LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A17-023

Description

Lead acid batteries, currently used in 95% of military ground vehicles, represent in excess of $100M per year in maintenance costs. Furthermore, the failure modes of these batteries are such that they provide no indication of impending failure. The batteries simply do not function, leaving the warfighter exposed and unequipped with no prior warning. The ability to diagnose state of battery health and provide prognostics on remaining useful life ensures early detection of impending faults while simultaneously reducing burdens associated with battery maintenance. To provide visibility into lead acid battery health conditions, Luna proposes to develop a multi-modal battery evaluation system using electrical impedance spectroscopy and dynamic electrical characteristic monitoring techniques to perform in-service diagnostics and prognostics. This monitoring, diagnostics, and prognostics system for lead acid batteries (MDP LAB) will enable maintainers to identify impending faults, ascertain failure modes including loss of electrolyte, sulfation, and acid stratification, and respond with required maintenance actions prior to system failures. The system will leverage both static voltage and current characteristics along with dynamic load switching profiles and electrochemical characterizations of the battery to identify incipient faults, impending failures, and remaining service life.