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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11

Management and Performance of APPLE Battery in High Temperature Environment

India's first experimental communication satellite, APPLE, carried a 12 AH Ni-Cd battery for supplying power during eclipse. Failure to deploy one of the two solar panels resulted in the battery operating in a high temperature environment, around 40 C. This also resulted in the battery being used in diurnal cycles rather than just half yearly eclipse seasons. The management and performance of the battery during its life of two years are described. An attempt to identify the probable degradation mechanisms is also made.

Suresh, M. S.↗

A fuel cell energy storage system concept for the Space Station Freedom Extravehicular Mobility Unit

An update is given on work to design and build a Fuel Cell Energy Storage System (FCESS) bench-tested unit for the Space Station Freedom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Fueled by oxygen and hydride-stored hydrogen, the FCESS is being considered as an alternative to the EMU zinc-silver oxide battery. Superior cycle life and quick recharge are the main attributes of FCESS. The design and performance of a nonventing, 28 V, 34 Ahr system with 7 amp rating are discussed.

Adlhart, Otto J.↗

EMU evolution

Evolution of Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) technology is necessary to support the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) requirements of the Space Station Freedom Program and those of the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). Key qualities supporting long-duration missions include technologies that are highly reliable, durable, minimize logistics requirements, and are in-flight maintainable and serviceable. While these qualities are common to SSF and SEI EVA, development paths will differ where specific mission requirements impose different constraints. Development of reusable, regenerative technologies is necessary to minimize the logistics penalties. Increased battery discharge/recharge cycle life and usable wet life, compact high current density fuel cells, reusable CO2 absorbing media, and thermal radiation coupled with venting heat rejection technologies are just some methods of reducing consumables. Development must strive for durable, reliable systems that are in-flight serviceable and maintainable, which are vital for missions where logistics capabilities are extremely constrained. Key areas include suit components (e.g., gloves, boots, and cooling garments), and life support hardware such as fans, pumps, instrumentation, and emergency O2 systems. Higher pressure suits will reduce EVA prebreathe requirements and pre-EVA operations overall. Many challenges of higher pressure suits have been addressed by on-going development. Emphasis on glove development is necessary to provide low fatigue, dexterous glove mobility at higher suit pressures. Minimum impact hooks and scars which support an advanced SSF EMU have been identified. These accommodations permit upgrades that support servicing of low volume, high pressure oxygen systems, and hydrogen technologies such as fuel cell, and venting hydrogen heat rejection systems.

Rouen, M.↗

Ampere-Hour Meter For Rechargeable Battery

Low-power analog/digital electronic circuit meters discharge of storage battery in ampere-hours. By metering discharge, one obtains indication of state of charge of battery and avoids unnecessary recharging, maintaining capacity of battery and prolonging life. Because of its small size and low power consumption, useful in such applications as portable video cameras, communication equipment on boats, portable audio equipment, and portable medical equipment.

Tripp, John S.↗

Packet Controller For Wireless Headset

Packet-message controller implements communications protocol of network of wireless headsets. Designed for headset application, readily adapted to other uses; slight modification enables controller to implement Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) X.25 protocol, giving far-reaching applications in telecommunications. Circuit converts continuous voice signals into digital packets of data and vice versa. Operates in master or slave mode. Controller reduced to single complementary metal oxide/semiconductor integrated-circuit chip. Occupies minimal space in headset and consumes little power, extending life of headset battery.

