Seven candidate power systems for the sensor of a space-based laser radar system are identified, and their performance and operating characteristics are briefly described. The systems are the NiCd battery, NiH2 battery, NaS battery, LiSO2-Cl2 battery, LiAl-FeS2 battery, H2/O2 fuel cell, and an inertial flywheel generator. The systems encompass a current or projected specific energy range of from 15.0 to 100 Wh/lb. To arrive at a meaningful basis for comparison and to aid in system selection, a figure-of-merit (FOM) was established. Because the FOM is somewhat qualitative in content, scoring weighting factors were utilized to further quantify the results. The NiH2 battery and the NaS battery received the highest FOM rankings. Following next in order were the H2/O2 fuel cell and the inertial flywheel generator. The NiCd and lithium thermal batteries received the lowest ratings. These results are of a preliminary nature. Extension of these analyses to include reliability and cost factors is recommended.


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    Title :

    Space power alternatives for laser radar sensor system


    Additional title:

    Alternativen für die Stromversorgung von Laser-Radar-Sensor-Systemen im All


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1990


    Size :

    6 Seiten



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English