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.     

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