Description
The activity objective is to decrease the mass of the energy storage system (e.g batteries or supercapacitors) by improving the packaging factor.
Targeted Improvements: The main benefit will be an energy storage mass optimisation at spacecraft level.
Energy storage is required for most space applications and is a spin-in from terrestrial technologies. Due to high interest in clean environment, the electrochemical energy storage field is evolving very rapidly with a considerable effort in R&D to develop new cells with high specific energy, and also to develop high power cells (supercapacitors, battery). New ways to decrease the mass at cell assembly level (module or battery) is under development in the terrestrial market and is of interest for the space market in order to increase the specific energy at battery (or bank of supercapacitors) level.
Composite materials like carbon fibres can offer solutions to decrease the weight of the energy storage system.
The main developments in energy storage is to increase the specific energy at cell/supercapacitors level by developing new materials. A complementary approach is to improve the cell packaging in order to increase the energy specific at cell assembly level. Different approaches can be considered: using lighter materials for the cells sleeve (while still preserving thermal and structural properties), battery/bosc walls.
The activity will be divided in two phases
a. Phase 1: Feasibility study
Study different solutions to improve energy storage system specific energy will be reviewed: lighter materials used for the Li ion cells sleeves, battery structure or for bank of supercapacitor structure. The packaging technology under development for automotive industry should also be considered for potential spin-in. Design analysis will have to be done to predict structural parameters changes. Thermal aspects, cell connections, cell balancing/bypassing (if required), failure modes will be studied. The specific energy at assembly level will have to be increased while all the other properties of current energy storage technologies are preserved e.g cycle life, self-discharge, cost. A trade-off will be performed to select the most promising approach to be developed in Phase 2.
b. Phase 2: Breadboard development
The selected technology will be further developed to manufacture and test a breadboard.
Tender Specifics