Beyond battery power The challenge

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2014 Dstl

07 December 2016

Why beyond batteries?

• MOD uses many batteries in portable

applications

primaries, eg alkaline, lithium iron disulphide

secondaries, eg lithium ion

• next generation of batteries already being

addressed in the research programme -

• not expected to reach beyond 700 Wh/kg

for a fieldable rugged battery

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

07 December 2016

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Spe

cifi

c e

ne

rgy

(Wh

/kg)

Alkaline

cell

Li-FeS2

cell

Specialist

cells

Cell

research

space

Specialist

batteries

Li-SO2, Li-

MnO2

batteries Li ion

batteries

Development

batteries

Primary Secondary

Technology metrics

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

07 December 2016

• long-lasting, portable 50 to 500W

lightweight systems stretching to days

as opposed to hours or minutes

• duration – up to two days

• low cost and ideally disposable

Technology metrics

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

07 December 2016

• high specific energy

• 24-48 hours at least 700 Wh/Kg for a

complete system including:

energy conversion hardware

packaging

fuel and fuel storage

• beyond what can be achieved with a

rugged battery

Beyond battery power

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

07 December 2016

Power (W) 24 hr System

Weight (kg)

48 hr System

Weight (kg)

50 1.7 3.4

150 5.1 10.3

300 10.3 20.6

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

07 December 2016

• looking for a stretch potential to exceed 1000

Wh/kg - ideally 1500 Wh/kg

• founded on independent data

• emphasised fieldability

Future expectations

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

07 December 2016

Identified fuel cells, combustion technologies,

particularly internal/external combustion

engines, ultra-microturbines, as capable of

achieving >1000 Wh/kg

Future expectations

Technical challenges identified

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

07 December 2016

• miniaturisation

• durability

• integration into a fieldable package

• fuel cells operating satisfactorily on liquid hydrocarbon fuels

A final word on the challenge

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

07 December 2016

• technologies mentioned are not intended to be prescriptive

• we want your ideas

• this is a challenging requirement

• think outside the box