Christensen, Kurt K.↗

Flywheels Upgraded for Systems Research

With the advent of high-strength composite materials and microelectronics, flywheels are becoming attractive as a means of storing electrical energy. In addition to the high energy density that flywheels provide, other advantages over conventional electrochemical batteries include long life, high reliability, high efficiency, greater operational flexibility, and higher depths of discharge. High pulse energy is another capability that flywheels can provide. These attributes are favorable for satellites as well as terrestrial energy storage applications. In addition to energy storage for satellites, the several flywheels operating concurrently can provide attitude control, thus combine two functions into one system. This translates into significant weight savings. The NASA Glenn Research Center is involved in the development of this technology for space and terrestrial applications. Glenn is well suited for this research because of its world-class expertise in power electronics design, rotor dynamics, composite material research, magnetic bearings, and motor design and control. Several Glenn organizations are working together on this program. The Structural Mechanics and Dynamics Branch is providing magnetic bearing, controls, and mechanical engineering skills. It is working with the Electrical Systems Development Branch, which has expertise in motors and generators, controls, and avionics systems. Facility support is being provided by the Space Electronic Test Engineering Branch, and the program is being managed by the Space Flight Project Branch. NASA is funding an Aerospace Flywheel Technology Development Program to design, fabricate, and test the Attitude Control/Energy Storage Experiment (ACESE). Two flywheels will be integrated onto a single power bus and run simultaneously to demonstrate a combined energy storage and 1-degree-of-freedom momentum control system. An algorithm that independently regulates direct-current bus voltage and net torque output will be experimentally demonstrated.

Jansen, Ralph H.↗

Magnum(R) NiCd advanced nickel-cadmium battery cells

The Power Systems Department of Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, had developed a long-life advanced Nickel-Cadmium battery cell for aerospace applications. This battery cell, known as the MAGNUM NiCd cell, offers significant life expectancy increase over traditional NiCd battery cells. In addition, it offers significant cost reduction from the Super NiCd battery cell (developed by Hughes Aircraft Company and manufactured by the Power Systems Department of Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.).

Scoles, Darren↗

Development and testing of a high cycle life 30 A-h sealed AgO-Zn battery

A two-phase program was initiated to investigate design parameters and technology to develop an improved AgO-Zn battery. The basic performance goal was 100 charge/discharge cycles (22 h/2 h) at 50 percent depth of discharge following a six-month period of charged stand at room temperature. Phase 1, cell evaluation, involved testing 70 cells in five-cell groups. The major design variables were active material ratios, electrolyte concentrations, separator systems, and negative plate shape. Phase 1 testing showed that cycle life could be improved 10 percent to 20 percent by using greater ratios of zinc to silver oxide and higher electrolyte concentrations. Wedge-shaped negatives increased cycle life by nearly 100 percent. Phase 2 battery evaluation, which was initiated before the Phase 1 results were known completely, involved evaluation of six designs as 19-cell batteries. Only one battery exceeded 100 cycles following nine months charged stand.

Bogner, R. S.↗

Improved Specific Energy Ni-h2 Cell

Design optimization activities which have evolved and validated the necessary technology to produce Ni-H2 battery cells exhibiting a specific energy of 75-80 Whr/Kg (energy density approximately 73 Whr/L are summarized. Final design validation is currently underway with the production of battery cells for qualification and life testing. The INTELSAT type Ni-H2 battery cell design has been chosen for expository purposes. However, it should be recognized portions of the improved technology could be applied to the Air Force type Ni-H2 battery cell design with equal benefit.

Miller, L.↗

Life Extension Activities for the Hubble Space Telescope

With the cancellation of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Servicing Mission 4 (SM4), the HST Project will face numerous challenges to keep the Telescope operating during the remainder of the decade. As part of the SM4, the HST Project had planned to install various upgrades to the Telescope including the installation of new batteries and new rate integrating gyros. Without these upgrades, reliability analysis indicates that the spacecraft will lose the capability to conduct science operations later this decade. The HST team will be severely challenged to maximize the Telescope's remaining operational lifetime, while still trying to maximize - its science output and quality. Two of the biggest areas of concern are the age and condition of the batteries and gyros. Together they offer the largest potential extension in Telescope lifetime and present the biggest challenges to the HST team. The six Ni-H batteries on HST are the original batteries from launch. With fourteen years of operational life, these batteries have collectively lasted longer than any other comparable mission. Yet as with all batteries, their capacity has been declining. Engineers are examining various methods to prolong the life of these mission critical batteries, and retard the rate of degradation. This paper will focus on these and other efforts to prolong the life of the HST, thus enabling it to remain a world-class observatory for as long as possible.

Walyus, Keith D.↗

NiCd battery reliability for shuttle serviced spacecraft

Data from life-cycle testing of 22-cell NiCd batteries designed for shuttle-service spacecrafts are analyzed, first by averaging battery cycle lives as a function of temperature and depth of discharge, and then by calculating single cell failure and survival probabilities as a function of temperature, depth of discharge, and number of operating cycles. The single cell data are used to calculate battery survival probabilities. A mathematical failure model which is a function of the quantity of charge through the battery and the temperature is characterized, suggesting a predictive capability for accurate estimation of energy storage subsystem life and performance of accelerated tests. The failure mechanism described is apparently independent of most charge-discharge parameters and common to most cell sizes.

Eliason, J.↗

NASA Battery Working Group - 2007-2008: Battery Task Summary Report

This presentation provides a summary of the 2007-2008 NASA Battery Working Group efforts completed in support of the NASA Engineering Safety Center (NESC). The effort covered a series of pro-active tasks that address the following: Binding Procurements -- guidelines related to requirements for the battery system that should be considered at the time of contract award Wet Life of Ni-H2 Batteries -- issues/strategies for effective storage and impact of long-term storage on performance and life Generic Guidelines for Lithium-ion Safety, Handling and Qualification -- Standardized approaches developed and risk assessments (1) Lithium-ion Performance Assessment -- survey of manufacturers and capabilities to meet mission needs. Guidelines document generated (2) Conditions Required for using Pouch Cells in Aerospace Missions -- focus on corrosion, thermal excursions and long-term performance issues. Document defining requirements to maintain performance and life (3) High Voltage Risk Assessment -- focus on safety and abuse tolerance of battery module assemblies. Recommendations of features required for safe implementation (4) Procedure for Determination of Safe Charge Rates -- evaluation of various cell chemistries and recommendation of safe operating regimes for specific cell designs

Manzo, Michelle↗

Electric Car

NASA's Lewis Research Center undertook research toward a practical, economical battery with higher energy density. Borrowing from space satellite battery technology, Lewis came up with a nickel-zinc battery that promises longer life and twice the range of the lead-acid counterpart. Lewis researchers fabricated a prototype battery and installed it in an Otis P-500 electric utility van, using only the battery space already available and allowing battery weight equal to that of the va's conventional lead-acid battery

Source record↗

The importance of batteries in unmanned missions

The planetary program has historically used batteries to supply peak power needs for mission specific applications. Any time that additional power has been required in order to meet peak power demands or those applications where only limited amounts of power were required, batteries have always been used. Up until the mid to late 70's they have performed their task admirably. Recently, however, we have all become aware of the growing problem of developing reliable NiCd batteries for long mission and high cycle life applications. Here, the role rechargeable batteries will play for future planetary and earth observing spacecraft is discussed. In conclusion, NiCds have been and will continue to be the mainstay of the power system engineers tools for peak power production. Recent experience has tarnished its once sterling reputation. However, the industry has stood up to this challenge and implemented wide ranging plans to rectify the situation. These efforts should be applauded and supported as new designs and materials become available. In addition, project managers must become aware of their responsibility to test their batteries and insure quality and mission operating characteristics. Without this teamwork, the role of NiCds in the future will diminish, and other batteries, not as optimum for high performance applications (low mass and volume) will take their place.

Klein, John W.↗

75 Ah and 10 boilerplate nickel-hydrogen battery designs and test results

The results of initial characterization testing of 75 Ah actively cooled bipolar battery designs and 10 boilerplate nickel-hydrogen battery designs are presented. The results demonstrate the extended cycle life capability of the Ah batteries and the high capacity utilizations at various discharge rates of the nickel-hydrogen batteries.

Daman, M. E.↗