Document 4M4OvMyrZwzjy75Bn87e86ea

UU228A7 LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION 4*0 LCXINOTON AVSNUK 8 NCW YORK 17. H. Y. Security Information Hot for Publication June 2, 1951* SUBJECT t EIGHTH mm BATTERT RESEARCH AilD EEVELOft'BIT C0NFE3HCB To Heobers of the Lead Industrie* Associations The Power Sources Branch of the Signal Corps Engineering labor atories at Port konaoutfc, Hew Jersey, annually sponsors a Battery Research and Development Conference to acquaint the battery industry with the {re gress of Signal Corps Eattery Research end Development programs and to o encourage cooperative Interchange of Information on batteries with the aim of producing a more rapid advancement of knowledge In the battery art* The Association, as It bas in the past, was Invited to send delegate to this Conference which was held on Hay 2$ and 26, 19?j , at Asbury Park, Hew Jersey, Reports on those papers of specific Interest to the lead in&istry are attached* 7e have been requested to caution you that this report Is security information. It contains information effecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the espionage laws and the trans mission or the revelation of its ccntcnts in any manner to unauthorised persons Is prohibited by law* Tery truly yours. o m<ui.iiw napiji jiumj.ii .at? J "^ iw LlA22848 , --------- /'.------ 1------------- :----- I- ^\ ....- -- -- M u M M M iliiA M 9 (SPCUROT INFORHATiaO EIGHTH AJWtJAL BATTER! RESEARCH rsT^S"a3^TTSKTISnJCI------EaF~&-&7 lCT INTERNA! HEATERS POR STORAGE BATTERIES *T Carrol A. Peteraoc Connecticut Hard Rubber Company It la recognised that the output level of lead-acid rtcrage batterlea la considerably decreased under low-temperature conditions. External heating methods are Inherently poor In thermal efficiency because of the lcm conductivity cf the battery case, while this aaae property of the case materials favors the use of Internal heating methods. Investigations were carried out which led to the development of internal electric heating units for the BB-221/0 free--electrolyte type battery. The heaters are immersed In the battery electrolyte and. In conjunction with an external control system, are arranged In a circuit which permits operation of either 115 volts AC or 28 volts DC. Heating of the battery contents fiom -65 F to *LCP F la accomp* llshed In approximately thirty minutes and is thermostatically controlled to pre vent damage to the battery or heating units from overheating. AC HEAT DO OP STORAGE BATTERIES Marcel J, Racine Power Sources Branch Cold storage batteries can be heated using alternating current to temper*" atures at which they can satisfactorily accept a charge. An equipment was designed to superimpose a regulated AC source of power on a regulated DC charging current. This is accomplished by two parallel rectifiers connected in opposition, both being connected In series with the battery and the AC Input transformer. The AC power source and DC charging current are automatically regulated according to the temper ature of the battery. Starting with a cold battery, the AC current la applied until the temperature of the battery Is high enough to accept a charge. 'Then this point la reached, the DC charging current is applied and increased as the temperature rises until the normal rate of charging current is reached. The AC current used for heating is decreased as the temperature of the battery rise*. WMJO - 1 1 .qW/MJPjl-llW l|-l JKV.r,IWP' - 1 1 N 2027.01 glLI HBP.IIBl .JiJIHg|.ll|IWg WHppWIMt 1J!JP ut JWglJgwm-"LIA228 49 saLat* ,, - *-c * d (SECURITY DfEDEJIATIDIC) EIGHTH mmH BATTERY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COHES19JCK BAY 25-26, IMPROVED LEAD-ACID BAITERIO *7 J. I. Dlttaann Eagle-Picher Company \ In studying method* of Improving the lead-acid storage battery, considera tion was given to the following general phaseai s. Grid material and design b. Separator aaterlal and design e. Case oaterlal and design d< Oxide fornulatlons e. decent design These phases were lnrestlgated eyst*tlcally, first by accelerated laboratory testa and secondly by correlating results obtained by similar tests on actual battery assemblies# An accelerated laboratory corrosion test on binary and tertiary lead alloys has revealed that citloony, arsenic and calcium increase corrosion while copper and tellurium decrease corrosion slightly and silver and tin reduce corro sion markedly. The corrosion resistance of alloys compounded by additions of tin, silver and tellurium to a base alloy of 6 percoit antimony, .2 percent arsenic and .06 percent copper were investigated, and good correlation resulted fraa teste on bstterlea. The abrasion resistance of various separator materials