Study of Stable Cathodes and Electrolytes for High Specific Density Lithium-Air Battery

Future NASA missions require high specific energy battery technologies, greater than 400 Wh/kg. Current NASA missions are using "state-of-the-art" (SOA) Li-ion batteries (LIB), which consist of a metal oxide cathode, a graphite anode and an organic electrolyte. NASA Glenn Research Center is currently studying the physical and electrochemical properties of the anode-electrolyte interface for ionic liquid based Li-air batteries. The voltage-time profiles for Pyr13FSI and Pyr14TFSI ionic liquids electrolytes studies on symmetric cells show low over-potentials and no dendritic lithium morphology. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that these ionic liquids have a wide electrochemical window. As a continuation of this work, sp2 carbon cathode and these low flammability electrolytes were paired and the physical and electrochemical properties were studied in a Li-air battery system under an oxygen environment

X-57 Maxwell Battery from Cell Level to System Level Design and Testing

The X-57 Maxwell flight demonstrator aircraft is an experimental aircraft designed to demonstrate radically improved aircraft efficiency with a 3.5 times aero-propulsive efficiency gain at a "high-speed cruise" flight condition for comparable general aviation aircraft. These gains are enabled by integrating the design of a new, optimized wing and a new electric propulsion system. There are 14 propulsors in all: 12 high lift motor that are only active during takeoff and climb, and 2 larger motors positioned on the wingtips that operate over the entire mission. The innovative electric propulsion system will have as its primary power a Li-ion battery system. Integrating a battery system into this innovative design poses unique challenges that require careful design considerations across the system. The presentation will cover a breakout of X-57 battery specifications, battery design and lessons learned when designing a high voltage battery system to power electrified aircrafts

Special Topic for Nuclear CLT: Kilopower Project

NASA needs nuclear power to achieve a sustainable human presence on Lunar and Mars surfaces. Kilopower II addresses a gap in the NASA Technology Roadmaps (TA-03) for robust, sun-independent power generation in the 1 to 10 kWe range. NASA needs a long-life, low-cost power option for missions where solar is not practical. Future Exploratory Missions require a reliable source of power Lunar/Mars explorations including ISRU propellant production and crew life support and operations, for which there is no off-the-shelf solution. KRUSTY serves as a baseline for on follow-on human missions with multiple stand-alone units that provide redundancy/fault tolerance and flexibility for re-use at multiple sites with power needs of 1 to 10 kWe throughout the solar system (e.g. permanently-shaded lunar craters, subsurface Europa science, deep space electric propulsion, others.

Advanced Power Technology Development Activities for Small Satellite Applications

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has a long history related to the development of advanced power technology for space applications. This expertise covers the breadth of energy generation (photovoltaics, thermal energy conversion, etc.), energy storage (batteries, fuel cell technology, etc.), power management and distribution, and power systems architecture and analysis. Such advanced technology is now being developed for small satellite and cubesat applications and could have a significant impact on the longevity and capabilities of these missions. This presentation will focus on various advanced power technologies being developed and demonstrated by NASA, and their possible application within the small satellite community. Under the 2016 Small Spacecraft Technology Program Smallsat Technology Partnerships Appendix research announcement, NASA selected various University Partnership proposals where academic institutions work in collaboration with NASA Centers to develop advanced technology specifically designed for small satellite applications. Two proposals were selected in the area of advanced power technology. NASA GRC and NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are working with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the University of Miami to develop advanced photovoltaic and energy storage technology. The RIT effort, titled “Demonstration of a Nano-Enabled Space Power System,” utilizes nanomaterial‐enhanced power system components (quantum dot/quantum well solar cells; carbon nanotube (CNT) wire harnesses; CNT‐enhanced lithium‐ion batteries; CNT thermoelectric energy harvesting) to demonstrate the ability of nanomaterial enhanced components to reduce the mass of power system components without sacrificing power availability or performance. To date, RIT has successfully synthesized single-wall carbon nanotube material, integrated these materials in prototype power system components, and tested their performance. The University of Miami work, “Development of a Lightweight CubeSat with Multifunctional Structural Battery Systems,” focuses on the development and fabrication of panels for a lightweight 1U CubeSat (10x10x10 cm.) enhanced with integrated structural battery materials. Overall system performance gains are expected at the satellite level, with improvements to the structural battery components via advancements in materials and structural designs. This approach seeks to strike the optimal multi-functional balance for an overall system benefit at the satellite level. In addition to this work, the development of mediator-enhanced solid state hybrid supercapacitor energy systems is also being investigated. This presentation will provide an overall summary of both in-house and contract/grant activities related to advanced power system technology development at NASA Glenn with direct application to small satellites. The results of recent work at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Miami on very novel approaches to power system components will be discussed in detail

Advanced Power Technology Development Activities for Small Satellite Applications

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has a long history related to the development of advanced power technology for space applications. This expertise covers the breadth of energy generation (photovoltaics, thermal energy conversion, etc.), energy storage (batteries, fuel cell technology, etc.), power management and distribution, and power systems architecture and analysis. Such advanced technology is now being developed for small satellite and cubesat applications and could have a significant impact on the longevity and capabilities of these missions. A presentation during the Pre-Conference Workshop will focus on various advanced power technologies being developed and demonstrated by NASA, and their possible application within the small satellite community