Validation test of 125 Ah advanced design IPV nickel-hydrogen flight cells

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

OSTI ID:6479124

Smithrick, J J ^[1]; Hall, S W ^[2]

---

1. NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)
2. Naval Weapons Support Center, Crane, IN (United States)

An update of validation test results confirming the advanced design nickel-hydrogen cell is presented. An advanced 125 Ah Individual Pressure Vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen cell was designed. The primary function of the advanced cell is to store and deliver energy for long-term, Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) spacecraft missions. The new features of this design, which are not incorporated in state-of-the-art design cells, are: (1) use of 26% rather than 31% potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte; (2) use of a patented catalyzed wall wick; (3) use of serrated-edge separators to facilitate gaseous oxygen and hydrogen flow within the cell, while still maintaining physical contact with the wall wick for electrolyte management; and (4) use of a floating rather than a fixed stack (state-of-the-art) to accommodate nickel electrode expansion due to charge/discharge cycling. The significant improvements resulting from these innovations are extended cycle life; enhanced thermal, electrolyte, and oxygen management; and accommodation of nickel electrode expansion. Six 125 Ah flight cells based on this design were fabricated by Eagle-Picher. Three of the cells contain all of the advance features (test cells) and three are the same as the test cells except they co not have catalyst on the wall wick (control cells). All six cells are in the process of being evaluated in a LEO cycle life test at the Navel Weapons Support Center, Crane, IN, under a NASA Lewis Research Center contract. The catalyzed wall wick cells have been cycled for over 19,000 cycles with no cell failures in the continuing test. Two of the noncatalyzed wall wick cells failed (cycles 9588 and 13,900).

• OSTI ID: 6479124
• Journal Information: IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 8:5; ISSN 0885-8985; ISSN IAEMEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250901* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Design & Development
250902 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Performance & Testing
250904 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Other Applications
BATTERY SEPARATORS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
LIFETIME
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER SUPPLIES
SERVICE LIFE
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
TESTING
VALIDATION