Highlights of NASA's technology program in batteries for space applications are presented. Program elements include: (1) advanced ambient temperature alkaline secondaries, which are primarily nickel-cadmium cells in batteries; (2) a toroidal nickel cadmium secondaries with multi-kilowatt-hour storage capacity primarily for lower orbital applications; (3) ambient temperature lithium batteries, both primary and secondaries, primarily silver hydrogen and high-capacity nickel hydrogen

Riebling, R. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

OVERVIEW OF NASA  BATTERY  TECHNOLOGY  PROGRAM 
R. Riebling 
NASA  Headquarters 
I  am  going to  be  highlighting  OAST’s  technology  program  in  batteries  for  space  applications. 
I will be  presenting  highlights  only,  not  only  because  of  the  time  constraints,  but also because  many 
subsequent  speakers will be  presenting  details  of  the  program  elements,  and  because  there will be  an 
article  in  the  special  January  issue  of  the  “Advanced  Battery  Technology  Newsletter,’’  which will 
discuss  the  mass  of  OAST  battery  technology  programs in greater  detail. 
The  electrochemistry  program in OAST  includes  not  only  batteries  but  also  fuel cells and 
electrolysis  technology.  Because  this is a  battery  workshop,  I am going to  be  restricting  my  remarks 
today  only  to  the  battery  portion  of  the  program. 
And  finally, I will  be  discussing only  the  technology  work  that  we are sponsoring.  The  flight 
experience will be  discussed  on  Wednesday. 
The OAST battery  technology  program is funded  at  roughly $2  million  a  year,  and in FY 80 
that level of  funding will be  continued.  Of  that  amount,  approximately  two-thirds is managed  and 
spent  by  the  Lewis  Research  Center in Cleveland;  and  one-third,  by  the  Jet  Propulsion  Laboratory 
in Pasadena,  California.  Of  that  same  total of $2  million,  approximately  one-half is in-house  work, 
and  the  remaining  half is contracting  with  industry  and is awarded as grants  to  universities. 
(Figure 1 - 1 ) 
This  vugraph  indicates  some  of  the  program  elements or  what is  in the  program.  First,  we 
have  advanced  ambient  temperature  alkaline  secondaries,  which  are  primarily  nickel-cadmium cells 
i n  batteries. 
Then, we have secondaries with multi-kilowatt-hour storage capacity primarily for lower 
orbital  applications  that we see in  the  future.  Those  are  mainly  toroidal  nickel  cadmium,  and  there 
is a  fuel cell electrolizer  program  going  on  at  the  Johnson  Space  Center.  But,  since  that is not  a  bat- 
tery  program,  it will not be  discussed  today. 
The  program  also  includes  ambient  temperature  lithium  batteries,  both  primary  and  second- 
ary,  high-energy  density,  higher  than  ambient  temperature  secondaries.  Finally,  metal-gas  second- 
aries,  primarily silver hydrogen,  and  high-capacity  nickel  hydrogen  are  included in the  program. 
(Figure 1-2) 
The general objectives of all these  elements of the  technology  program  are to  increase  the use- 
ful  energy  density; t o  increase  the  storage  capacity,  primarily  for  lower  orbital  applications;  to 
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19800012337 2020-03-21T18:20:17+00:00Z
extend  the  useful  life;  to  extend  the  cycle  capability  for  secondaries,  of  course;  and  to  always 
improve  the  reliability  and  the  safety  of  these devices. 
(Figure 1-3) 
This  chart  summarizes  some  of  our  near-term  specific  objectives.  In  the  interests of time,  I 
am not going to  cover  every  cell  in  this  matrix,  but  this  chart will be  in  the  proceedings. 
By the  near  term we mean  the  mid-I  980s  for  the  most  part. By 1983  to  1985, we would 
hope  to  have  brought  the  technology  along  to  the  state  where  electrochemical  systems  would  have 
these  particular  characteristics  for  our  applications. 
