Safe, High-Power Battery for Sonobuoys

The Navy has established a need to update the battery capability of the present Active Source sonobuoy used in Anti Submarine Warfare(ASW) systems. The technology which is currently deployed achieves up to 14, 10 second pulses providing 2400 watts of power at 75 volts. The present battery, a primary lithium/SO2 system, suffers from safety concerns and limited power capability relating to excessive heat generation under high current discharge and the subsequent cell venting which results. As part of Phase I and II SBIR research activities, MaxPower Inc. has developed a high power cell based on a lithium/V2O5 primary chemistry. As a solid state cathode, the vanadium pentoxide chemistry offers a safer alternative to pressurized liquid systems and when employed as the active material in a highly conductive electrode, has demonstrated that a 4500 watt system is possible. Laboratory testing of baseline 5/4 C format cells and 13S modules have shown that rates of 60 amps can be sustained and 80 amps for a 10 second pulse at a 10% duty cycle are achievable without overheating or failure. Furthermore, cells have passed external short circuit testing by sustaining discharge currents up to 400 amps for up to 4 seconds during the test.