Nickel hydrogen battery cell testing data base: an industry and government survey

Technical Report · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6026860

Badcock, C C; Milden, M J

Both government and industry were surveyed to determine the level of testing of nickel hydrogen (NiH/sub 2/) battery cells and to evaluate the demonstrable capabilities of the couple. Only flight-type cells undergoing ground test were incorporated in the data base; no boilerplate cells or flight batteries were included. Both USAF-design and COMSAT-design cells, as well as a few cells produced by SAFT, were listed. The USAF design is in test in both high and low-earth-orbit simulations, whereas the COMSAT design, intended specifically for high-orbit applications, is being tested predominantly in high orbits. The data from over 400 cells show that the reliability and capability of both designs for high-orbit applications are reasonably established out to ten years in geosynchronous orbit, and to approximately 3000 cycles in other high-orbit applications. However, the data base is weak and incomplete for applications of the USAF cell in low earth orbit. This results from the harsh testing environment to which these cells have been subjected, as well as from various minor design questions that were not resolved when these cells began testing. It must also be pointed out that most of the testing data base is constructed from cells that were developmental in design or manufacture (all cells purchased for a test are used, even if their performance is questionable), as contrasted to a flight program where it can be assumed that many of the failures listed would have been rejected prior either to life test or their use in a flight battery.

• Research Organization: Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (USA). Chemistry and Physics Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6026860
• Report Number(s): AD-A-163017/7/XAB; TR-0086(6524-04)-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250902* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Performance & Testing
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
MANAGEMENT
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES
RELIABILITY
SPACE VEHICLES
SURVEYS
TESTING
VEHICLES