A high rate active Li/SOCl2 cell has been designed for use in a 28 volt, 250 amp-hour space battery system. The lithium battery is being considered as a replacement of its heavier silver-zinc counterpart on board the Centaur-G booster rocket wich is used to launch payloads from the space shuttle cargo bay into deep-space. Basically a feasibility study, this development effort is demonstrating the ability of the lithium cell to devliver up to 90 amps safely at power densities of approximately 25 watts per pound. Test data on 4 prototype units is showing an energy density of 85 watt-hours per pound and 9.0 watt-hr/in3. The cells tested typically deliver 280 to 300 amp-hours under ambient temperature test conditions using alternating continuous loads of 90, 55 and 20 amperes throughout life. The cell is hermetically sealed in a welded stainless steel envelope of 103 in3 volume and weighs 10.9 lbs. The cell's internal impedance is a low 3.5 milliohms achieved by means of close electrode spacing, a low resistance internal bussing structure and large 3/8 inch diameter nickel pin terminals. Data from four cells tested are presented to demonstrate the capability of Li/SOCl2 technology for a C/3 discharge rate in active and hermetic cell units. A simple thermal model was developed, which predicts the heat transfer characteristics and cell temperatures as a function of time and current.
250 Ah/90 A active lithium-thionyl chloride cell for Centaur-G application
Aktive Lithium/Thionylchlorid-Batterie mit 250 Ah/90 A fuer den Centaur-G-Einsatz
1986
4 Seiten, 3 Bilder, 2 Tabellen
Conference paper
English
Development of lithium-thionyl chloride batteries for CENTAUR
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