CREARE LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF191-076

Description

Air-launched weapons require high-power, high-energy density power supplies to operate radar, electronic guidance, guidance fin motors, and avionics systems. Due to the high cost and poor availability of existing thermal batteries, a suitable replacement power source using innovative energy storage concepts is desired. Creare proposes a novel high density power source based on an aluminum-air battery chemistry. Aluminum-air cells achieve high energy density and high discharge current capability without the safety concerns of lithium, lithium-ion, and other high energy chemistries. Energy and power densities are maximized by leveraging the unlimited supply of oxygen in the air for the oxygen reduction reactions. We propose to integrate a small number of aluminum cells with a high power density voltage converter to achieve high energy density, high reliability, compact size, safe operation, and lower cost than present thermal batteries. During Phase I we will demonstrate feasibility for this approach through specifications definition, analysis, design, and battery cell characterization. During Phase II we will complete development, and fabricate and demonstrate a high fidelity engineering prototype. Advantages of our approach include the use of very safe, high energy density battery materials and optimal use of support electronics to maximize reliability while minimizing size and cost.