were determined and changes in electrical resistance of separators aa a function of liners ion time at 80, 0 and -20 E,, has been established, as well as electrical resistance values at 130, 80, 0, -20 and -i*0 E. o Battery separators were found to have an effect on the formation of bat tery plates, positive and negative efficiencies, on-charge voltages, five-second voltages and battery life. It was found difficult to correlate these effects with data obtained from laboratory testa# Various types of plastic, rubber end rubber^res in battery containers were evaluated as to their strength and ability to withstand thermal shock. A rtutty of elnent design has Included Investigations of various active material ratios, grid and separator thicknesses, number of plates per cell, and positive plate densities. Increasing the negative active material weight, reducing the positive piste density, and use of thin plates were found to be Important la obtaining greater capacity at high rites and low temperature* of discharge# 9 W*W HQI 'J! T.'.aWMPglil f!PW LIA22850 we ----^ ~ - -- ' :--~ -A~' " --A--^ -- fSECURirr INFORM' /ION) EffiKTH ANNUAL BATTER! RESEARCH U.'b BflHdlVBnr COTETHICE----may g-gsriggit-------------- 8 IVK 1VED NIC,'ll CAOnm BATTERUS by Raul Rsppaport Row Sourcai Branch During the past year extensile studies of the electrical and physical characteristics of nickel-cactaiua high rate thin sintered plate batteries hare been continued by these Laboratories and by several contractors duo to the ever-increas ing consideration of this systm by tho military for guided missile power supplies and low temperature cranking batteries* Some of the core important results ob tained In evaluating the following characteristics will be discussed! a* Performance characteristics at discharge current densities from ,07$ to 1.L0 amperes per square Inch and from 80 to -ijO0 T, b. Effect of charging at -i0 t, c, Maintenance of negative plate capacity during cycling by use of elec trolyte additives, separator materials and charging rates. These Investigations will be continued In the future In order to obtain as complete a picture as possible of the nickel cacfclurn high rate thin sintered plate battery. Contracts have also been Issued to study means of effecting Improvements and simplifications In the design and preparation of the nickel cadalua battery in order to reduce its cost of manufacture without a sacrifice In performance. 1 THE BATTER! INDUSTRIAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM by Charles H. Clark Rower Sources Branch The Battery Industrial Preparedness Program hM been initiated In order to establish pilot and/or semi-production ecele assembly lines In battery plants fer cells and batteries. These lines are to incorporate Improved cell manufacturing technlquee that have been developed ae a result of internal and external research and development programs initiated by the Signal Corps, Since the 195} Battery Conference, Industrial Preparedness Study contracts have been placed with six dry battery cooperies for the establishment of pilot lines for the manufacture of paper-lined cells, utilising cell compositions specified by SCEX, Cells made In this manner will subsequently be Incorporated Into the manu facture of Battery EA-270/U-IfL, Pour IPS contracts hive been Initiated pertaining to low temperature dry cells and batteries. SCEL cell formulations have beeo re commended for the low temperature battery types. It Is expected that batterlea from these pilot lines will become available by Fall 1951. Contracts hive also been Initiated for the setting up of pilot lines for the manufacture of certain alkaline primary cell types; a miniature site for possi ble transistor or "F* supply use and a larger *D* else coll for possible high rats use. Investigative work ha* not yet been started on these contracts. ?rw -rw T WP'JUl. i *v 'i ^h l j l i. l h i .iMsgi;. f .WP - m w t m*"S* uanwww LIA22851 -------------------------------- JJ- n -rYifirw im a m n^^iN iTO iiiaiatiitia (SECURITY INFORMATION) EIGHTH ANNUAL BATTS?! RESEARCH j p; p~T3E7 ^uj; igi recur s h n s e-- mrg=>riff5s------------------- ZINC-SILVER OIHX 5TSTM toy J. 3. Bo m Eagle-Picher Company The objective of this project Is to improve the general performance char acteristics of the silver oxide-sine system. This has encompassed studies of the tine plating hath, evaluation of separator materials, development of secondary cells and the design of special batteries. It has been found that bjr increasing the concentration of KOH in the tine plating bath, a deposit of tine is obtained that will withstand high temper atures better than those previously produced. Also, placing a non-cellulosic material between