Next-Generation Power Supply for Reentry Vehicles

ABSTRACT: Quallion LLC"s (Quallion) proposal responds to SBIR Solicitation No. AF103-065 entitled"Next-Generation Power Supply for Reentry Vehicles."Under this solicitation, Phase I calls for identifying"design concepts for highly reliable power supplies that meet both size and environmental requirements for longer shelf life prior to use [and to] evaluate the potential power supplies for viability and reliability in a high-stress, hostile environment in a compact package."In its response to this solicitation, Quallion proposes to leverage a former Phase I MDA SBIR effort to determine the feasibility of utilizing lithium-ion battery technology into a reserve type (decades of storage) battery application. The technology being investigated has shown potential to meet the following required characteristics outlined in the solicitation: - Minimized activation time, in the range of seconds - A stable voltage with ~35V as the nominal maximum - A minimum capacity of~700 to 1000 amp-sec - The ability to operate uninterrupted for tens of minutes Secondary characteristics that the battery should meet are as follows: - Improved energy density (peak specific power>10 kW/kg, specific energy>200 Whr/kg at the battery level) vs. current state of the art - Reduced volume (goal of 164 cm3) - A flexible form factor In this Phase I proposal, Quallion will further refine the process for the manufacturing of a reserve lithium-ion battery based on testing results to date; efforts will include the fabrication of proof of concept test cells. In this effort, Quallion will be primarily analyzing the mechanical design of the test cells and electrolyte salts used during forming and re-activation of the cell. BENEFIT: The initial target markets for this product are largely military in nature. A viable Lithium-ion reserve battery could potentially replace a number of existing legacy battery systems currently utilized in arming and fuzing systems, especially those that utilize missiles. Potential uses for Lithium-ion reserve batteries include: As a substitute for Ag Zn batteries in applications requiring high energy density batteries. As a substitute for primary Li batteries when safety concerns prohibit its use. As a substitute for thermal batteries when long run times>30 min make thermals large and potentially unsafe (high temperature). In addition to these immediate, existing markets for a Lithium-ion reserve battery, there are a number of new potential applications for which this battery could become an enabling technology. These applications would be characterized by performance requirements demanding long storage times, low cycle lives, and high temperature variability.