FlexCell: Enabling Rapid Prototyping of Airforce Systems, and Unlocking Design Freedom with Moldable Lithium Battery Cells

Anthro Energy proposesĀa solution to address the safety, energy density, and design flexibility challenges associated with existing LIB configurations. In collaboration with NanoGraf Corporation, Anthro Energy will create a moldable, flat battery cell with high gravimetric energy density (GED), [i.e., >300Wh/Kg]Āfor use in multiple system geometries and curvaturesĀwith plans for initial demonstration in the AgilePod. In this proposed solution, a single flat cell design can be qualified to achieve performance and safety targets over a range of allowable curvatures.Ā This enables an inventory of fully qualified flat dry cells (i.e., without electrolyte) to service any shape that falls within the approved range of curvatures without the cost and time of a complete qualification testing program.Ā Deploying a curved cell from a qualified flat cell design will reflect only the time required to procure tooling and execute the production run.Ā Although some degree of quality assurance testing would be advisable, a pre-qualified flat cell is expected to accelerate the timeline for low-risk deployment of new geometries greatly.ĀAn important benefit of this proposed solution is the ability to create a variety of cell geometries from a generic flat cell design. Anthro envisions demonstrating these moldableĀcells will be critical to maximizing the utilization of small pockets of space in advanced systems, such as the AgilePod used in the B-52, an adaptable and configurable platform that could use a safe, flexible battery solution with high energy density to take advantage ofĀwhatever space is left in the pod.