The  first  column  on  this  chart  indicates  what  those  applications  are. As you  can  see,  it  spans 
the  spectrum  of all the regions of  space in which  we  are  interested  from  low-Earth  orbit all the  way 
out  to  geosynchronous  planetary  orbiters,  landers,  and  probes.  Each of those  has  its  own  special 
requirements in terms  of  capacity  and  energy  density. 
The  second  column  indicates  the  major  electrochemical  system  which is  being  advanced  for 
those  applications.  You  can  see  that we have  some  nickel-cadmium  work  going  on, as well as some 
silver hydrogen  sodium  chalcogenide  and several lithium  systems. 
Among these specific objectives, with the exception of the low-Earth orbiters where our 
major  objective is the  100-ampere  hour  capacity,  the  primary  near-term  objective  for all of  the  other 
application  systems  are  the  cell  energy  density  and  the  battery  life.  The  numbers in those  columns 
represent  our  near-tern  objectives. 
For  completion, we  have  indicated  cycle  life  and  corresponding  depth  of  discharge  to  add 
some  meaning  to  those  numbers. 
(Figure 1-4) 
In  the  remainder  of  my  presentation,  I  want  to  cover  just  some  of  the  highlights  of  these  dif- 
ferent  program  elements.  In  advanced  alkaline  secondaries,  two  primary  objectives  are  to  develop  a 
fundamental understanding of nickel cadmium, cell degradation, and failure mechanisms and to  
embody  these in some  kind of a  useful,  reliable,  predictive  model  that  users  can  actually  employ. 
Also, we  would  like to  achieve  longer  life,  i.e.,  greater  than 900  or  1000 cycles,  greater  than 
10 years,  and  get  the  specific  energy  up  greater  than 26 watt-hours  per  kilogram  with  the  nickel- 
cadmium  system. 
An approach t o  this  is  improvements in separator  technology,  technology  of  electrodes,  and 
reconditioning  procedures.  Most of that  you will hear  about  subsequently. 
There  has  been  a  good  deal of progress  going  on in this  entire  program,  but in limited  time,  it 
is  very  difficult to  convey all of  that  progress.  Fortunately,  a  number  of  the  speakers  who will follow 
me  over  the  next several days will be  highlighting  their  progress in a  lot  more  detail. 
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Recent  progress in nickel  cadmium,  however,  includes  the  attainment of superior  hydrogen 
recombination  rates  under reversal conditions.  It  has  been  demonstrated  by Lewis,  PRW,  in C/2 
discharge  rates  and  some  new  experimental cell design,  which I understand will be  discussed  on 
Wednesday. 
Also, a  failure  model  for  nickel-cadmium cells has  been  developed  and  partially  validated  at 
JPL,  and  that will be  discussed  on  Thursday. 
(Figure 1-5) 
The  objective  of  multi-kilowatt-hour  storage  technology is t o  establish  the  feasibility  of  a 
greater  than  100-ampere  hour,  greater  than  5-year  life,  and  relatively  low-cost  nickel-cadmium cell
of a  toroidal  configuration  relatively  soon,  by  the  end  of  this fiscal year.  Then,  depending  on  how 
feasible  it  looks,  further  development  may  be  undertaken. 
Also, NASAlOAST is interested  in  a  preliminary  evaluation  of  nickel-hydrogen  batteries 
somewhere in the  range  of  65  watt-hours  per  kilogram  for  high  capacity,  lower  orbit  applications. 
While most  of  that  work is being  conducted  by  the  Air  Force  for  tracking,  there  is a small  in-house 
program  going  on  at  Lewis  to  take  a  closer  look  at  that  technology  for  our  applications. 
Recent  progress in this  area  includes  the  design  of  a  toroidal cell and  investigation  of  fabrica- 
tion, and  sealing techniques  have  been  initiated  by  Lewis. 
(Figure 1-6) 
Lithium  systems-Work is  going on  both in primaries  and  secondaries.  One  objective is to  
demonstrate  a  safe 300 or  more  watt-hour  per  kilogram  primary  battery  for  probe  applications  with 
a  5-year  storage  life  at relatively high drain  conditions  by  the  end  of  FY 84. 
Another  objective is to  demonstrate  a  220-watt-hour  per  kilogram  secondary  battery  for  lander 
applications  by  the  end of FY 82. It  may  turn  out  that  a  target of 150  watt-hours  per  kilogram 
might  be  more  reasonable.  That is under  consideration. 
The  approach in the  lithium  program  is,  first  of  all,  to gain a  fundamental  understanding  of 
the  physical  and  chemical  processes  which  are  unique  to  lithium-based  systems;  also, t o  develop  and 
characterize  new  or  improved  electrodes,  electrolytes,  and  materials;  and  third,  to  develop  a  NASA 
in-house  capability  to  fabricate  prototype  cells  and  to  write  design  specifications. 
In the  past, KASA’s  lithium  technology  program  has  been,  in  my  estimation,  overly  beholden 
to  contractors  and  their  capabilities. We now feel  NASA would  benefit  from  having  a  stronger  in- 
house  capability in lithium  systems.  Consequently,  the  lithium  program  has  been  reoriented  along 
those  lines  within  the  past  6  months. 
Recently,  lithium  anode  conducting  fdm  modeling  has  been  going  on  at  JPL.  Lithium  hexa- 
fluoroarsenate  has  been  selected  as  a  primary  candidate  electrolyte  for  study in secondary cells. 
These will be  discussed  in  more  detail  by several speakers  this  afternoon. 
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(Figure 1-7) 
In the high energy  density  secondary  systems,  we  have an objective  of  establishing  the feasi- 
bility of 5-year  again  graded in 200 watt-hour  per  kilogram  energy  density  secondary  batteries  by 
the  end of FY 82.  This  work is being  camed  out  at  the Lewis  Research  Center.  The  approach 
centers  about  the use of  liquid  sodium  anodes,  thin  beta  alumina  solid  electrolytes,  and  solid  transi- 
tion  metal,  chalcogenides  for reversible intercalation of sodium  ions. 
Recent  progress  has  been  a  demonstration of the  feasibility  irreversibly  intercalating  up t o  
two  equivalents  of  sodium  ion in vanadium  disulfide  and  NiPS,  at  high  temperatures. 
(Figure 1-8) 
Finally, in the  metal gas secondaries,  we  want to  complete  both  our  preliminary  evaluation  of 
a  77-watt-hour  per  kilogram  50-ampere  hour silver hydrogen cell this fiscal year  and  that  evaluation 
of nickel-hydrogen batteries which I discussed earlier. This subject overlaps that of the multi- 
kilowatt-hour  energy  storage  program  element. 
Recent  progress  at  the  Lewis  Research  Center  includes  demonstration  of  a  50-ampere  hour 
80-watt-hour  per kilogram silver hydrogen cell which  has  completed 600 cycles. Also, in more basic 
research  at  that  center,  certain silver electrodes  have  demonstrated 1500 cycles in single cell tests. 
Before  concluding, I should  point  out  that  NASA is also advancing  the  technology  of  second- 
ary  nickel-zinc  systems  for  terrestrial  applications  under  its  technology  utilization  program.  This  is 
work  which is not  directly  sponsored  by  OAST.  NASA  is  also  responsible'for several electrochemi- 
cal technology  programs or  projects  which  are  being  carried  out  for  the  Department  of  Energy. 
These  generally  center  about  batteries  for  electric  and  hybrid  vehicles  and  energy  storage  for 
utility  power  generation.  But  our  emphasis,  or  at  least  the  emphasis in my  presentation,  has  been 
on  space  technology, so I won't  discuss  those  any  further  here. 
DISCUSSION 
LEAR: I would  like to  ask you  about  the silver hydrogen  tests  that  were  conducted a t  NASA 
Lewis.  What sort  of  criteria  were  you  testing  with  the silver hydrogen cells? 
RIEBLING:  I  regret  I  cannot give you  very  many  details  of  that,  but  there is a  representative 
from  Lewis  in the  audience. I would  like  him to  identify  himself  and  hopefully  respond  to  that 
question. 
