High reliability lithium rechargeable batteries for specialties

Since their development in the late 1980s, lithium rechargeable batteries have enjoyed rapid growth and wide use as a commodity battery known for its higher energy density storage and lightweight convenience. These same attributes are emerging as a strong platform in power source development for the medical and aerospace sectors with highly customized applications and narrowly defined criteria. Accordingly, this new generation of lithium rechargeables must be hermetically sealed, have long-term storage capability, and zero-fault tolerances for common causes of field failures such as electrolyte leakage or short circuits from mechanical deformation. Quallion has been developing and manufacturing highly reliable lithium rechargeable cells for medical, aerospace, and specialty applications. Summarized in this paper are some key technologies developed at Quallion for designing and manufacturing of this new class of lithium rechargeable batteries. They include: 1) leakage reliability; 2) self-extinguishing electrolyte system; 3) mechanical impact resistance; 4) deep discharge storage; and 5) high reliability manufacturing.     

Hybrid power sources for Land Warrior scenario

Hybrid systems utilizing a zinc-air battery or a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) as the high energy density component coupled with a rechargeable battery (lead-acid or nickel-metal hydride) or electrochemical capacitor (EC) bank as the high power density component were tested under a high-pulse application load, Land Warrior (LW). The hybrid power sources successfully operated the LW cyclic load beyond the capabilities of the specific single chemistry systems studied. The zinc-air battery hybrids allowed approximately triple the operation time of PEMFC hybrids. The best performing hybrid system was the zinc-air battery/lead-acid battery. It provided the greatest operating voltage and longest operating time     

Tests of a full-sized mechanically rechargeable zinc-air battery inan electric vehicle

A mechanically rechargeable zinc-air battery that has high power density and fast refueling capability is described. The battery is built from modules of 32 or 44 cells connected in series, and the modules can be arranged in any combination of series and parallel connections, and in practical quantity, according to the requirements of the vehicle, motor, and controller. The results of laboratory and in-vehicle tests of a zinc-air battery consisting of two 32-cell modules connected in series, with nominal voltage of 75 V and nominal capacity of 216 Ah, are presented     

The Hy-StorTM battery

The Hy-Stor^TM Battery is a rechargeable battery being developed for electric vehicles and other large battery applications. The battery combines the high energy storage capability of metal hydride alloys with the high cycle life and discharge rate capabilities of nickel-hydrogen cells. It is a hybrid battery concept that offers potential performance, economic and safety advantages over other large battery technologies. Very recent developments indicate that much smaller batteries can also be produced to meet the needs of the portable computer and other portable electronic device markets. Initial tests demonstrated the ability of a metal hydride storage system to achieve high cycle life when absorbing hydrogen that was saturated with battery electrolyte solution and then passed through a purifier. Based on positive test results, a patent for the Hy-Stor battery was applied for and granted     

Zinc-air batteries for forward field charging

In order to realize the operational and service cost savings through the use of rechargeable batteries, the dismounted soldier is burdened with the weight, volume and/or charging logistics of the batteries. By providing the soldier with a high energy density source and a lightweight compact battery charger, the burden imposed by rechargeable batteries in the forward field can be minimized. Zinc-air batteries have the potential for meeting the energy demands of forward battlefield charging. They are attitude insensitive, have a high specific energy and are inherently inexpensive, lightweight and safe     

Hybrid power source for manportable applications

In this paper, we present the results of work with a hybrid power system made of a fuel cell and rechargeable battery with pulse power capability. This hybrid power source successfully ran pulse power load based on the power profile of the present and future manportable military electronics and communications equipment. The hybrid consisted of a 35 W proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack in parallel with a Li-ion battery. In this work, two cyclic load scenarios were utilized. Each consisted of a baseline load for 9 minutes followed by a higher pulse load for 1 minute. One test profile consisted of 20 W (baseline)/40 W (pulse) load, whereas, the second was 25 W/50 W. Under both scenarios, the hybrid provided significant enhancements in performance over the individual components tested separately. These results are discussed and analyzed. Also discussed are possible future implications of such technology and approach.     

