After comparing various power sources, including primary lithium battery, metal air seawater battery and hydrogen fuel cell, we come to the conclusion that magnesium air seawater battery is the best choice for the sonobuoy applications in terms of specific energy, energy density, shelf life, system cost, reliability, and safety for personnel and host vehicle. In this SBIR program, leveraging on our technical achievements, metal air seawater battery will be further developed, produced and certified as the expendable power source for long endurance sonobuoy and UAV sonobuoy applications. The initial analysis suggests that this system could provide over 7 times longer running time than current Mg/AgCl activation battery. The objectives of the program is to develop a lightweight, long endurance, high power output, low cost sonobuoy and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) battery to replace current chemistry and extend the endurance given the volume, weight and safety constraints.
Benefit: In addition to the immediate military application, this innovative metal air seawater battery technology will enable the power sources having unprecedented energy density, which will be immediately applicable in the marine market to be used as the environment friendly power supplies, emergency backup power, and power source for communications. These power sources could also be used in many other maritime industries including oceanographic survey vessels, offshore oil exploration and salvage ships, shipping industry, Coast Guard and the Border Patrol.
Keywords: Seawater Battery Metal Air Battery Power Source Sensor Sonobuoy UAV sonobuoy battery, Seawater Battery Metal Air Battery Power Source Sensor Sonobuoy UAV sonobuoy battery
