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KOH concentration effect on cycle life of nickel-hydrogen cells. III - Cycle life testA cycle life test of Ni/H2 cells containing electrolytes of various KOH concentrations and a sintered type nickel electrode was carried out at 23 C using a 45 min accelerated low earth orbit (LEO) cycle regime at 80 percent depth of discharge. One of three cells containing 26 percent KOH has achieved over 28,000 cycles, and the other two 19,000 cycles, without a sign of failure. Two other cells containing 31 percent KOH electrolyte, which is the concentration presently used in aerospace cells, failed after 2,979 and 3,620 cycles. This result indicates that the cycle life of the present type of Ni/H2 cells may be extended by a factor of 5 to 10 simply by lowering the KOH concentration. Long cycle life of a Ni/H2 battery at high depth-of-discharge operation is desired, particularly for an LEO spacecraft application. Typically, battery life of about 30,000 cycles is required for a five year mission in an LEO. Such a cycle life with presently available cells can be assured only at a very low depth-of-discharge operation. Results of testing already show that the cycle life of an Ni/H2 cell is tremendously improved by simply using an electrolyte of low KOH concentration.
Document ID
19890035912
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lim, H. S.
(Hughes Research Labs. Malibu, CA, United States)
Verzwyvelt, S. A.
(Hughes Research Laboratories Malibu, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Power Sources
Volume: 22
ISSN: 0378-7753
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Accession Number
89A23283
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-22238
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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