Solid-solid phase change materials as a space-suit battery thermal storage medium

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7122035

Son, C H

High cell temperatures are the primary safety problem in the Lithium-Bromine Complex space-suit battery. The exthormic heat from the chemical reactions could raise the temperature of the lithium electrode above its melting temperature. Solid-solid phase change materials were used as a thermal storage medium to lower this battery operation temperature by using their phase change characteristics. Neopentyl glycol (C{sub 5}H{sub 12}O{sub 2}) was selected for this application because of its favorable phase change effects and the suitable phase change transition temperature. A numerical and experimental study was conducted to determine and evaluate thermal storage properties of solid-solid phase change materials appropriate for space-suit battery pack. The primary efforts were directed toward lowering battery operation temperature by improving the thermal conductivity of neopentyl glycol. The composite structure of neopentyl glycol and aluminum matrix representing the latent heat effect and high thermal conductivity respectively, successfully lowered battery operation temperature. The important thermal storage properties examined in this study were: thermal conductivity, latent heat of transformation, specific heat, and sublimation characteristics.

• Research Organization: South Carolina Univ., Columbia, SC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7122035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
ALCOHOLS
ALUMINIUM COMPLEXES
BROMINE COMPLEXES
COMPLEXES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
GLYCOLS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM COMPLEXES
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICS
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLID STATE PHYSICS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES