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Batteries & storage

Find NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI reports about batteries and energy storage. Search electrode materials, lithium-ion batteries and storage systems in indexed report metadata.

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NASA NTRS1991

NASA. Johnson Space Center primary battery applications

The role of the Power Branch/EP5 of JSC in primary battery applications is to support those JSC organizations having direct application responsibility with trade studies, battery selection recommendations, and with development, qualification, and provisioning of primary batteries. Battery subsystem management is provided. Payload hazard report preparation is supported, as is the review and comment of such reports for the JSC Payload Safety Panel, who approves the flight safety for all Orbiter payloads. JSC battery users are provided with safety analysis and test support to achieve safety approval. Finally, it is the responsibility of the Power Branch to define and maintain battery safety requirement documentation for JSC.

Bragg, Bob J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Hubble Space Telescope battery background

The following topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: the MSFC Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Nickel-Hydrogen Battery Contract; HST battery design requirements; HST nickel-hydrogen battery development; HST nickel-hydrogen battery module; HST NiH2 battery module hardware; pressure vessel design; HST NiH2 cell design; offset non-opposing vs. rabbit ear cell; HST NiH2 specified capacity; HST NiH2 battery design; and HST NiH2 module design.

Standlee, Dan↗

NASA NTRS1991

Hubble Space Telescope nickel-hydrogen batteries testing and flight performance

The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has several ongoing tests relating to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). A six-battery test has been running for over 2 years and is producing excellent data on the operation of a simulated HST electrical power system (EPS). A 22-cell 'flight spare' battery (FSB) has also been on test for almost 2 years. Since this battery is comprised of cells identical to those in orbit, it is the best ground-based simulation of the operation of a flight battery. The authors not only discuss the results of the HST Ni-H2 six-battery and FSB tests but also describe the operation of the HST EPS and give an overview of the flight batteries' performance.

Brewer, Jeffrey C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Advances in the design of common pressure vessel nickel hydrogen batteries for aerospace applications

Over 7000 low-earth-orbit (LEO) cycles were demonstrated on a full-size aerospace common pressure vessel (CPV) prototype. The battery demonstrated the capability of the basic CPV design to meet the life and reliability requirements of aerospace missions. Subsequent design modifications have been employed to address the shortcomings of the original design and several new prototypes have been fabricated. These include a 12-cell 125 amp-hour geosynchronous earth-orbit (GEO) battery and a 22-cell 10.5 amp-hour LEO battery. Cells for an 80-cell battery intended to demonstrate the high voltage capability of the CPV design have also been fabricated. In addition, assembly of a 20-cell aircraft starting battery prototype is in progress, and testing of a group of 12-volt, 160 amp-hour terrestrial batteries is continuing.

Zagrodnik, Jeffrey P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Design of a nickel-hydrogen battery simulator for the NASA EOS testbed

The hardware and software design of a nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) battery simulator (BS) with application to the NASA Earth Observation System (EOS) satellite is presented. The battery simulator is developed as a part of a complete testbed for the EOS satellite power system. The battery simulator involves both hardware and software components. The hardware component includes the capability of sourcing and sinking current at a constant programmable voltage. The software component includes the capability of monitoring the battery's ampere-hours (Ah) and programming the battery voltage according to an empirical model of the nickel-hydrogen battery stored in a computer.

Gur, Zvi↗

NASA NTRS1996

Hypervelocity Impact Testing of Nickel Hydrogen Battery Cells

Nickel-Hydrogen (Ni/H2) battery cells have been used on several satellites and are planned for use on the International Space Station. In January 1992, the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) conducted hypervelocity impact testing on Ni/H2 cells to characterize their failure modes. The cell's outer construction was a 24 mil-thick Inconel 718 pressure vessel. A sheet of 1.27 cm thick honeycomb was placed in front of the battery cells during testing to simulate the on-orbit box enclosure. Testing was conducted at the NASA White Sands Test Facility (WSTF). The hypervelocity gun used was a 7.6 mm (0.30 caliber) two-stage light gas gun. Test were performed at speeds of 3, 6, and 7 km/sec using aluminum 2017 spherical particles of either 4.8 or 6.4 mm diameter as the projectile. The battery cells were electrically charged to about 75 percent of capacity, then back-filled with hydrogen gas to 900 psi simulating the full charge condition. High speed film at 10,000 frames/sec was taken of the impacts. Impacts in the dome area (top) and the electrode area (middle) of the battery cells were investigated. Five tests on battery cells were performed. The results revealed that in all of the test conditions investigated, the battery cells simply vented their hydrogen gas and some electrolyte, but did not burst or generate any large debris fragments.

Frate, David T.↗

NASA NTRS1997

The In-Orbit Battery Reconditioning Experience On Board the Orion 1 Spacecraft

The Orion 1 spacecraft is a three-axis stabilized geostationary earth orbiting commercial communications satellite which was launched on November 29, 1994 aboard an Atlas II launch vehicle. The power subsystem is a dual bus, dual battery semi-regulated system with one 78 Ampere-hour nickel-hydrogen battery per bus. The batteries were built and tested by Eagle Picher Industries, Inc., of Joplin, MO and were integrated into the spacecraft by its manufacturer, Matra Marconi Space UK Ltd. This paper presents the results obtained during the first four in-orbit reconditioning cycles and compares the battery performance to ground test data. In addition, the on-station battery management strategy and implementation constraints are described. Battery performance has been nominal throughout each reconditioning cycle and subsequent eclipse season.

