Seventh Annual Battery Conference on Applications and Advances
An update of validation test results confirming the breakthrough in low earth orbit (LEO) cycle life of nickel-hydrogen cells containing 26 percent KOH electrolyte is presented. A breakthrough in the LEO cycle life of individual pressure vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen cells has been previously reported. The cycle life of boiler plate cells containing 26 percent potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte was about 40 000 LEO cycles compared to 3500 cycles for cells containing 31 percent KOH. This test was conducted at Hughes Aircraft Company under a NASA Lewis contract. The purpose was to investigate the effect of KOH concentration on cycle life. The cycle regime was a stressful accelerated LEO, which consisted of a 27.5 min charge followed by a 17.5 min discharge (2x normal rate). The depth of discharge (DOD) was 80 percent. The cell temperature was maintained at 23 C. The boiler plate test results are in the process of being validated using flight hardware and real time LEO test at the Naval Weapons Support Center (NWSC), Crane, Indiana under a NASA Lewis Contract. Six 48 Ah Hughes recirculation design IPV nickel-hydrogen flight battery cells are being evaluated. Three of the cells contain 26 percent KOH (test cells), and three contain 31 percent KOH (control cells). They are undergoing real time LEO cycle life testing. The cycle regime is a 90-min LEO orbit consisting of a 54-min charge followed by a 36-min discharge. The depth-of-discharge is 80 percent. The cell temperature is maintained at 10 C. The three 31 percent KOH cells failed (cycles 3729, 4165, and 11355). One of the 26 percent KOH cells failed at cycle 15314. The other two 26 percent KOH cells were cycled for over 16600 cycles during the continuing test.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5918685
- Report Number(s):
- N-92-13483; NASA-TM--105314; E--6667; NAS--1.15:105314; CONF-920151--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
250902* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Performance & Testing
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
SERVICE LIFE
SIMULATION
TESTING