and development of renewable energy systems in South Africa and Germany, and participated in a European Union hydro-energy project. He has also held various technical positions at Dell in the USA, the Cape Technikon, M. Price and Associates, and Nasionale Pers in South Africa.
Book Chapters
Arora A, Medora NK, Livernois T, Swart J. Safety of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles. In: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Overview Power Sources, Models, Sustainability, Infrastructures and the Market. Pistoia G (ed), Elsevier B.V., in press 2010.
Selected Publications
Dalal S, Swart J, Pinnangudi B. IEEE 1725 and battery powered products. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Toronto, CA, 2009.
Swart J, Slee D, Loud J. Arcing and fires—Case studies. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Toronto, CA, 2009.
Slee D, Stepan J, Wei W, Swart J. Introduction to printed circuit board failures. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Toronto, CA, 2009.
Swart J, Slee D. Failure analysis methodology for battery powered product incidents. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Austin, TX, 2008.
Arora A, Medora N, Swart J. Failures of electrical/electronic components: Selected case studies. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Longmont, CO, 2007.
Swart J, Edmonds J, Arora A, Dalal S. Case studies of electrical motor and generator failures. Failures 2007, South Africa, 2007.
Swart J, Arora A, Megerle M, Nilsson S. Methods for measuring the mechanical safety vent pressure of lithium ion cells. IEEE Symposium on Product Safety and Compliance Engineering, Irvine, CA, 2006.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Ross B. Case studies of electrical component failures. Failures 2006, South Africa, 2006.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S. Characterizing the performance of battery chemistries used to power a single-person vehicle. 6th International Advanced Automotive Battery (and Ultracapacitor) Conference, Baltimore, MD, 2006.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Xu Y. Going beyond industry standards in critically evaluating lithium-ion batteries. Advancements in Battery Charging, Monitoring and Testing, Vancouver, Canada, 2005.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Xu Y. Characterizing the vent operation of lithium-ion cells and battery packs. 5th International Advanced Automotive Battery (and Ultracapacitor) Conference, Hawaii, 2005.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Xu Y. Lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles: A safety perspective. 5th International Advanced Automotive Battery (and Ultracapacitor) Conference, Hawaii, 2005.
Swart J, Wu J, Zumwalt R, Birdsley J. Case studies of IR based rapid PC motherboard failure analysis. ISTFA, Phoenix, AZ, 2002.
Selected Posters and Presentations
Stewart S, Horn Q, Budiansky N, White K, Mikolajczak C, Wu M, Swart J. Optimizing design, charging algorithm and predicting useful life by electrochemical modeling. AABC 09 – Advanced Automotive Battery & EC Capacitor Conference, Long Beach CA, 2009.
Swart J, Arora A. Characterizing regenerative braking in a micro hybrid vehicle. AABC 09 – Advanced Automotive Battery & EC Capacitor Conference, Long Beach CA, 2009.
Arora A, Medora N, Swart J. Arc faults in hybrid and high voltage automotive electrical systems. AABC 09 – Advanced Automotive Battery & EC Capacitor Conference, Long Beach CA, 2009.
Swart J, Slee D. F Failure analysis methodology for battery powered product incidents. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Austin, TX, 2008.
Dalal S, Swart J. Constraint based product component safety evaluation. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Longmont, CO, 2007.
Arora A, Swart J. Design review of a lithium-ion battery powered product. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Longmont, CO, 2007.
BenKinney M, Arora A, Swart J. The influence of regulatory changes on unique product designs. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, Longmont, CO, 2007.
Swart J, Edmonds J, Arora A, Dalal S. Case studies of electrical motor and generator failures. Failures 2007, South Africa, 2007.
Arora A, Megerle M, Swart J, Nilsson S. Methods for measuring the mechanical safety vent pressure of lithium ion cells. IEEE Symposium on Product Safety and Compliance Engineering, Irvine, CA, 2006.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Ross B. Case studies of electrical component failures. Failures 2006, South Africa, 2006.
Swart J, Arora A. Is lithium ion chemistry viable as a renewable energy storage medium in a micro photovoltaic power system? Advancements in Battery Charging, Monitoring and Testing, Chicago, IL, 2006.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Xu Y. Lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles: A safety perspective. 5th International Advanced Automotive Battery (and Ultracapacitor) Conference, Hawaii, 2005.
Swart J, Arora A, Nilsson S, Xu Y. Going beyond industry standards in critically evaluating lithium-ion batteries. Advancements in Battery Charging, Monitoring and Testing, Vancouver, Canada, 2005.
Arora A, Swart J, Nilsson S, Xu Y. Characterizing the vent operation of lithium-ion cells and battery packs. 5th International Advanced Automotive Battery (and Ultracapacitor) Conference, Hawaii, 2005.
Swart J, Wu J, Zumwalt R, Birdsley J. Case studies of IR based rapid PC motherboard failure analysis. ISTFA, Phoenix, AZ, 2002.
Swart J. The unexploited low-heat hydro power in Germany using existing weirs. Karlsruhe University, Germany, 1994.