LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N161-047

Description

Luna is proposing to develop a miniaturized and low power High Definition Fiber Optic Sensing (HD-FOS) system for battery fault detection and early warning. This system would address the issue of thermal runaway where an internal fault initiates heating and an uncontrolled positive feedback loop results in overheating, fire, or explosion. If detected early, warnings can be transmitted before the problem grows, allowing personnel to complete preventive actions. Luna will build a sensing suite consisting of fiber optic strain and temperature sensors. With a measurement point every 0.64mm, the high spatial density will ensure the timely capture of hot spots as well as strain concentrations due to pressure increase. The sensor suite will be interrogated with a ruggedized miniaturized controller that relays warnings to a remote alarm panel. During Phase I, Luna will demonstrate the systems feasibility with repeated simulated conditions. During Phase II, Luna will develop a prototype that satisfies the size, weight, and power envelope (400 cm3, 1 kg, 25 W), and demonstrate accurate fault detection and indication with repeated actual battery charge-discharge schemes. The Phase III effort will support the Navy in transitioning the technology to Advanced Undersea Systems use.