the positive plate and the cellulose sausage casing has been found to increase shelf life. Rechargeable "A* cells have been developed through a study of separator materials and charging procedures. Secondary 30 volt "B* batteries here proven practical when the activating manifold is excluded. At the same time, exclusion of the manifold has made possible the development of various activating mechanisms. A special 12 volt battery has been developed for a 2L hour drain. The battery is designed to be activated automatically by shock forces. A 6.5 volt battery has been designed to operate while spinning about its perpendicular axis at speeds up to 7,000 r.p.m future work will continue in these same fields of investigation with emphasis being placed upon improving the characteristics of rechargeable (secon dary) bstteriesj extending the shelf life of activated (reserve and non-reserva) batteries; and evaluation and perfection of automatic activating devices. -n in ------`im Y n rtfiM U rrn - m w r w . i n il in n .  WOT HSiPWJMP' LIA228 52 0 (SECURITT DiFDBUTICH) EIGHTH AXHUA1 BATT'HT RESEARCH WHFBnTCB------1Q5L i & HICKtt-CAElfltM SXSTOt *>r Dr. L. Grant Hector Sonotone Corporation The purpose of this contract Is the improvement of the high rate discharge characteristics of the nickel-cactaium eysteo so that the capacity at the one minute rate approaches as closely as possible the capacity at the one hour rate} the im provement of charge retention of the systeo under conditions of storage at various temperatures; and the development and design of a readily activated reserve type battery using the nickel-cadmium system. The data reported last year on cells of approximately 3 ampere hour capa city, which included discharges at -LO^ F and 10 mnperes, have been extended to cover both -liO F and -65 F at 10 and 20 airperes. In addition to this, an exten sive test program la described for investigating the effect of several factors on hich rate performance in which variations due to unavoidable or unknown differences In processing are minimized. These factors, whose effects are being studied, era plate thickness, separator thickness, plate compression. Introduction of greater than normal amounts of active material, and grid (metallic plate reinforcement) conductivity. Some preliminary test data are presented and discussed. The determination of the charge retention characteristics of the nickelcadmium systeo has extended over periods of a year in casual storage and over lesser periods at elevated temperatures up to 165 F. In addition, the effects of separ ators and additives on these characteristics are being systematically investi gated. The data at hand show that the system is fundamentally capable of re taining a high fraction of its charge over long periods of time up to and including a year. Permanent capacity reductions have not been noted following storage with charge. Reserve typo cells hare been constructed by drying completed cells, wash ing and drying completed cells, and by eoaeobling cells with plates iSitch have bean precharged, processed and dried. Ho loss of charge due to washing and drying was observed for positive plates when handled separately free the negative plate as compared with DO loss due to washing and 20 percent loss due to drying when performed on cells. The 25 percent loss of charge for the negative plate due to washing as a cell was elimin ated, when the negative plate was washed separately. The 15 percent loss of charge of the negative plate due to drying was not eliminated when the plates were dried t eparately. i aijm. i i>A ^ LU22853 'V'iu w j *! (s ec u r it t iKFomncB) 6 EIGHTH ANNUAL BATTERT RESEARCH hit tr/zio^'T WIJrKS.CE liAr?5-?6, l?5li' NUCLEAR BATTERIES Alexander Thomas Tracerlab, Inc. Loir cost radioactive isotopes are becoming available in ever-increasing quantities from the growing atonic energy installations in this country. Because of the electrical nature of radioactive disintegration, one of the uses for cer tain of these isotopes is in primary cells to generate small amounts of electrical power. In a battery of these cells, the rate of generation of electrical energy is governed by this radioactive process and not be anything man does in utilising the power by placing an external load across the battery. This particular feature of the radiodisintegration process suggests the prime merit for the nuclear battery is that of being a long lived power source. At the present time, because of the supply and cost of the suitable isotopes, power generation is limited to applica tions requiring about a microwatt or less. It is not likely that the order of watts of power by this method will be economically feasible for many year* to come. How ever, as a power supply for an ion chamber, for charging quart* fibre devices, or for Maintaining a charge on a low leakage condenser for a one-shot trigger of some military control device or perhaps a civilian warning device, these nuclear batter ies show immediate promise for application. With continued decrease in cost and Increased availability of the isotopes, hearing-aid-like devices cone into the realm of possibility. 