Hoover, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1997

NiH2 Battery Reconditioning for LEO Applications

This paper summarizes reasons for and benefits of reconditioning nickel-hydrogen (NiH2) batteries used for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) applications. NiH2 battery cells do not have the classic discharge voltage problems more commonly associated with nickel-cadmium (NiCd) cells. This is due, in part, to use of hydrogen electrodes in place of cadmium electrodes. The nickel electrode, however, does have a similar discharge voltage signature for both cell designs. This can have an impact on LEO applications where peak loads at higher relative depths of discharge can impact operations. Periodic reconditioning provides information which can be used for analyzing long term performance trends to predict usable capacity to a specified voltage level. The reconditioning process described herein involves discharging NiH2 batteries at C/20 rates or less, to an average cell voltage of 1.0 volts or less. Recharge is performed at nominal C/5 rates to specified voltage/temperature (V/T) charge levels selected to restore required capacity with minimal overcharge. Reconditioning is a process of restoring reserve capacity lost on cycling, which is commonly called the memory effect in NiCd cells. This effect is characterized by decreases in the discharge voltage curve with operational life and cycling. The end effect of reconditioning NiH2 cells may be hidden in the versatility, of that design over the NiCd cell design and its associated negative electrode fading problem. The process of deep discharge at lower rates by way of reconditioning tends to redistribute electrolyte and water in the NiH2 cell electrode stack, while improving utilization and charge efficiency. NiH2 battery reconditioning effects on life are considered beneficial and may, in fact. extend life based on NiCd experience. In any case, usable capacity data obtained from reconditioning is required for performance evaluation and trend analysis. Characterization and life tests have provided the historical data base used to determine the need for reconditioning in most battery applications. The following sections briefly describe the background of NiH2 battery reconditioning and testing at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space (LMMS) and other aerospace companies.

Armantrout, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Performance of Nickel-Cadmium Batteries on the GOES 1-K Series of Weather Satellites

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) spacecraft (among others) to support weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, and meteorological research by the National Weather Service (NWS). The latest in the GOES series consists of five spacecraft (originally named GOES 1-M), three of which are in orbit and and two more in development. Each of the five spacecraft carries two Nickel-Cadmium battery, with batteries designed by Space Systems Loral (SS/L) and cells manufactured by Gates Aerospace Batteries (sold to SAFT in 1993). The battery, which consists of 28 cells with a 12 Ah capacity, provides the spacecraft power needs during the ascent phase and during the semi-annual eclipse seasons lasting for approximately 45 days each. The maximum duration eclipses are 72 minutes long which result in a 60 percent depth of discharge (DOD) of the batteries. This paper provides a description of the batteries, reconditioning setup, DOD profile during a typical eclipse season, and flight performance from the three launched spacecraft (now GOES 8, 9, and 10) in orbit.

Singhal, Sat P.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Optimal Battery Charging for Damage Mitigation

Our control philosophy is to charge the NiH2 cell in such a way that the damage incurred during the charging period is minimized, thus extending its cycle life. This requires nonlinear dynamic model of NiH2 cell and a damage rate model. We must do this first. This control philosophy is generally considered damage mitigating control or life-extending control. This presentation covers how NiH2 cells function, electrode behavior, an essentialized model, damage mechanisms for NiH2 batteries, battery continuum damage modeling, and battery life models. The presentation includes graphs and a chart illustrating how charging a NiH2 battery with different voltages and currents affects damages the battery and affects its life. The presentation concludes with diagrams of control system architectures for tracking battery recharging.

Hartley, Tom T.↗

NASA NTRS2004

International Space Station Nickel-Hydrogen Batteries Approached 3-Year On-Orbit Mark

The International Space Station's (ISS) electric power system (EPS) employs nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) batteries as part of its power system to store electrical energy. The batteries are charged during insolation and discharged, providing station power, during eclipse. The batteries are designed to operate at a maximum 35-percent depth of discharge during normal operation. Thirty-eight individual pressure vessel Ni-H2 battery cells are series-connected and packaged in an orbital replacement unit (ORU), and two ORUs are series-connected, using a total of 76 cells, to form one battery. When the ISS is in its assembly-complete form, the electrical power system will have a total of 24 batteries (48 ORUs) on-orbit. The ISS is the first application for low-Earth-orbit cycling of this quantity of series-connected cells.

