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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 73 records · Page 4

The characteristics of sealed nickel-cadmium cells during voltage reversal

A mechanism which allows a cell voltage reversal in a nickel cadmium battery are discussed. The effects of reconditioning and the characteristics of Ni-Cd cells during voltage reversal at low overdischarge rates are outlined. Graphs are presented for: (1) hydrogen pressure decay-effect of state of charge (open circuit stand); (2) hydrogen pressure increase during overdischarge; (3) hydrogen pressure decay-effect of temperature (cells terminals connected through resistors); (4) cell, positive and negative electrode voltage during reversal when reconditioning a 13 cell-24-Ah battery pack through a 40 Omega resistor; (5) pressure discharge current and recombination current during voltage reversal when reconditioning a 13 cell-24-Ah battery pack through a 40 Omega resistor; (6) theoretical hydrogen gas pressure if there were no recombination; and (7) effect of hydrogen pressure on recombination rate during overcharge.

Ritterman, P. F.↗

Software control program for 25 kW breadboard testing

A data acquisition software program developed to operate in conjunction with the automated control system of the 25 kW PM Electric Power System Breadboard Test facility is described. The proram provides limited interactive control of the breadboard test while acquiring data and monitoring parameters, allowing unattended continuous operation. The breadboard test facility has two positions for operating separate configurations. The main variable in each test setup is the high voltage Ni-Cd battery.

Pajak, J. A.↗

Characterization of the physico-chemical properties of polymeric materials for aerospace flight

Factors contributing to the final failure of Ni-Cd batteries are listed. A differential thermal analyzer was used to study several positive and negative battery electrodes. The negative plates show a very large peak (endotherm) between 245 C and 250C. The second endotherm occurs at 300C indicating the decomposition of Cd(OH)2. In positive plates, a first weak endotherm occurs at 100C, which indicates loss of H2O from Ni(OH)2(H2O)n molecules. A second large endotherm occurs in the range of 290C to 300C, indicating the decomposition of Ni(OH2) to NiO and H2O. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine nickel, cobalt, cadmium, and potassium content in battery electrolytes and electrodes. Results are presented in tables.

Rock, M.↗

Fitting voltage curves with an electrochemically derived equation

Previous work is refined and extended to describe the discharge curve of Ni-Cd cells. Several models are discussed which are based on chronopotentiometry theory and on a thermodynamic approach. Emphasis is placed on improvement of the fit for the initial portion of discharge. Equations are presented which improve the fit for all regions of the discharge curve.

Spritzer, M. S.↗

Ni-H2 batteries for communications satellites

Ni-H2 batteries are just now being put into service. All of the remaining INTELSAT V satellites (approximately 10), starting with the next to be launched in early 1983, will use Ni-H2 batteries. In addition, the next generation of INTELSAT VI satellites, and probably INTELSAT VII and VIII, will use Ni-H2 batteries. This means that international telecommunications satellites will use Ni-H2 batteries through the 1990's. It is projected that the lifetime of these batteries will be greater than 10 years at deep depth-of-discharge (DOD), and that the battery subsystem will no longer limit satellite lifetime or communications capability during eclipse periods. This paper discusses the advantages of the Ni-H2 battery, as compared with the Ni-Cd battery, for telecommunications satellites.

Dunlop, J. D.↗

Canadian experience with nickel cadmium systems

The Defense Research Establishment Ottawa (DREO) has been studying the nickel-cadmium system, both vented and sealed, since the early 1950's. Reasonable success has been achieved in a wide variety of applications covering: military vehicle use under Arctic conditions; high performance military aircraft; manpacked communications sets; remote standby power and small portable instrumentation. Early studies on the vented system for high rate vehicle and aircraft cranking applications proved useful in later studies on the sealed NiCd system. This was especially true in the areas of plate loading and electrolyte composition. To achieve high rate cranking currents of 20C to 30C, it was necessary to have light to moderate plate loadings, a large reactive surface area, and electrolyte of optimum conductivity. DREO undertook some fundamental studies to understand the system from the inside out rather than test cells from the outside and then analyze their components. The conclusions of these studies were incorporated into the Procurement Specification for Ni-Cd cells ISISA Spec S615-P-2. A brief comment will be made on the choice of cell design and how some of the factors of cell manufacture could affect cell performance.

Lackner, J. L.↗

A high voltage electrical power system for low Earth orbit applications

The results of testing a high voltage electrical power system (EPS) breadboard using high voltage power processing equipment developed at Marshall Space Flight Center and Ni-Cd batteries are discussed. These test results are used to extrapolate to an efficient, reliable, high capacity EPS for near term low Earth orbit, high power applications. EPS efficiencies, figures of merit, and battery reliability with a battery protection and reconditioning circuit are presented.

Lanier, J. R., Jr.↗

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.↗

Special Test Methods for Batteries

Various methods are described for measuring heat generation in primary and secondary batteries as well as the specific heat of batteries and cell thermal conductance. Problems associated with determining heat generation in large batteries are examined. Special attention is given to monitoring temperature gradients in nickel cadmium cells, the use of auxiliary electrodes for conducting tests on battery charge control, evaluating the linear sweep of current from charge to discharge, and determining zero current voltage. The fast transient behavior of batteries in the microsecond range, and the electrical conductance of nickel sinters in the thickness direction are also considered. Mechanical problems experienced in the vibration of Ni-Cd batteries and tests to simulate cyclic fatigue of the steel table connecting the plates to the comb are considered. Methods of defining the distribution of forces when cells are compressed during battery packaging are also explored.

Gross, S.↗

Degradation in nickel-cadmium cells studied by impedance measurements

The impedance characteristics of various Ni-Cd cells were measured at different times during accelerated charge/discharge trials to identify characteristics indicative of cell lifetime and cycle history. The tests were performed as part of an attempt to develop nondestructive testing techniques to detect flaws in batteries installed on low-earth orbit satellites. Trials consisted of 60 min charging and 40 min discharging, covering 20, 30, and 40 C temperatures, 20, 35, and 50 percent depth of discharge, and the average cycle life. No correlations were derived between impedance characteristics and cycle life. Other possible techniques for evaluating predictors of battery performance are discussed.

Haak, R.↗

Nickel-cadmium Battery Cell Reversal from Resistive Network Effects

During the individual cell short-down procedures often used for storing or reconditioning nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, it is possible for significant reversal of the lowest capacity cells to occur. The reversal is caused by the finite resistance of the common current-carrying leads in the resistive network that is generally used during short-down. A model is developed to evaluate the extent of such a reversal in any specific battery, and the model is verified by means of data from the short-down of a f-cell, 3.5-Ah battery. Computer simulations of short-down on a variety of battery configurations indicate the desirability of controlling capacity imbalances arising from cell configuration and battery management, limiting variability in the short-down resistors, minimizing lead resistances, and optimizing lead configurations.

Zimmerman, A. H.↗

Grace DAKASEP alkaline battery separator

The Grace DAKASEP separator was originally developed as a wicking layer for nickel-zinc alkaline batteries. The DAKASEP is a filled non-woven separator which is flexible and heat sealable. Through modification of formulation and processing variables, products with a variety of properties can be produced. Variations of DAKASEP were tested in Ni-H2, Ni-Zn, Ni-Cd, and primary alkaline batteries with good results. The properties of DAKASEP which are optimized for Hg-Zn primary batteries are shown in tabular form. This separator has high tensile strength, 12 micron average pore size, relatively low porosity at 46-48 percent, and consequently moderately high resistivity. Versions were produced with greater than 70 percent porosity and resistivities in 33 wt percent KOH as low as 3 ohm cm. Performance data for Hg-Zn E-1 size cells containing DAKASEP with the properties shown in tabular form, are more reproducible than data obtained with a competitive polypropylene non-woven separator. In addition, utilization of active material is in general considerably improved.

Giovannoni, R. T.↗

The ingestible thermal monitoring system

A thermal monitoring system for measuring body core temperatures was developed that contains an ingestible pill which is both commandable and rechargeable, and which uses magnetic induction for command and telemetry as well as for recharging. The pill electronics consist of a battery power source, a crystal-controlled oscillator that drives a small air coil, and a command detection circuit. The resulting 262-kHz magnetilc field can be easily detected from a distance of 1 m. The pill oscillator functions at voltages less than 1 V, supplied by a single Ni-Cd battery, which must be recharged after 72 h of continuous transmission. The pill can be recalibrated periodically to compensate for long-term drift.

Cutchis, Protagoras N.↗

Nickel cadmium battery performance simulation - A means toward optimum design in satellite applications

It is noted that electrochemically based cell models can advance state-of-the-art battery prediction by allowing variations in the parameters that constitute wear-out and predict end-of-life performance. This modeling method is used as the foundation for the simulation of Ni-Cd battery performance. This simulation tool consists of a comprehensive computer model to be developed which would predict the voltage behavior of a battery under mission conditions.

Clark, K.↗

Energy storage considerations for a robotic Mars surface sampler

The characteristics of various energy storage systems (including Ni-Cd, Ni-H2, Ag-Zn, Li-XS, Na-S, PbSO4, and regenerative fuel cell systems) considered for a robotic Mars surface sampler are reviewed. It is concluded that the bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery and the sodium-sulfur battery are both viable candidates as storage systems for the rover's Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. For a photovoltaic storage system, the regenerative fuel cell and the bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery are the primary candidates.

O'Donnell, P. M.↗

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 70s they have performed their task admirably. Recently, a growing problem of developing reliable Ni-Cd batteries for long mission and high cycle life applications has been identified. This problem and the role rechargeable batteries will play for future planetary and earth-observing spacecraft, are discussed.

Klein, John W.↗

A mathematical model of a sealed nickel-cadmium battery

A mathematical model for the charge and discharge of a sealed nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery is presented. The model is used to study the effect of transport properties of the electrolyte and kinetic parameters of the electrode reactions on the cell performance during the charge and discharge period. The model can also be used to demonstrate the changes of cell performance during cycling. Some comparisons between model predictions and experimental results indicate that the model predictions appear to fit the experimental data well. Sensitivity analyses illustrate that the sealed nickel-cadmium battery operates under activation control. It is also shown theoretically that oxygen generated on the positive electrode during charge is reduced electrochemically on the negative electrode.

Fan, Deyuan↗

Mathematical modeling of a nickel-cadmium battery

Extensions are presented for a mathematical model of an Ni-CD cell (Fan and White, 1991). These extensions consist of intercalation thermodynamics for the nickel electrode and oxygen generation and reduction reactions during charge and overcharge. The simulated results indicate that intercalation may be important in the nickel electrode and that including the oxygen reactions provides a means of predicting the efficiency of the cell on charge and discharge.

Fan, Deyuan↗