Hybrid power assembly

Details Hybrid power assembly Hybrid power assembly

1999-10-12

2001-05-22

Diamond, Alan (Department: 1753)

Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric

Photoelectric

Cells

C136S248000, C136S293000, C429S111000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06235983

ABSTRACT:

The invention described herein was made in performance of work under a NASA contract and is subject to the provisions of Sec. 305 of the National Aeronautic and Space Act of 1958. Public Law 85558 (72 Stat. 435) 42 U.S.C. 2457.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to power generation and storage devices and is directed more particularly to a hybrid power assembly including a thermophotovoltaic power conversion module in combination with a battery rechargeable by the module.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The U.S. Army purchases large quantities of batteries to meet the needs of the dismounted soldier for both military missions and for training for such missions. For actual missions, the lower weight and higher stored energy of non-rechargeable batteries make them a clear choice. For training, rechargeable batteries are used more often because they can be recharged hundreds of times, thereby making their life-cycle costs much lower than that of non-rechargeable batteries. The higher weight and lower stored energy of rechargeable batteries, compared to non-rechargeable batteries, requires more rechargeable batteries and a correspondingly higher weight for the soldier to carry in training for a mission, than for the actual mission. The time required to recharge batteries is also problematic in a military environment.
A non-rechargeable battery used in large quantities by the Army is referred to as the BA-5590. This is a lithium-sulfur dioxide battery with a nominal output of 12 or 24 volts with a current flow capability of 4 or 2 amps, respectively, for approximately 3.4 hours. This represents a capacity of approximately 163 watt-hours. The overall battery dimensions are 4.4 inches wide, by 2.45 inches deep, by 5.0 inches high. This battery and its rechargeable alternative, the BB-390A/U, are useable in many military platforms, and represent a significant fraction of the cost of batteries purchased by the Army.
The performance characteristics of the batteries are presented below. While the batteries are identical in size and configuration, the weight of the rechargeable BB-390A/U battery is 65% higher than that of the non-rechargeable BA-5590 battery. The capacity of the rechargeable BB-390A/U is only 47% of the BA-5590 battery. It is because of such advantages, that non-rechargeable batteries usually are preferred for military missions.
BA-5590 Battery
BB-390 A/U Battery
Specifications
Non-Rechargeable
Rechargeable
Dimensions (l × w × h), in
4.4 × 2.45 × 5.0
Same
Volume, in
3
53.9
Same
Weight, lb
2.33
3.85
Max. Current, amps
4/2
7.2/3.6
Nominal Voltage, volts
12/24
Same
Max. Power, watts
 48
86
Storage Capacity, w-h
163
77
It is desired to provide a power source for the foot soldier which provides higher stored energy then electrochemical batteries, provides for greatly shortened recharging times, provides high instantaneous power, and is smaller in size and weight than the customarily used quantities of BA-5590 and BB-390A/U batteries. It is further desired that the power source be useable after being submerged in water, when disposed in any orientation, and when subjected to atmospheres having contaminants therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a power source which may be substituted for a plurality of the aforesaid batteries and which provides high stored energy, provides for essentially instant recharging, and provides high instantaneous power.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a power source as is small in size and weight.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a power source which is useable after being submerged, when disposed in any orientation, and when subjected to atmospheric contaminants.
With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a hybrid power assembly comprising a thermophotvoltaic (TPV) power conversion module for converting radiant thermal energy to electrical energy, and a battery in electrical communication with the TPV power module and rechargeable by electrical power generated by the TPV power module.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular devices embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4707560 (1987-11-01), Hottel et al.
patent: 4906178 (1990-03-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 5932885 (1999-08-01), DeBellis et al.
patent: 5942047 (1999-08-01), Fraas et al.
patent: 6092912 (2000-07-01), Nelson

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