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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 847 records · Page 47

A new concept for high-cycle-life LEO: Rechargeable MnO2-hydrogen

The nickel-hydrogen secondary battery system is now the one of choice for use in GEO satellites. It offers superior energy density to that of nickel-cadmium, with a lifetime that is at least comparable in terms of both cycle life and overall operating life. While the number of deep cycles required for GEO use is small, LEO satellites with long lifetimes (5 to 10 years) will require secondary battery systems allowing 30,000 to 60,000 useful cycles which are characterized by an approximately 2C charge rate and C average discharge rate. Recent work has shown that birnessite MnO2 doped with bismuth oxide can be cycled at very high rates (6C) over a very large number of cycles (thousands) at depths-of-discharge in the 85 to 90 percent range, based on two electrons, which discharge at the same potential in a flat plateau. The potential is about 0.7 V vs. hydrogen, with a cut-off at 0.6 V. At first sight, this low voltage would seem to be a disadvantage, since the theoretical energy density will be low. However, it permits the use of lightweight materials that are immune from corrosion at the positive. The high utilization and low equivalent weight of the active material, together with the use of teflon-bonded graphite for current collection, result in very light positives, especially when these are compared with those in a derated nickel-hydrogen system. In addition, the weight of the pressure vessel falls somewhat, since the dead volume is lower. Calculations show that a total system will have 2.5 times the Ah capacity of a derated nickel-hydrogen LEO battery, so that the energy density, based on 1.2 V for nickel-hydrogen and 0.7 V for MnO2-hydrogen, will be 45 percent higher for comparable cycling performance.

Appleby, A. John↗

Electrochemical studies on niobium triselenide cathode material for lithium rechargeable cells

The electrochemical behavior of NbSe3 in the battery electrolyte 1.5M LiAsF6/2Me-THF is reported. A detailed study has been carried out using various ac and dc electrochemical techniques to establish the mechanism of intercalation of three equivalents of Li with NbSe3 as well as the rate governing processes in the reduction of NbSe3. An equivalent circuit has been formulated to represent the NbSe3-solution interface. The kinetic parameters for the reduction of NbSe3 were evaluated from the ac and dc measurements. The structural change in NbSe3 on lithiation during initial discharge which results in higher cell voltages and different electrochemical response as compared to virgin NbSe3 was identified to be a loss of crystallographic order.

Ratnakumar, B. V.↗

Bipolar lead acid battery development

A modular bipolar battery configuration is under development at Johnson Control, Inc. (JCI) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The battery design, incorporating proven lead acid electrochemistry, yields a rechargeable, high-power source that is light weight and compact. This configuration offers advantages in power capability, weight, and volume over conventional monopolar batteries and other battery chemistries. The lead acid bipolar battery operates in a sealed, maintenance-free mode allowing for maximum application flexibility. It is ideal for high-voltage and high-power applications.

Eskra, Michael↗

The Gandalf Staff: A Mobile Tool for Lunar Exploration (2nd year of development)

The Gandalf Staff is a mobile tool designed to be a flexible device supporting crewed and uncrewed operations on the lunar surface. The core of the device is a 24v battery with communications and data storage systems. Initial optional components supporting crewed Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) include a LiDAR and 360˚ camera. These provide 3D mapping of the traverse for documentation, and to aid future planning. The mapping also creates outreach opportunities for the public to “stand beside” the astronaut in Virtual Reality (VR). The staff provides external lighting for field site illumination in the south polar region low sun angle environment. Navigation instruments for crew position determination with Lunar Search and Rescue (LunaSAR) are also included. The staff itself can be used as a walking aid or as a splint for Incapacitated Crew Rescue (ICR). As a stand-alone device, the staff operates as a long duration untended science platform collecting environmental data and sending it to a lunar base station. The stand-alone mode requires connection to an auxiliary power source (e.g. solar array) and energy storage system (e.g. battery), so it could become an electrical recharging station. To make rapid progress in the 1st year, and also to demonstrate innovative project management techniques, NASA guided a private industry partner, T STAR, in leading Capstone Engineering student teams at Texas A&M University (TAMU) for proof-of-concept development and testing. These teams developed the power system and demonstrated successful integration of LiDAR, WiFi communications, and external lighting subsystems. Another industry team at Jacobs Technology prototyped a tripod to hold the staff upright. For the 2nd year (FY’22), NASA will again collaborate with partners to prototype enhanced power and lighting concepts. Year 2 will also add new capability for LunaSAR and geophysical science instrumentation using a heat probe. The heat probe is based upon Apollo heritage but modified to measure subsurface volatile ice regimes at the Artemis landing site. Components of the Gandalf Staff can be developed, tested, and deployed independently, or on the integrated staff, rovers, or utility trailers. The project supports crew safety, lunar sample curation, mission science, and public outreach goals of NASA. PLAIN TEST SUMMARY: Gandalf Staff is a 24v battery powered mobile tool for the lunar surface supporting crewed geologic field site exploration, or as a stand-alone science platform. As a tool assisting astronauts conducting field geology, the Gandalf Staff provides external lighting to illuminate shadowed regions on the surface. It also documents the process of collecting rocks and dust samples using a LiDAR (laser range instrument) and cameras. The staff provides a beacon for emergency location of astronauts and augments communications when the astronauts are blocked by large boulders. As a standalone science platform, the Gandalf Staff provides a power system for instruments and sensors to measure the lunar environment over long periods of time. The staff gathers data and sends the results to a lunar base station for analysis.

External Lighting↗

Designing Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Corridors for Heavy Duty Battery Electric Commercial Freight Vehicles

The use of wireless power transfer systems, consisting of inductive electrical coils on the vehicle and the power source may be designed for dynamic operations where the vehicle will absorb energy at highway speeds from transmitting coils in the road. This has the potential to reduce the onboard energy storage requirements for vehicles while enabling significantly longer missions. This paper presents an approach to architecting a dynamic wireless power transfer corridor for heavy duty battery electric commercial freight vehicles. By considering the interplay of roadway power capacity, roadway and vehicle coil coverage, seasonal road traffic loading, freight vehicle class and weight, vehicle mobility energy requirements, on-board battery chemistry, non-electrified roadway vehicle range requirements, grid capacity, substation locations, and variations in electricity costs, we minimize the vehicle TCO by architecting the electrified roadway and the vehicle battery simultaneously. The idea optimizes battery size and chemistry so that the depth of discharge between recharge events and expected life are balanced, thus fully utilizing the energy available throughout the course of the battery system's life. The approach is illustrated by applying it to the I-75 freight corridor, where the framework developed may be expanded and applied to a larger interstate system, expanded regional corridor, or other transportation network.

Sujan, Vivek↗

Tunable Lithium-Ion Transport in Mixed-Halide Argyrodites Li 6–x PS 5–x ClBr x : An Unusual Compositional Space

Argyrodites, with fast lithium-ion conduction, are promising for applications in rechargeable solid-state lithium-ion batteries. In this article, we report a new compositional space of argyrodite superionic conductors, Li 6– x PS 5– x ClBr x [0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8], with a remarkably high ionic conductivity of 24 mS/cm at 25 °C for Li 5.3 PS 4.3 ClBr 0.7 . In addition, the extremely low lithium migration barrier of 0.155 eV makes Li 5.3 PS 4.3 ClBr 0.7 highly promising for low-temperature operation. Average and local structure analyses reveal that bromination ( x > 0) leads to (i) retention of the parent Li 6 PS 5 Cl structure for a wide range of x in Li 6– x PS 5– x ClBr x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.7), (ii) co-occupancy of Cl – , Br – , and S 2– at 4a/4d sites, and (iii) gradually increased Li + -ion dynamics, eventually yielding a “liquid-like” Li-sublattice with a flattened energy landscape when x approaches 0.7. In addition, the diversity of anion species and Li-deficiency in halogen-rich Li 6– x PS 5– x ClBr x induce hypercoordination and coordination entropy for the Li-sublattice, also leading to enhanced Li + -ion transport in Li 6– x PS 5– x ClBr x . This study demonstrates that mixed-anion framework can help stabilize highly conductive structures in a compositional space otherwise unstable with lower anion diversity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Study, selection, and preparation of solid cationic conductors

Crystal chemical principles and transport theory were used to predict structures and specific compounds which might find application as solid electrolytes in rechargeable high energy and high power density batteries operating at temperatures less than 200 C. More than twenty compounds were synthesized or obtained and screened by nuclear magnetic resonance and conductivity. Many were densified by sintering or hot pressing. Encouraging results were obtained for nine of these materials but none have yet been good ionic conductors at low temperature.

Roth, W. L.↗

Study, selection, and preparation of solid cationic conductors

Crystal chemical principles and transport theory have been used to predict structures and specific compounds which might find application as solid electrolytes in rechargeable high energy and high power density batteries operating at temperatures less than 200 C. Structures with 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensional channels were synthesized and screened by nuclear magnetic resonance, dielectric loss, and conductivity. There is significant conductivity at room temperature in some of the materials but none attain a level that is comparable to beta-alumina. Microwave and fast pulse methods were developed to measure conductivity in powders and in small crystals.

Roth, W. L.↗

Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) Experiment

ProSEDS is a secondary (i.e. piggyback) payload on a Delta-11 GPS 8 mission scheduled for launch in August 2000. It will test the feasibility of generating generate electrodynamic thrust without propellant using a 5 kilometer conducting wire (tether). The ProSEDS obtains thrust as the tether cuts across the magnetic field, a voltage is induced across the wire. Electrons are attracted to the positively based far end of the wire. Electrons flow downward through the conductive tether. Earth's magnetic field exerts a drag force on the current in the tether segments, that is mechanically transferred via the wire to the stage. The primary objective for the ProSEDs mission is to demonstrate that a significant, measurable electrodynamic thrust through a tether in space. The primary mission will last one day, as the primary battery assures at least three orbits of data will be collected, the remaining power will be provided by the secondary battery, which uses tether generated power to recharge. The extended mission begins using the power provided through the tether, and wil terminate when a system ceases to function; (i.e., either degradation of the tether,through Atomic Oxygen contact, a micrometeoroid or other debris impact, or another malfunction.) The technology has many potential applications. Amongst the applications, which are reviewed in detail, are: (1) satellite deorbit, (2) reboost of the International Space Station, (3) propellantless reusable Orbit Transfer Vehicles, (4) Propulsion and power generation for future Jovian missions.

Johnson, Les↗

Nickel-hydrogen bipolar battery systems

Nickel-hydrogen cells are currently being manufactured on a semi-experimental basis. Rechargeable nickel-hydrogen systems are described that more closely resemble a fuel cell system than a traditional nickel-cadmium battery pack. This has been stimulated by the currently emerging requirements related to large manned and unmanned low earth orbit applications. The resultant nickel-hydrogen battery system should have a number of features that would lead to improved reliability, reduced costs as well as superior energy density and cycle lives as compared to battery systems constructed from the current state-of-the-art nickel-hydrogen individual pressure vessel cells.

Thaller, L. H.↗

Crane Cell Testing Support of NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center: An Update

The objectives presented in this viewgraph presentation include: 1) Verify the quality and reliability of aerospace battery cells and batteries for NASA flight programs; 2) Disseminate the data to develop a plan for in-orbit battery management and to design a cell/battery for future NASA spacecraft; and 3) Establish a cell test data base for rechargeable cell/batteries. In summary: quality EPT Ni-H2, EPT Super NiCd and SAFT NiCd cells have been demonstrated for aerospace applications; the data has been provided to NASA Centers and other agencies for their use and application; developed plan and used in NASA in-orbit battery management. Database on rechargeable cell/batteries is now available for customer use.

Strawn, Mike↗

Lithium-Ion Battery Program Status

The objective of this program is to develop rechargeable Li-ion cells for future NASA missions. Applications that would benefit from this project are: new millenium spacecraft; rovers; landers; astronaut equipment; and planetary orbiters. The approach of this program is: select electrode materials and electrolytes; identify failure modes and mechanisms and enhance cycle life; demonstrate Li-ion cell technology with liquid electrolyte; select candidate polymer electrolytes for Li-ion polymer cells; and develop Li-ion polymer cell technology.

Surampudi, S.↗

Assessment of Lithium-based Battery Electrolytes Developed under the NASA PERS Program

Recently, NASA formally completed the Polymer Energy Rechargeable System (PERS) Program, which was established in 2000 in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to support the development of polymer-based, lithium-based cell chemistries and battery technologies to address the next generation of aerospace applications and mission needs. The goal of this program was to ultimately develop an advanced, space-qualified battery technology, which embodied a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) and complementary components, with improved performance characteristics that would address future aerospace battery requirements. Programmatically, the PERS initiative exploited both interagency collaborations to address common technology and engineering issues and the active participation of academia and private industry. The initial program phases focused on R&D activities to address the critical technical issues and challenges at the cell level. A variety of cell and polymeric electrolyte concepts were pursued as part of the development efforts undertaken at numerous governmental, industrial and academic laboratories. Numerous candidate electrolyte materials were developed, synthesized and optimized for evaluation. Utilizing the component screening facility and the "standardized" test procedures developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center, electrochemical screening and performance evaluations of promising candidate materials were completed. This overview summarizes test results for a variety of candidate electrolyte materials that were developed under the PERS Program. Electrolyte properties are contrasted and compared to the original project goals, and the strengths and weaknesses of the electrolyte chemistries are discussed. Limited cycling data for full-cells using lithium metal and vanadium oxide electrodes are also presented. Based on measured electrolyte properties, the projected performance characteristics and temperature limitations of batteries utilizing the advanced electrolytes and components have been estimated. Limitations for the achievement of practical performance levels are also discussed, as well as needs for future research and development.

Bennett, William R.↗

Improved Stability and Cyclability of Ceramic Solid Electrolyte by Coating Polymer

Rechargeable all-solid-state lithium (Li) metal batteries show better safety and energy density compared to commercial Li-ion batteries using liquid electrolyte. As the key component of Li metal batteries, ceramic solid-state electrolyte has attracted great interest because of its high ion conductivity and great potential in interfacing with Li metal. Ceramic electrolyte has a more stable interface with Li metal than liquid electrolyte, but chemical reaction and Li dendrite growth at the electrolyte/Li interface are still significant, which causes device degradation and failure by cycling of Li plating and stripping. Unlike ceramic electrolyte, polymer electrolyte has a relatively stable interface with Li metal and better mechanical flexibility. Therefore, we introduced a polymer electrolyte coating to protect the ceramic electrolyte from direct contact with Li metal. The galvanotactic cycling Li plating/striping data on the devices with (without) the coating illustrates increased (decreased) overall conductivity and cyclability of the test cell by the cycling. Nanometer-scale ionic-transport imaging, based on atomic force microscopy, shows that cycling degrades the ceramic-only electrolyte by partially blocking ionic transport in areas; in contrast, cycling on the polymer-coated electrolyte improves ionic conductivity. Compared with the ceramic-only electrolyte, this novel polymer electrolyte coating on ceramic electrolyte shows less degradation when in contact with Li metal.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Accelerated testing for synchronous orbits

Degradation of batteries during synchronous orbits is analyzed. Discharge and recharge rates are evaluated. The functional relationship between charge rate and degradation is mathematically determined.

Mcdermott, P.↗

Reversible Intercalation of Fluoride-Anion Receptor Complexes in Graphite

We have demonstrated a route to reversibly intercalate fluoride-anion receptor complexes in graphite via a nonaqueous electrochemical process. This approach may find application for a rechargeable lithium-fluoride dual-ion intercalating battery with high specific energy. The cell chemistry presented here uses graphite cathodes with LiF dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent through the aid of anion receptors. Cells have been demonstrated with reversible cathode specific capacity of approximately 80 mAh/g at discharge plateaus of upward of 4.8 V, with graphite staging of the intercalant observed via in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction during charging. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and B-11 nuclear magnetic resonance studies suggest that cointercalation of the anion receptor with the fluoride occurs during charging, which likely limits the cathode specific capacity. The anion receptor type dictates the extent of graphite fluorination, and must be further optimized to realize high theoretical fluorination levels. To find these optimal anion receptors, we have designed an ab initio calculations-based scheme aimed at identifying receptors with favorable fluoride binding and release properties.

electrolytes↗