Title :
Space power alternatives for laser radar sensor system
Author_Institution :
TRW Space & Technol. Group, Redondo Beach, CA, USA
fDate :
3/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Seven candidate power systems for the sensor of a space-based laser radar system are identified, and their performance and operating characteristics are briefly described. The systems are the NiCd battery, NiH/sub 2/ battery, NaS battery, LiSO/sub 2/-Cl/sub 2/ battery, LiAl-FeS/sub 2/ battery, H/sub 2//O/sub 2/ fuel cell, and an inertial flywheel generator. The systems encompass a current or projected specific energy range of from 15.0 to 100 Wh/lb. To arrive at a meaningful basis for comparison and to aid in system selection, a figure-of-merit (FOM) was established. Because the FOM is somewhat qualitative in content, scoring weighting factors were utilized to further quantify the results. The NiH/sub 2/ battery and the NaS battery received the highest FOM rankings. Following next in order were the H/sub 2//O/sub 2/ fuel cell and the inertial flywheel generator. The NiCd and lithium thermal batteries received the lowest ratings. These results are of a preliminary nature. Extension of these analyses to include reliability and cost factors is recommended.<>
Keywords :
fuel cells; power supplies to apparatus; primary cells; secondary cells; space vehicle power plants; H/sub 2/-O/sub 2/ fuel cell; LiAl-FeS/sub 2/; LiSO/sub 2/-Cl/sub 2/; NaS; NiCd; NiH/sub 2/; cost; figure-of-merit; inertial flywheel generator; laser radar sensor; reliability; space power supplies; Batteries; Flywheels; Fuel cells; Laser radar; Lithium; Power lasers; Power systems; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Sensor systems; Spaceborne radar;
Journal_Title :
Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE
