Title :
A nickel/hydrogen battery for PV systems
Author_Institution :
Sandia Nat. Lab., Albuquerque, NM, USA
Abstract :
The nickel-hydrogen battery, developed in the early nineteen-seventies as an energy-storage subsystem for commercial communication satellites, is discussed. The advantages offered by nickel-hydrogen batteries, including long life, low maintenance and high reliability, make it very attractive for terrestrial applications such as stand-alone photovoltaic systems. The major drawback to the wider use of the nickel-hydrogen battery is its high initial cost. A 7-kWh battery has been on test since January 1988 using a flat-plate photovoltaic array for charging. The cell, battery design and test methods are briefly described, and the results of cycling and solar tests are presented. It is concluded that the battery is well suited for remote solar applications.<>
Keywords :
economics; energy storage devices; hydrogen; nickel; photovoltaic power systems; secondary cells; Ni-H/sub 2/; battery design; commercial communication satellites; cost; cycling; energy-storage subsystem; flat-plate photovoltaic array; remote solar applications; solar tests; stand-alone photovoltaic systems; terrestrial applications; Artificial satellites; Batteries; Costs; Design methodology; Hydrogen; Maintenance; Nickel; Photovoltaic systems; Solar power generation; Testing;
Journal_Title :
Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE
