Calculations show that battery can deliver up to 35 watt-hours per pound, conventional lead-acid batteries deliver 10 to 15 watt-hours per pound. Weight reduction is due to replacement of solid lead-peroxide electrodes with metal current-collector screen, catalyst, and Teflon membrane

Boshers, W. A.

Britz, W. J.

Kaufmann, J. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

AC Power 
Vav, 
SW,
ssor 
lye 
lator 
January 1975	 B74-10267 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Lead-Oxygen Closed-Loop Battery System 
A recently-proposed, lead-oxygen closed-loop bat-
tery system has a feature that makes it more practical 
than previous systems. Calculations show that this 
new battery can deliver up to 35 watt-hours per pound 
(77 watt-hours per kilogram), as opposed to a 
conventional lead-acid battery that delivers 10 to 15 
watt-hours per pound (22 to 33 watt-hours per 
kilogram). This weight reduction is due to the 
replacement of the solid lead-peroxide electrodes used 
in the conventional battery with a metal current-
collector screen, a catalyst, and a Teflon membrane. 
Oxygen is fed into the cell through this membrane.
The system operation is described by reference to 
the block diagram. Before a charge cycle, the oxygen 
valve SW, is closed, SW 5
 is open, and the two-way 
valves SW 2 and SW 3
 are open to allow oxygen to flow 
from the regulator to the battery. Switch SW 4
 is still 
connected to the positive discharge grid. 
The system is plugged into an ac power line for the 
charge cycle. The controller then switches the valves 
SW2
 and SW 3
 to allow the remaining oxygen pressure 
to convey the water stored in the water accumulator to 
the cells in the battery. After the water is returned to 
the cells, the controller then closes valve SW5, 
Lead-Oxygen Battery System 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740000267 2020-03-17T13:58:06+00:00Z
?switches two-way valves SW 2 and SW3 to open the 
regulated, oxygen pressure lines to the battery and to 
close off the water route. SW 1 is then opened. SW4 ' is 
switched to the positive charging grid, the oxygen 
pump (compressor) is started, and the charging cycle 
has begun. 
As the charging progresses, oxygen is released at 
the positive charging grid and the pump (compressor) 
moves the oxygen from the battery through the check 
valve and the condenser to the oxygen storage tank. 
Air cools the condenser fins, and the resulting water 
condensate drops into the water accumulator. 
During the charge cycle, some water evaporates 
from the electrolyte and must be returned to the cells 
before the next charging cycle. The charger converts 
the commercial ac power to dc. The controller 
regulates the charging current to protect the battery. 
When the battery is fully charged, the controller turns 
off the charging circuit, closes the SW 1 , opens valve 
SW 5 , and switches SW 4 to the discharge grid. 
During discharge, the controller regulates the 
output voltage and the current, as required by the 
load demand. Oxygen, which surrounds the cells, is 
admitted through the cell membrane (Teflon). A 
recombination electrode is required to recombine the 
hydrogen released at the negative plate with the 
oxygen to form water.
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Code ATO1 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B74-10267 
Patent status: 
Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use 
of this invention should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Code CCO1 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 
Source: W. J. Britz, W. A. Boshers, and 
J. J. Kaufmann
Marshall Space Flight Center
(MFS-23059) 
Categories: 06 (Mechanics) 
02 (Electronics Systems) 
01 (Electronics - Components and 
B74-10267
	 Circuitry)


Lead-oxygen closed-loop battery system

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server