Electrical power on a 30 kW space-based radar satellite

An electrical power system for a space-based radar satellite is described. When the radar is on, its transmitter needs an average DC power of 30 kW. The problem of distributing the power efficiently in pulses to many transmit/receive modules is addressed. System requirements include a high-voltage battery and transmission line, load-sharing between the solar array, and the battery during sunlit periods, and a 25-kW solar array. A scaled-down version of the power system for a proof-of-concept demonstration is described     

Portable power source needs of the future Army-batteries and fuelcells

This paper describes the US Army's future needs for silent portable power in the area of batteries and fuel cells. These needs will continue to increase as a result of the introduction of newer types of equipment, the increasing digitization of the battlefield, and future integrated Soldier Systems. Current battery programs are aimed at improved, low-cost primary batteries, and rechargeable batteries with increased energy densities. The Army fuel cell program aimed at portable systems capable of the order of 150 W is also described     

空间电源系统关键技术分析

介绍了空间电源系统的功能及组成结构。在大功率、高可靠性航天器发展应用背景下,从三个方面分析了空间电源系统设计的关键技术。跟踪国际最前沿的空间电源技术动态,指出空间电源系统的发展方向,并详细分析了功率控制模块电路,对后续电源系统的优化设计工作具有参考意义。     

电池条形码综合管理系统设计与开发

从目前小型二次电池生产和应用的现状出发,结合条形码管理的实际特点,介绍了一种新型的电池条形码综合管理系统.系统通过在电池生产过程中引入条形码管理技术,便于电池生产厂家控制生产过程中电池质量、电池Pack厂在组装电池组时提取过程数据及电池流入市场后问题电池的追踪.详细介绍了系统的软硬件结构设计及系统特点,并对系统发展提出展望.     

Charging the new batteries-IC controllers track new technologies

Demands for portability have fueled significant developments in new battery technology. These developments have resulted in many more options in selecting the battery type for use in a particular project, but since most applications today are opting for rechargeable battery systems, the availability of battery charging solutions can become an equally important criteria in the selection process. Complicating this process are the demands for fast-but safe-charging with charge algorithms easily implemented with low-cost hardware. With the higher levels of complexity attendant with these more demanding algorithms, solutions have come primarily from the integrated circuit industry and the purpose of this paper is to provide a few examples of the latest efforts in this arena, specifically as addressed to lead-acid, nickel metal-hydride, and lithium-ion technologies     

Constant Voltage Digital Control of an AC Motor Positioning Servo

A theoretical approach is presented to digitally manipulating the drive frequency of an ac induction motor so as to allow the motor to be used in a closed loop positioning servo. Additionally, the basic power source can be a simple dc power supply such as a battery pack. A hardware demonstration of the loop is discussed which has achieved a convergence accuracy of a 0.3 mrad to a step input.     

U.S. Army battery needs-present and future

The purpose of this paper is to describe the needs of the U.S. Army for silent portable power sources, both in the near and longer term future. As a means of doing this, the programs of the Power Sources Division of the Army Research Laboratory are discussed. In carrying out these programs, the personnel of the Power Sources Division work closely with the Battery Management Office of the Army Materiel Command, which is located in the Logistics and Readiness Directorate of the Communication-Electronics Command (CECOM). We are also closely integrated with the Army Research Office, and the fuel cell personnel of the CECOM Research Development and Engineering Center (RDEC), and the battery personnel of the RDECs for the Tank and Automotive Command and the Missile Command. The six program areas discussed in which the Power Sources Division is engaged are: primary batteries, rechargeable batteries, reserve/fuze batteries, pulse batteries and capacitors, fuel cells, and thermophotovoltaic power generation     

Evaluation of active hybrid fuel cell/battery power sources

Hybrid fuel cell/battery power sources have potentially widespread uses in applications wherein the power demand is impulsive rather than constant. Interposing a dc/dc converter between a fuel cell and a battery can create two configurations of actively controlled hybrid fuel cell/battery power sources. Those two configurations are compared using both theory and experiment with special attention to the peak power enhancement, and power losses in the converter. Both of the defined configurations were built, using a 35 W polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, an 8-cell lithium-ion battery pack, and a high-efficiency power converter. Both two configurations yielded a peak power output of 135 W, about 4 times as high as the fuel cell alone could supply, with only a slight (13%) increase of weight. The converter losses were quantitatively analyzed. Which of the two configurations yields a smaller loss depends on the load power demand characteristics including peak power and load duty ratio. The study results provide guidance for the design of hybrid sources according to the particular load power requirements.     

Performance characteristics of lithium-ion cells for NASA's Mars2001 Lander application

NASA requires lightweight rechargeable batteries for future missions to Mars and the outer planets that are capable of operating over a wide range of temperatures, with high specific energy and energy densities. Due to the attractive performance characteristics, lithium-ion batteries have been identified as the battery chemistry of choice for a number of future applications, including Mars rovers and landers. The Mars 2001 Lander (Mars Surveyor Program MSP 01) will be one of the first missions which will utilize lithium-ion technology. This application will require two lithium-ion batteries, each being 28 V (eight cells), 25 Ah and 8 kg. In addition to the requirement of being able to supply at least 200 cycles and 90 days of operation on the surface of Mars, the battery must be capable of operation (both charge and discharge) at temperatures as low as -20°C. To assess the viability of lithium-ion cells for these applications, a number of performance characterization tests have been performed, including: assessing the room temperature cycle life, low temperature cycle life (-20°C), rate capability as a function of temperature, pulse capability, self-discharge and storage characteristics, as well as mission profile capability. This paper describes the Mars 2001 Lander mission battery requirements and contains results of the cell testing conducted to-date in support of the mission,     

Bipolar nickel-metal hydride batteries for aerospace applications

Electro Energy Inc. (EEI) is developing high power, long life, bipolar nickel-metal hydride batteries for aerospace applications. Bipolar nickel-metal hydride designs allow for high energy and high power designs with a 25 percent reduction in both weight and volume as compared to prismatic and/or cylindrical Ni-MH designs. Utilizing a sealed wafer cell design EEI has demonstrated a 1.2 kW/kg power capability. Prototype designs have achieved 70 Wh/kg. Designs studies show 80 Wh/kg are achievable with EEI's state-of-the-art technology. The sealed wafer cell is the building block for EEI's high power and high voltage bipolar batteries making the assembly easy and significantly lower in cost. Satellite and aircraft batteries are being developed which provide high power and long life. Sealed cells now show excellent rate capability and life. Cells tested in a low earth orbit (LEO) cycle have reached 9000 cycles and continue on test. High power, bipolar battery designs are ideal in applications where using conventional aerospace battery technology would require excessive capacity; weight and volume, thereby reducing usable payload on the vehicle     

大迎角飞行品质的研究进展

分析了飞行包线向低速大迎角扩展后飞行品质研究面临的几个重要方面,即需要提供直到充分过失速迎角的飞行品质指标,这是设计飞控系统的依据之一：纵,横,航向操纵效能要求,这是配置,裁减操纵面的依据,机动任务集,这对于提出品质指标与操纵效能要求,及早发现飞机缺陷和全面评价飞机系统的战术效能等工作都有重要意义,总结有关的研究思路以及目前的进展,并给出了一些初步结论。     

Global avionics in the future

The following topics are discussed: new batteries for old airplanes; new charge controls for lengthening battery life; fast methods for batteries charging; AC conductance measurement based battery testing; pulse power; bipolar lead-acid batteries vs supercapacitors; Ni electrode cells for spacecraft; worn-out battery disposal; recycling technology; vehicle batteries cost; high energy content batteries; and energy storage for electric utilities     

Field evaluation of Honda's EV PLUS battery packs

The EV PLUS demonstration program provides an opportunity to evaluate battery life while gaining expertise in managing Ni-MH battery technology under real-world conditions. Since individual customers use the vehicles, Honda developed a battery service and evaluation system convenient to customers, yet not burdensome to dealer service. This paper discusses the method of detection of low battery capacity, the technique used to convey this information to users, the bench evaluation system of returned batteries, and explains how the analysis is utilized to enhance the EV PLUS' battery control strategy.     

International Space Station power storage upgrade planned

As the Earth-orbit International Space Station (ISS) grows, it needs more power which is generated by solar panels. For periods in which the planet Earth occults sunlight, energy is stored in the biggest set of batteries ever flown in space. Reliability of power is important in a space station because a failure requires costly launch of replacement components. Even greater importance results when astronauts work in the station. A power failure that causes the astronauts to perish would be a very serious event. The first battery-containing "integrated equipment module" was launched November 30, 2000 and installed on port 6 of the International Space Station. Two more modules will be launched by the United States; to be launched in 2004 is the European Space Agency's "attached COLUMBUS APM laboratory," which will have its own power system. Unexpected battery-related events occurred in the integrated equipment module during its first year-and-a-half in orbit. The problems and their solutions were described in papers presented at the 37/sup th/ Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Since the International Space Station carries more battery cells than any other spacecraft, the in-flight performance data from its battery assembly can be useful to engineers who design power supplies for other spacecraft. We, therefore, summarize the battery development process, the adopted design, and an unexpected in-flight battery degradation and its correction.