SMITHRICK: The question that was asked on the silver hydrogen cycle life data, as I 
remember  it, was  what  were  the  specific  test  conditions  for  the  cycle  life? 
Well, it  was  an  accelerated  synchronous  orbit  test,  an  8-hour  cycle,  consisting  of 6.8 hours of 
charge  and 1.2 hours  of  discharge.  The  discharge  and  charge  were  both  at  constant  currents,  and 
8 
the  depth of discharge  was 75  percent.  If  the  voltage  should  drop  below 0.9 volt,  that is defined as 
the  end  of life. 
The  data  presented  was  for  a  50-ampere  hour cell. There is also  some  data  for  a  35-ampere 
hour cell. The  35-ampere  hour cell  was cycled  for  over 960 cycles,  and  the  test is  still being  contin- 
ued. 
LEAR: What  was the  constant  current  rate  that  you  had  during  the  charge  and  the  discharge? 
SMITHRICK: The cell that was  presented  was  a  50-ampere  hour cell. So, the  current is 50- 
ampere  hours  divided  by 1.2 hours,  whatever  that  number  comes  out  to.  You  know  for  a 75- 
percent  depth  of  discharge,  I  don’t  have  a  calculator  with  me,  but  that is the way  we  figure it out .  
Of course,  the  same  thing  would  be  for  the  charge. 
You take  50-ampere  hours  and  multiply  it  by  0.75  and  that  comes  out  to-well,  whatever  it 
comes  out  to,  and  just divide that. 
RIEBLING: I should  say  that  the silver hydrogen  work is not  a large or  major  element  of 
our  technology  program.  This  work is nearly  complete  and is being  phased out.  The  primary  reason 
is that  the  metal gas cells are  being  developed  by  other agencies, and  probably  the  nickel-hydrogen 
systems  are  the  ones  that will likely  find  themselves in use in the  near  term, so the silver hydrogen is 
being  relinquished to  the  back  burner  for a while. 
9 
PROGRAM  ELEMENTS  GENERAL OBJECTIVES 
A9VANCE  PRIMARY  AHD  SECONDARY  SPACE  BATTERY  TECHNOLOGY  TO INCREASE: 
ADVANCED  AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE ALKALINE SECONDARIES 
MULTI-KWH CAPACITY SECONDARIES 
AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE LITHIUM PRIMARIES AND  SECONDARIES 
HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY, ABOVE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE  SECONDARIES 
METAL-GAS  ECONDARIES 
Figure 1-1 
IIEAR-TERM SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 
I ENERGY DENSITY 
8 STORAGE CAPACITY (LEO) 
8 USEFUL L I F E  
@ CYCLE CAPABILITY (SECONDARIES) 
I RELIABILITY AND SAFETY 
Figure 1-2 
ADVANCED ALKALINE SECONDARIES 
I 
PRIMARY I ELECTROCHER- 1 CAPPCITY I CELL ElERGY j BATTERY ' CYCLE 1 DOD 
APPL I C,lT IO3 Cr\L SYSTEM "c-. - . 
LOW EARTH HI-CD I 100 
ORBITERS j (TORROIDAL) ' 3q 1 
5 I 25,030 20 ' 
~. - - "+ 
1 
~ 
GEOSYNCHRONOUS 
ORBITERS ~ ~~ ~ ~- 1 AG-H2 
~ 50 ~ 66 10 I 1,000 ! 75 
' NAKHALCO- I 300 5-10 1,000 75 "f 
1 5-10 220 . "~~ i ~ I 10 500 65 
I 
I 
I 5-10 1 220 
I 
10 5,000 35 
I 
POTENTIAL  APPLICATIONS 
I GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBITERS 
I NEAR-TERM  PLANETARY ORBITERS 
OBJECTIVES 
I DEVELOP  FUNDAMENTAL  UNDERSTANDING OF NICD CELL DEGRADATION 
I ACHIEVE LONG L I F E  0900  CYCLES,710 YR)  AND HIGH  SPECIFIC 
AND FAILURE MECHANISMS,  EMBODY I N  PREDICTIVE MODEL 
ENEqGY C26 WHR/KG) WITH  NlCD  BATTERIES THROUGH IMPROVEIIENTS 
I N  SEPARATORS,  ELECTRODES,  AND RECONDITIONIHG PROCEDURES 
RECENT  PROGRESS 
I SUPERIOR H2 RECOMBINATION ATSOV, DEMONSTRATED BY LERC/TRW 
I FAILURE MODEL  FOR  NICD CELLS DEVELOPED  AND PARTIALLY 
AT C/2 OVERDISCHARGE  RATES I N  NEW EXPERIMENTAL CELL DESIGNS 
MULTI-KW-HR  STORAGE  TECHNOLOGY LITHIUM PRIMARY AND  SECONDARY  SYSTEMS 
POTENTIAL A P P L I C .  
I LOW-EARTH  ORBITERS 
OBJECTIVES 
I DETERIlINE FEASIBILITY OF7100 A-HR, 75-YR  LIFE, *S~O/W-HR 
TORROIDAL NICD CELL BY EOFY'IO 
I COMPLETE PRELIMII!ARY EVALUATION OF N I - H ~  BATTERIES FOR 
HIGH-CAPACITY LOW-EARTH ORBIT  APPLICATIONS I N  FY'EO 
RECENT  PROGRESS 
I DESIGN OF TORROIDAL  CELL, INVESTIGATION OF FABRICATION 
AND SEALING TECHNIQUES INITIATED BY  LERC 
Figure 1-5 
HIGH ENERGY DENSITY SECOIIDARY  SYSTEMS 
E T L A L  APPL I CAT 101s 
I SEOSYRCHROHOUS,  PLANETARY  ORBITERS 
OBJECTIVE 
I ESTABLISH  FEASIBILITY 3F 5-YR, 2200 WH/KG SECONDARY 
BATTERY  BY EOFY'E2 
- RECENT  PROGRESS 
# FEASIBILITY OF REVERSIBLY IIITERCALATIHG UP  TO 2 EQUIVALENTS 
OF NA' IN VS2ARD  :I1PS3  AT 13OoC. DEH3NSIRAIED BY LERCIEIC. 
- 
POTENTIAL APPLlCATlOllS 
I PRIMARY - PLANETARY  PROBES 
I SECONDARY - PL4NETARY  ORBITERS,  LANDERS 
OBJECTIVES 
4 DEflONSTRATE  SAFE 300 WHR/KG PRIMARY  PROBE BATTERIES 
WITH 5-YR  STORRGE L I F E  AT C / 1  BY END OF FYI84 
I DEMONSTRATE 220 WHR/KG SECONDARY  LANDER BATTERIES BY 
END OF FY'82 
RECENT  PROGRESS  (PROGRAM  REORIENTED LAST QTR OF FY'79) 
I LITHIUM ANODE  CONDUCTING FILM MODELING INITIATED AT JPL 
I LIASF6 SELECTED  AS CANDIDATE  ELECTROLYTE  FOR  STUDY I N  
SECONDARY  CELLS 
Figure 1-6 
KETAL-GAS  SECONDARIES 
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 
I GEOSYNCHRONOUS,  LOU-EARTH ORBITERS 
OBJECTIVES 
4 COMPLETE PRELlMltlARY EVALUATIOM OF 77 WH/KG, 50 AH 
A G - H ~  CELLS I N  FY'80 
COMPLETE PRELIMlllARY EVALUATIOPI OF N I - H ~  BATTERIES FOR 
HIGH-CAPACITY LOW-EARTH ORBIT  APPLICATIONS IN  FY '80  
RECENT  PROGRESS 
I 50 AH, 80 WH/KG A G - H ~  CELL HAS  COMPLETED 600 CYCLES 
AT LERC 
Figure 1-7 Figure 1-8 


Overview of NASA battery technology program

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