LOW COST MINIATURE ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITOR

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD, TEST, AND DELIVER MINIATURE, HIGH-ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITORS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF FIRING EXPLODING FOIL INITIATORS (EFIS). IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, QUANTIC HAS ACTIVELY EXPLORED AVAILABLE CAPACITORS FOR USE IN EFI APPLICATIONS, AND IS DEVELOPING DESIGNS BASED ON MYLAR, KAPTON AND ALUMINUM, THE GOAL BEING ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PERFORMANCE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN A87-62. A CAPACITOR WRAPPING MACHINE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND BUILT THAT ENABLES PRODUCTION OF THESE CAPACITORS. SINCE QUANTITIES BUILT TO DATE ARE SMALL, EXTENSIVE RELIABILITY TESTING HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THEREFORE, THE PROPOSED EFFORT WOULD BUILD AND DELIVER TO HDL TEN CAPACITORS THAT WILL MEET THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, AND WILL ALSO PROVIDE MORE EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS AND TEST RESULTS TO INDICATE THE RELIABILITY OF THE CAPACITOR FOR THE INTENDED APPLICATION. A KEY ISSUE IN THIS ANALYSIS IS THE PRODUCIBILITY OF A RELIABLE CAPACITOR AT LOW COST, AND THIS IN TURN IMPLIES EXTREME QUALITY CONTROL ON THE FILMS AND FOIL USED. ONCE SUCH A CAPACITOR IS AVAILABLE AT LOW COST, AND COUPLED WITH THE LOW COST DC-DC CONVERTER PROPOSED IN A SEPARATE SBIR, THE ELEMENTS OF THE COMPACT AND INEXPENSIVE ARTILLERY FUZE BASED ON AN EFI SYSTEM BECOMES FEASIBLE. THESE ALL-ELECTRIC, EFI-BASED FUZES PROMISE TO IMPROVE SAFETY, INCREASE RELIABILITY, AND REDUCE COSTS AS COMPARED TO CURRENT MECHANICAL DEVICES.