Fuel Cell/Li-ion Battery Hybrid Power System for Space Suits

With the ongoing construction of the international space station (ISS), as well as the ever-growing desire for manned missions to Mars, the duration and complexity of extravehicular activity (EVA) periods will increase. As a result, electrical power systems with higher capacities and broader capabilities necessary for extended EVA missions are urgently needed. Currently, electrical power is supplied by a variety of secondary (rechargeable) batteries, all with relatively low energy densities (30 ? 90 Wh/kg) and capable of fewer charge/discharge cycles than desired. This contributes to a substantial monetary cost. Achieving the increased capacity required for extended EVA periods will be difficult, if not impossible, with secondary batteries. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) Flatstack? Fuel Cell/Li-ion battery hybrid system, utilizing a rechargeable hydrogen storage unit, has both high efficiency and high power?to?weight and ?volume ratios. Lynntech Inc.?s patented PEM Flatstack? Fuel Cell technology is easily integrated with commercially-available hydrogen storage, Li-ion batteries, and power management controllers, making it ideally suited for the ever increasing demands of NASA and other aerospace applications.