US Navy deploys a variety of battery systems worldwide that powers UUV (Unmanned Under Sea Vehicles), USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicles), marine sensors, propulsion systems, electronics, and back-up power systems in support of Naval operations. These batteries need to deliver peak power and also high specific energy ((Wh/kg)) and high energy density ((Wh/m^3) but these two requirements are often difficult to achieve within the same battery technology. The naval surface and undersea battlespace magnifies the importance of specific energy and energy density (reduced mass and reduced volume), safety (fire risk, environmental risks, operating risks), and performance across a range of external environments (temperature, pressure). To solve these problems Vishwa Robotics is proposing a novel non-electrochemical battery that has much higher specific power and energy density than LiON batteries. Preliminary physics based results in this proposal demonstrate at a minimum: an ability to achieve specific energy and volumetric density far greater than current state-of-the-art lithium-ion and other batteries. Operation in extreme environments could be achieved.
Benefit: Benefit: Commercial opportunities for this technology include battery systems that power marine sensors, propulsion systems, electronics, and back-up power systems. Private sector commercial potential includes consumer electronics (cell phone, laptop, radios), vehicles, renewable energy systems, utilities, and back-up systems or power conditioning systems. A big market exists for electric vehicles, helicopters, eVTOL and airplanes of the future that will double or even triple the range achieved by current Li-ION batteries.
Keywords: alternative batteries, thermal runaway, energy density, specific energy