Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “NiCd”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Performance and Safety Characteristics of Sanyo NiCd Cells

NiCd batteries are widely used for high drain applications like power tools and also in other portable equipment like cameras, PCs, etc. NASA and Dreamtime Holdings, Inc. worked together to have the capability of a High Definition TV (HDTV) on the ISS and Space Shuttle. The Sanyo HD camcorder was used on the STS 105 fight in July, 2001 . The camcorder used two versions of a NiCd battery. One was a cOlnmercial off-the-shelf Sony BP90 battery pack that had Sanyo NiCd D cells. The other was a modified battery (FBP-90) made by Frezzi Energy, which also had the same Sanyo NiCd D cells. The battery has 10 NiCd D cells in series to form a 12 V pack with 5.0 Ah capacity. Our current study involved the perforn1ance and abuse tests on the Sanyo NiCd 5.0 Ah D cells. The best combination of charge/discharge current rate is 0.3C for charge and 1/2e for discharge within 200 cycles. No significant changes in capacity were observed in 200 cycles. The cell also showed capability of 5C (25.0A) high rate discharge. In overcharge and overdischarge tests, all tested cells passed the tests without venting. In imbalance tests, the battery pack could be charged and discharged only at relatively low current. At charge current of 1.0A or less, the imbalanced cells in the battery pack displayed relatively high temperatures during charge or discharge. The cells functioned normally during internal short and no mishap occurred during external short. Cells passed exposure tests at 80 C and no leakage till 150 C during heat-tovent tests.

Deng, Yi↗
NASA NTRS1991

Evaluation of advanced NiCd cell designs for NASA applications

It is pointed out that an advanced NiCd cell based on a Hughes Aircraft Company design appears to show the most promise in the current generation of aerospace NiCd batteries. The cell was designed to ameliorate the major failure mechanisms of NiCd cells. This required cell design and process modifications and the use of alternate materials for some of the components (the most notable one being the substitution of zirconia cloth for nylon as the separator material). Recent reports in the literature indicate that the improvement in the performance of this technology appears to have been verified for GEO (geosynchronous)-type applications. The authors report on initial results of the evaluation of the advanced NiCd technology for applications of interest to NASA. They summarize the characteristics of cells based on the advanced technology from the time of manufacture to their current cell cycling status.

Di Stefano, S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Orbital management and design considerations for NiCd satellite power systems

Several recently manufactured 50 and 60 ampere hour aerospace NiCd battery cell lots, produced by Gates Aerospace Batteries, are prone to premature on orbit performance degradation. The failure mechanism is cadmium migration, and the consequent development of soft shorts. A Martin Marietta Astronautics satellite program instituted an orbital management strategy for a set of these batteries that reduced the rate of degradation and brought the system to stable operation. This strategy involves: (1) minimizing the accumulated battery overcharge; (2) regular discharge exercises; and (3) periodic battery reconditioning. Because of changes in the NiCd cell manufacturing process, the actual performance of subsequent lots of NiCd cells is open to question. Future NiCd based power system designs should therefore allow for fine control of charge parameters, and an on orbit battery reconditioning capability. To minimize risk, it is much better to perform a full life test to qualify the cells before launch, rather than in parallel with orbital operations. If there are any changes in the manufacturing process of cells, it is extremely important to maintain very strong cognizance of secondary subcontractors, recognizing that the cell and battery manufacturing discipline is easily atrophied.

Tausch, Benjamin J., II↗
NASA NTRS2002

Super NiCd Open-Circuit Storage and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Life Test Evaluation

This presentation discusses Air Force tests performed on super NiCd cells to measure their performance under conditions simulating Low Earth Orbit (LEO) conditions. Super NiCd cells offer potential advantages over existing NiCd cell designs including advanced cell design with improved separator material and electrode making processes, but handling and storage requires active charging. These tests conclude that the super NiCd cells support generic Air Force qualifications for conventional LEO missions (up to five years duration) and that handling and storage may not actually require active charging as previously assumed. Topics covered include: Test Plan, Initial Characterization Tests, Open-Circuit Storage Tests, and post storage capacities.

Baer, Jean Marie↗
NASA NTRS1995

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↗
NASA NTRS2003

Long Term Performance Retention Test Using High Power COTS NiCd and NiMH Cells

This slide presentation reviews the tests and results for performance retention of high powered commercial off the shelf (COTS) NiCd, and NiMH cells. Electromechanical actuators for space flight requires short duration high power batteries. The concern is that NiCd battery designs demonstrate an unfavorable power degradation after long periods of inactivity. Cycling can recover some of the decay, but this reduces the readiness that these batteries must have. Two 5-cell SubC stick test batteries ere chosen using NiCd and NiMH were tested and then the differences for charge maintenance were compared.

Hall, Dan↗
NASA NTRS1996

Selecting NiCd flight cells for the NOAA/TIROS program

Data from Standard NiCd battery cell vendors is found to be useful for identifying defective cells. A method has been developed to screen cells for flight battery use and identify prime candidate cells for life-cycle testing. Specific points from the cell vendor's data, which are related to fundamentals of NiCd cell chemistry (primarily oxygen recombination) and electrical performance (voltage and capacity), when sampled at key points, are found to be related to long-term LEO life-cycle performance.

Toft, Mark R.↗
NASA NTRS2002

270V Battery Using COTS NiCd Cells For Manned Spacecraft

A high power (>35 kW at 215V), low capacity (5.2 Ah), and compact (45L) NiCd battery was developed for the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV), which is an experimental version of the lifeboat for the International Space Station (ISS). A simple design and innovative approach using a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) NiCd cell design enabled the design, qualification, and production of 4 flight units of this highly reliable and safe spacecraft battery to be achieved rapidly (2 years) and cheaply ($13M).

Darcy, Eric↗
NASA NTRS1972

NiCd battery electrodes

The objective of this research program was to develop and evaluate electrodes for a negative limited nickel-cadmium cell and to prove its feasibility. The program consisted of three phases: (1) the development of cadmium electrodes with high hydrogen overvoltage characteristics, (2) the testing of positive and negative plates, and (3) the fabrication and testing of complete negative limited NiCd cells. The following electrode structures were manufactured and their physical and electrochemical characteristics were evaluated: (1) silver sinter-based Cd electrodes, (2) Teflon-bonded Cd electrodes, (3) electrodeposited Cd sponge, and (4) Cd-sinter structures. All cadmium electrode structures showed a sharp increase in potential at the end of charge, with the advent of hydrogen evolution occurring at approximately -1.3 V versus Hg/HgO. The hydrogen advent potentials on pure cadmium structures were 50 to 70 mV more cathodic than those of their silver-containing counterparts.

Holleck, G.↗
NASA NTRS1975

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 NTRS1982

Update: Viking Lander NiCd batteries. Year six

The performance of NiCd batteries on the Viking Mars landers is discussed. During evaluation, three of the four batteries were maintained in the discharged state. Battery charge regimes and close-together, deep-discharge, reconditioning cycles to retard degradation of batteries are discussed. The effect of elevated temperatures during Martian summer on battery performance were also considered. Tabulated data for average battery capacity as a function of time are given. A design uplink to allow more frequent, greater depth of discharge reconditioning cycles was proposed.

Britting, A. O., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1982

New NiCd Battery Standard and Guide

The preparation and contents guides designed to provide specifications and standards for NiCd batteries for space missions are discussed. Requirements were established to assure proper in orbit performance and compliance with handling procedures to minimize degradation. The guides were designed to benefit both industries and the military. The surveys include: reasons given for and against the use of flight batteries in systems tests; use of rechargeable batteries during space vehicle testing; and military standards and specifications.

Milden, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Results of deep DoD life cycle tests at high rates on 12Ah NiCd cells

A 12 Ah Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) Low Earth Orbit (LEO) life cycle test that induced 47 percent more deep Depth Of Discharge cycles by mixing them with shallow DOD cycles is discussed. The test showed how aggressive recharging to a C/D ratio of 1.15 nearly doubled performance over cycling below a C/D of 1.11.

Panneton, Paul E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

NiCd cell reliability in the mission environment

This paper summarizes an effort by Gates Aerospace Batteries (GAB) and the Reliability Analysis Center (RAC) to analyze survivability data for both General Electric and GAB NiCd cells utilized in various spacecraft. For simplicity sake, all mission environments are described as either low Earth orbital (LEO) or geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). 'Extreme value statistical methods' are applied to this database because of the longevity of the numerous missions while encountering relatively few failures. Every attempt was made to include all known instances of cell-induced-failures of the battery and to exclude battery-induced-failures of the cell. While this distinction may be somewhat limited due to availability of in-flight data, we have accepted the learned opinion of the specific customer contacts to ensure integrity of the common databases. This paper advances the preliminary analysis reported upon at the 1991 NASA Battery Workshop. That prior analysis was concerned with an estimated 278 million cell-hours of operation encompassing 183 satellites. The paper also cited 'no reported failures to date.' This analysis reports on 428 million cell hours of operation emcompassing 212 satellites. This analysis also reports on seven 'cell-induced-failures.'

Denson, William K.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Design and Performance of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Super NiCd Batteries

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint mission between NASA and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan. The observatory is designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall and the associated release of energy that helps to power the global atmospheric circulation shaping both weather and climate around the globe. The spacecraft was launched from Japan on November 27,1997 via the NASDA H-2 launch vehicle. The TRMM Power Subsystem is a Peak Power Tracking system that can support the maximum TRMM load of 815 watts at the end of its three year life. The Power Subsystem consists of two 50 Ampere Hour Super NiCd batteries, Gallium Arsenide Solar Array and the Power System Electronics. This paper describes the TRMM Power Subsystem, battery design, cell and battery ground test performance, and in-orbit battery operations and performance.

Ahmad, Anisa J.↗