9 Practical models utlilting all the known principles for converting the energy of radioactive disintegration into electrical energy have efficiencies of a few percent or less. One of the most pronising of these is the utlliration of the contact potential difference (CPD) between the surfaces of plates of dissimilar metals tc collect lonlratloc produced in the radioactive medium between the plates. Experimental deaonstrctlons of this type of battery were described by Hr, J. B. Kramer in the Electrician for October 31, 192li, using naturally occurring radioac tive substances. Our first year's work Involved explaining the mechanism of the CPD type of battery, deriving theoretical expressions for the cur rent-voltage characteristics and a preliminary experimental verification of thla theory. The experimental program has had a twofold direction} first, finding a stable couple having a high CPD} and second, the conatructlon of practical models according to the general Signal Corps requirements. Measurements taken on these models hsre served to establish confidence in the correctness of the theoretical relations so that the effect on the current voltage characteristics of gas pressure^ piste separation, plate area, and amount of activity are predictable and can b* used in optimizing tha design for aqy specific application. Variations in mater*ials and structure of these models have pointed up tha importance of isolating ad jacent cells and of using low leakage insulators with low susceptibility to Ingassing 0 Although practical models have been made, there is room for further Im provements In electrode surfaces and in construction materials. An accelerated testing to simulate the conditions to vhlch the electrodes and insulators ara aob jected in fifteen years will be used to establish the best battary components. CPD type batteries using solid Instead of gaseous ionization media will be Investigated, Investigation of secondary processes such as a radioactive eleotret or slectrolyte production by radiodecomposition are also contasplated. vyw iiymm r nw.wiuMPMy'i,iwmj Mgi.w.m' " ) LIA22854 ui>. % fi i t*t++m*tJ***3*^^i OfniTMiti 0 (SBCUROTr INFORMATION) EIGHTH ANNUAL BATTEST RESEARCH Kin tTTOftaiqn cwraaicB-- fivrg-SS, 1954 NUCLEAR BATTERIES *>r Dr. John H. Coleman Radiation Research Corporation Purposei To investigate the utilisation of radioactive energy as a direct source o1 electrical energy for use as a portable battery haring at least a 15 year operating life and an operating teoperature of 160 T to -65 F< History! It was found that good insulators under continuous beta radia tion first decrease in resistance, reach a minimum, and then Increase in value, A battery was constructed and demonstrated after a satisfactory accelerated life test on one insulator* Experimental TJorlci Studies were continued on the Induced resistance effect and radiation degradation in accelerated life teste, fiosistancc-tecpsrattire tests on activation energies of insulators under radiation indicated a correlation between trap distribution and the induced resistance effect. Experiments indicated the radioactive battery had application as an elec tric field source in an electrostatic induction generator since only a high poten tial and no current Is required. Such a battery requires only microcuries of iso tope, however, to attain a high output potential, it ia necessary to first Irradiate the battery insulator with a separate high radiation field to increase the resis tance sufficiently. A tritium-zirconium source, which has a significantly lower toxicity than strontium 90, was fabricated. Tests on these sources In a demountable vacuum bat tery Indicated carbon to be the most satisfactory material as a collector. Sever al demountable battories wore constructed with an efficiency exceeding 1/U micromicro amp output current per mill leure of tritium at 30C to 1000 volts with a total current of 10 micropicroampe. Future Flensj a. Continue Induced resistance studies to (1) establish accelerated life tests and (2) fabricate solid insulators for tritium batteries. b. Construct 10 micromicroamp vacuum tritium battery using information from demountable battery. c. Fabricate source for 1000 micromlcroarp tritium battery* rnrnym m pwej " i. n Jg n - 1y *