Dalton, Penni J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Lead-acid battery

A light weight lead-acid battery (30) having a positive terminal (36) and a negative terminal (34) and including one or more cells or grid stacks having a plurality of vertically stacked conductive monoplates (10, 20) with positive active material and negative active material deposited on alternating plates in the cell or grid stack. Electrolyte layers (26, 28) positioned between each monoplate are included to provide a battery cell having four sides which is capable of being electrically charged and discharged. Two vertical positive bus bars (42, 43) are provided on opposite sides of the battery cell for connecting the monoplates (10) with positive active material together in parallel current conducting relation. In addition, two negative bus bars (38, 39) on opposite sides of the battery cell each being adjacent the positive bus bars are provided for connecting the monoplates (20) with negative active material together in parallel current conducting relation. The positive (42, 43) and negative (38, 39) bus bars not only provide a low resistance method for connecting the plurality of conductive monoplates of their respective battery terminals (36, 34) but also provides support and structural strength to the battery cell structure. In addition, horizontal orientation of monoplates (10, 20) is provided in a vertical stacking arrangement to reduce electrolyte stratification and short circuiting due to flaking of positive and negative active materials from the monoplates.

Rowlette, John J.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Ground Handling of Batteries at Test and Launch-site Facilities

Ground handling of flight as well as engineering batteries at test facilities and launch-site facilities is a safety critical process. Test equipment interfacing with the batteries should have the required controls to prevent a hazardous failure of the batteries. Test equipment failures should not induce catastrophic failures on the batteries. Transportation requirements for batteries should also be taken into consideration for safe transportation. This viewgraph presentation includes information on the safe handling of batteries for ground processing at test facilities as well as launch-site facilities.

Jeevarajan, Judith A.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Lithium-ion Battery Charge Methodologies Observed with Portable Electronic Equipment

Commercial lithium-ion batteries in portable electronic equipment has been used by NASA for space applications since 1999. First battery that was certified for flight and flown for Shuttle use was the Canon BP 927 (2.7 Ah) battery pack. Since then, numerous portable equipment with li-ion batteries have been certified and flown and remain on-orbit for crew usage. Laptops (two generations with third one being worked on now) Camcorder Camera PDA 2 versions (second one being li-ion polymer cells) Satellite Phone Due to expense and time, certified batteries are used with different equipment with the help of adapters or by working with the manufacturer of the equipment to build the appropriate battery compartment and connector. Certified and dedicated chargers are available on Shuttle and on the ISS for safe charging.

Jeevarajan, Judith↗

NASA NTRS2018

Design and Development of Advanced Air-Cathodes for Li-Air Battery

NASA's future missions demand high energy density batteries. Current state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) reach the specific energy capacity limits (<250 Wh/kg), thus new electrochemical storage technologies are needed to meet NASA's future mission requirement of >400 Wh/kg. Battery chemistries with higher theoretical energy densities in particular, Li-metal based battery chemistries such as Li-air, are being actively pursued, but there remains a number of issues to be solved. Development of advanced and optimized air cathodes will be crucial for improving capacity retention and cycle life of Li-air battery. The microstructure of carbon substrates and the catalytic oxygen reduction of the air-cathode play critical roles in the electrochemical performance in Li-air batteries. With the development and proper design of air cathodes, the energy efficiency and energy density can be enhanced significantly. In this presentation, the results of advanced permeable air cathodes design with different substrates such as 2D carbon paper or carbon cloth, vs 3D graphene or metal foam, different high surface area carbon materials and incorporation with catalysts on oxygen reduction reactions, different porosity controlling of air cathode as well the additives in electrolyte will be presented. The cycling and rate capability performance of these air-cathodes in the Li-air cells will be discussed as well.

Wu, James J.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Prognostics and Health Monitoring in Li-Ion Batteries and Capacitors Using Physics-Based Modeling Approach

In order to tackle and solve the prediction problem of the lifetime of Li-ion batteries, it is essential to have awareness of the current state and health of the battery pack. To be able to accurately predict the future state of any system, one must possess knowledge of its current and future operations. Using derived models of the current and future system behavior, a model-based prognostics approach can be implemented as a solution to the prediction problem. As more and more autonomous electric vehicles progressively emerge in our daily life, a very critical challenge lies in accurate prediction of remaining useful life of the systems/subsystems. Batteries, power electronics conditioning systems, and motors are integrated to form the powertrain in electric vehicles; one of the most critical systems. In the case of electric aircrafts, computing remaining flying time is critical for safety, since an aircraft that runs out of power (battery charge) while in the air will eventually lose control leading to catastropheThis presentation covers a physics-based modeling approach implemented for case studies in capacitor and battery prognostics which are an integral part of an electrical powertrain system. The general approach of model-based prognostics will be examined as a potential solution for safety critical problems related to battery state of charge and state of health.

Physics based modeling↗

DOE OSTI2020

Protective anode coatings for high energy batteries

Materials for coating a metal anode in a high energy battery, anodes coated with the materials, and batteries incorporating the coated anodes are provided. Also provided are batteries that utilize the materials as electrolytes. The coatings, which are composed of binary, ternary, and higher order metal and/or metalloid oxides, nitrides, fluorides, chlorides, bromides, sulfides, and carbides limit the reactions between the electrolyte and the metal anode in a battery, thereby improving the performance of the battery, relative to a battery that employs a bare anode.

Hegde, Vinay Ishwar↗

DOE OSTI2022

Protective anode coatings for high energy batteries

Hegde, Vinay Ishwar↗