Silver-Zinc batteries are more complex systems that require a gas generator, tubular electrolyte reservoir, manifold, battery block, vent, and heating system. Limitations include low energy density (260Wh/L), long production lead times, and high cost.
Spin-activated batteries store electrolytes inside an ampoule or bladder, which is cut open when the projectile is fired, distributing the electrolyte throughout the cell stack. Spin-activated batteries are typically used to power minelets, communication jammers, and artillery projectiles.
High-power lithium metal oxide batteries, developed by Tadiran as the TLM Series, deliver high current pulses, high rate energy, and up to 20 years storage life due to low annual self-discharge (less than 1 percent per year).
Constructed with a carbon-based anode, multi-metal oxide cathode, organic electrolyte, and shut-down separator, TLM batteries can deliver up to 2Wh of energy with a nominal voltage of 4V, a discharge capacity of up to 1,100mAh, the ability to handle 5A continuous and 15A pulses, and a temperature range of -40C to 85C. These batteries comply with MIL-STD 810G specs for vibration, shock, temperature shock, salt fog, altitude, acceleration (50,000gn) and spinning (30,000 rpm), and UN 1642 and IEC 60086 standards for crush, impact, nail penetration, heat, over-charge, and short circuit. They can also be shipped as non-hazardous goods.
Unlike thermal/reserve and spin-activated batteries, lithium metal oxide cells permit instantaneous activation without the need for squibs or gas generators, and can be periodically tested to ensure system readiness to reduce the number of “duds” in missile guidance systems. Power can also be drawn intermittently, so they are not restricted to single-use applications.
From the article, I didn't get a good appreciation for the Silver-Zinc batteries. It seemed like only the limitations prevailed. I'm wondering about the advantages of this technology and what specific application it should be used in.
Stephen, thanks for the definitions. I understand the contrasts between the military and consumer usage scenarios you mention, but how they apply to batteries wasn't clear; now it is. So it sounds like batteries have to stand up to this extreme "wait and hurry up" model.
On single use & military vs. civilian: Military applications cited appear to require shelf life of years to decades (presumabily in severe environmental conditons followed by total lifetimes of minutes to hours, possibily at extreme pulse currents and/or physical contitions, with extremely high reliability.
Civilian uses tend to have somewhat less severe storage life requirements, e.g. less that 1 decade, and longer duration (hours to years), less severe discharge requirements for primary (i.e. non-rechargable) battery systems, in far less severe environmental conditions.
Jack, military everything has to be more rugged and last longer--a lot longer. It also has to be fixable on the spot if at all possible. (That last probably doesn't apply to batteries.) Military vehicles now carry a ton of electronics and other stuff that needs to be powered, as mentioned in the first paragraph: advanced product designs for avionics, navigation systems, ordinance fuses, missile systems, GPS tracking and emergency/safety devices, shipboard, and oceanographic devices.
What I'd like to know is how "single-use" is defined as applied to batteries.
Does anybody know what the technical reasons are for the the differences between military and cilivian uses? Obviously, there are the harsh environment considerations, but I never realized there was such an underlying difference in basic technology.
I had the same thought as Beth: there might be some crossover apps possible from military uses to civilian uses, since there are a lot of parallels. Battery technologies have lagged for so many years, if not decades. It's great to see the military spearheading efforts to take a crack at improvements. It's also interesting to see thermal storage battery techniques--I just read something about thermal storage applied to solar energy.
I think such military technologies have to go for mass production in sake of public. We all are experienced energy crunch in our daily life at different instances in portable devices like Smartphone, Camera, laptops etc. So such long durability cells can yield more power for a long duration. By sharing such technologies to the public, I don't think there may be any security issues.
I know this battery technology isn't the same as the lithium ion batteries that the automotive industry is consumed with trying to find the best solution for EV vehicles. However, the thought occurs to me that there has to be synergies/best practices each side could bring to each other to advance innovation and future battery development. I'm wondering if there are open source communities or standards bodies promoting cross-pollination of ideas or research. Clearly advancing the cause of alternative battery design has huge implications, not just for the EV set.
By experimenting with the photovoltaic reaction in solar cells, researchers at MIT have made a breakthrough in energy efficiency that significantly pushes the boundaries of current commercial cells on the market.
In a world that's going green, industrial operations have a problem: Their processes involve materials that are potentially toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. If improperly managed, this can precipitate dangerous health and environmental consequences.
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 4
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
3 
