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Smithrick, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Smithrick, J. J..

29 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Effect of positive pulse charge waveforms on cycle life of nickel-zinc cells

Five amp-hour nickel-zinc cells were life cycled to evaluate four different charge methods. Three of the four waveforms investigated were 120 Hz full wave rectified sinusoidal (FWRS), 120 Hz silicon controlled rectified (SCR), and 1 kHz square wave (SW). The fourth, a constant current method, was used as a baseline of comparison. Three sealed Ni-Zn cells connected in series were cycled. Each series string was charged at an average c/20 rate, and discharged at a c/2.5 rate to a 75% rated depth.

Smithrick, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Rapid, efficient charging of lead-acid and nickel-zinc traction cells

Lead-acid and nickel-zinc traction cells were rapidly and efficiently charged using a high rate tapered direct current (HRTDC) charge method which could possibly be used for on-the-road service recharge of electric vehicles. The HRTDC method takes advantage of initial high cell charge acceptance and uses cell gassing rate and temperature as an indicator of charging efficiency. On the average, in these preliminary tests, 300 amp-hour nickel-zinc traction cells were given a HRTDC (initial current 500 amps, final current 100 amps) to 78 percent of rated amp-hour capacity within 53 minutes at an amp-hour efficiency of 92 percent and an energy efficiency of 52 percent. Three hundred amp-hour lead-acid traction cells were charged to 69 percent of rated amp-hour capacity within 46 minutes at an amp-hour efficiency of 91 percent with an energy efficiency of 64 percent. In order to find ways to further decrease the recharge times, the effect of periodically (0 to 400 Hz) pulse discharging cells during a constant current charging process (94% duty cycle) was investigated. Preliminary data indicate no significant effect of this type of pulse discharging during charge on charge acceptance of lead-acid or nickel-zinc cells.

Smithrick, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Rapid, efficient charging of lead-acid and nickel-zinc traction cells

Lead-acid and nickel-zinc traction cells were rapidly and efficiently charged using a high rate taped dc charge (HRTDC) method which could possibly be used for on-the-road service recharge of electric vehicles. The HRTDC method takes advantage of initial high cell charge acceptance and uses cell gassing rate and temperature as an indicator of charging efficiency. On the average, 300 amp-hour nickel-zinc traction cells were given a HRTDC to 78% of rated amp-hour capacity within 53 minutes at an amp-hour efficiency of 92% and an energy efficiency of 52%. Three-hundred amp-hour lead-acid traction cells were charged to 69% of rated amp-hour capacity within 46 minutes at an amp-hour efficiency of 91% with an energy efficiency of 64%.

Smithrick, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Effect of load voltage on thin film cuprous sulfide: Cadmium sulfide solar cells thermally cycled in a simulated space environment

Thin-film Cu2S-CdS solar cells, loaded at various fixed values of load resistance, were thermally cycled for 1429 cycles in a simulated space environment. Cell performance was measured under controlled conditions in air before and after thermal cycling. These data were used to determine the effect of load voltage on cell performance. The performance of the cells was relatively independent of load voltage up to about 0.39 volt. This appears to be a threshold voltage, beyond which there was a significant loss in cell performance. Fortunately, this threshold voltage appears to be sufficiently higher than the maximum power voltage of 0.33 volt so that it can be avoided in most applications.

Smithrick, J. J.↗