Battery protection for space systems
Kulr Technology has launched a passive propagation resistant (PPR) battery design for space systems.
The PPR design for lithium ion battery testing and safety prevents cell to cell thermal runaway propagation and inhibits the fire and ejecta of a single cell from exiting the battery enclosure
This uses Kulr’s Vega internal short circuit technology that allows the user to identify and study any safety issues with a cell or battery pack design. It can be used as a research tool for research institutes, battery manufacturers, or OEMs who wish to improve both the performance and safety of their Li-ion battery packs. The suite of battery designs offers both 18650 and 21700 trigger and product cells with top vent only or top and bottom vent.
The PPR design is an integrated solution that combines Kulr’s Hydra thermal runaway shield, Lyra internal short circuit testing methodology, and NASA’s Fractional Thermal Runaway Calorimeter cell analysis technology to provide total battery safety. The Hydra thermal runaway shield has been proven by various government testing authorities to stop or mitigate the impacts of dangerous lithium-ion battery failures known as thermal runaway.
“We are proud of our battery solution for space applications and honored to work on the important issue of battery safety,” said Michael Mo, CEO of KULR. “We are continuously evolving and improving our testing tools and safety solutions and we look forward to sharing them with any customer who relies on safe and efficient battery technology.”
Kulr also provides a product cell screening service that eliminates damaged or defective cells before they become dangerous. This also catches latent defects in cells early in the process rather than once the ageing process has taken its toll on the faulty cell.
Next: Thermal Properties of Trigger Cells
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KULR K500 – 21700 |
KULR K330 – 18650 |
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Trigger Method |
KULR ISC Cell |
Overheating |
Nail Penetration |
KULR ISC Cell |
Overheating |
Nail Penetration |
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Average Energy Release at TR |
83KJ |
82KJ |
90KJ |
60KJ |
60KJ |
56KJ |
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St. Deviation |
6KJ |
1.8KJ |
2.6KJ |
1.8KJ |
3 KJ |
1.96 KJ |
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Energy Distribution |
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Cell Body |
33.80% |
35% |
30.70% |
35% |
32% |
36.50% |
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Top Vent |
32% |
37% |
23% |
37% |
23% |
17% |
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Bottom Vent |
34.50% |
27% |
45.40% |
27% |
50% |
46% |
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Kulr is working with NASA’s Marshall Space Center and NASA’s Ames Research Center on the PPR CubeSat battery design to meet the JSC 20793 Revision D safety standard created by NASA for a crewed space mission. The Hydra thermal runaway shield technology was recently deployed to the International Space Station to store laptop batteries and also is currently being tested by a Tier-1 medical device maker, an electric aircraft maker, and others.
