AEROSPACE
Mobile Power Solutions (MPS) produces Lithium-ion battery packs for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) in the aerospace market. The range of equipment that our batteries power includes high altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) or drones, Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites, rockets, and high altitude balloons with radio transceiver payloads.
For these aerospace products, higher voltage Lithium-ion batteries can provide the primary power system for the products. Lower voltage Lithium-ion batteries can also be used to power select subsystems, such as guidance, communications, navigation, lighting, and battery back-up subsystems.
Common features of these batteries developed and tested for aerospace applications include;
Environmental Qualification
Many high altitude aerospace products must operate at altitudes of 100,000 feet, -60 degrees C, and 0.5 PSI atmospheric pressure. Other aerospace products require operation at Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) altitudes, which can be as high as 1200 miles. To produce battery packs that can operate in these environmental conditions, MPS offers Environmental Testing to verify and document compliance with these types of atmospheric challenges.
Cast metal enclosures provide exceptional structural integrity for aerospace applications.
Regulatory Compliance
In addition to UN 38.3 compliance, MPS can produce battery packs that comply with Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) DO-227 standard for Lithium primary and the DO-311 standard for Lithium-ion batteries installed on aircraft. Regulatory Testing is witnessed by an FAA Designated Engineering Representative. MPS serves on the committee drafting the replacement to DO-311.
Embedded Heaters
Aerospace applications may operate in colder environments, and may need supplemental heating for Lithium-ion battery packs.
Aerospace applications require battery operation down to -60 degrees C, while Lithium-ion cells comfortably operate at -20 to + 60 degrees C. To meet this requirement, a heater can be embedded within the battery pack to maintain the cell temperature or warm the cells prior to use. Using thermal sensors embedded in the battery, the battery electronics can activate the heaters only when required.
Accurate Fuel Gauging
Accurate, real-time data on the State-of-Charge (SoC) of the Lithium-ion battery pack is critical in aerospace applications. SoC Data is converted into remaining run-time data, and this information enables operators to project whether their aerospace products have enough power to complete their mission or return to base before the battery is depleted.
Lighter Weight
Minimal weight is a critical factor for many aerospace products. Lithium-ion chemistries such as Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) provide superior gravimetric density. Additionally, NMC and LCO cell chemistry is available in many metallic cylindrical (18650, 21700,…) and prismatic formats, so cells can be selected and packaged into the optimal volumetric format based on weight requirements. NMC and LCO Cell chemistry is available in polymer pouch format, which provides even better gravimetric density than cylindrical and prismatic formats.
MPS has the Lithium-ion cell technology, battery pack design experience, regulatory compliance expertise, and atmospheric test facilities to produce battery packs that can perform in these challenging environments.
READ MORE about our supplier qualification for U.S. government contracts.
