Lightweight Solar-Regenerative Energy Storage for High Altitude Airships

SPEC (Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation) will design a lightweight solar-regenerative energy storage system with 100 kW output power and specific energy density of 2 kW-hr/kg or greater based on low-weight fuel storage and delivery technology and a lightweight, compact MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) fuel cell. SPEC fuel cell technology incorporates a unique H2O management system that recovers liquid water directly from the cell resulting in improved performance at lower system weight. A system trade study will be performed to optimize system specific energy density and determine the optimal lightweight system configuration including the possible use of a non-regenerative system component to meet peak power demands during windstorms. During Phase 1, SPEC will identify currently available components that meet system requirements and identify those components that require further development to meet program goals. The specific energy density and total system weight will be modeled and quantified using analysis. The optimal operating points for the photo-voltaic, energy discharge, electrolyzer, and non-regenerative sub-systems will be identified as a function of the diurnal cycle and power delivery requirements.