Since 1986 Saturn PJSC has been developing and manufacturing storage batteries of Nickel-Hydrogen electrochemical system. Since that time more than 100 spacecraft have been equipped with more than 250 batteries.
The company participates in the majority of Russian space programs and in several foreign programs. Among the most famous are: "Resource-DK", "Ekran", "Electro-L", "Phobos-Grunt", "GLONASS", "Spectr-R", a series of "Express" spacecraft, series of "Yamal" spacecraft, "SESAT", "Interball-1, 2" and others. The storage batteries are supplied to firms in Germany, France, China, and Kazakhstan.
SB type
|
Voltage, V
|
Capacity, А·h
|
Mass, kg
|
Specific energy, W·h/kg
|
Orbit type
|
Cooling type
|
Control elements
|
19NiH-25
|
24
|
27
|
14
|
46
|
LEO
|
Contact
|
CPS, RT, BD
|
28NiH-40
|
35
|
45
|
27.5
|
51
|
LEO, GEO
|
Radiation
|
APS, RT, BD, EH
|
18NiH-50
|
22
|
55
|
26
|
48
|
–
|
TSB
|
CPS APS, RT, BD
|
20NiH-35
|
25
|
30
|
14.8
|
51
|
LEO
|
Liquid
|
UKZA, TS
|
28NiH-50
|
35
|
53
|
37
|
50
|
HCO
|
Gas
|
APS, RT, BD
|
28NiH-70
|
35
|
72
|
48.5
|
52
|
GEO
|
Liquid
|
CPS, APS, RT, BD
|
28NiH-70Р
|
35
|
72
|
54
|
46
|
LEO
|
Liquid
|
CPS, APS, RT,BD
|
30NiH-70
|
37
|
72
|
55
|
49
|
HEO
|
TSB
|
CPS, APS, RT,BD
|
30NiH-70А
|
37
|
72
|
65
|
42
|
LEO
|
TSB
|
APS, RT,BD
|
40NiH-70
|
50
|
72
|
72
|
50
|
GEO
|
Liquid
|
CPS, APS, RT, KZOD, BD
|
40NiH-70
|
50
|
72
|
73
|
49
|
HEO
|
Liquid
|
CPS, APS, RT,BD, R
|
18NiH-80
|
22
|
80
|
34
|
53
|
GEO
|
Radiation
|
APS, RT,BD, EH, R
|
17NiH-90
|
21
|
90
|
48
|
40
|
LEO
|
Radiation
|
APS, RT,BD
|
27NiH-110
|
32
|
105
|
70.7
|
48
|
GEO
|
Radiation
|
APS, Т, BD, EH
|
40NiH-35
|
49
|
33
|
28.5
|
57
|
GEO
|
Radiation
|
APS, RT,BD, EH, R
|
34NiH-50
|
47
|
47
|
35
|
58
|
HEO
|
Radiation
|
EH, APS, RT, BD
|
27NiH-100
|
32
|
95
|
68
|
45
|
GEO
|
Radiation
|
EH, APS, Т, BD
|
30NiH-100
|
36
|
95
|
75
|
46
|
GEO
|
Radiation
|
EH, APS, Т, BD
|
18NiH-70
|
29.4
|
84
|
34.6
|
55
|
LEO
|
TSB
|
EH, APS, Т, BD
|
26NiH-100
|
39.5
|
112.5
|
69.6
|
55
|
LEO
|
TSB
|
EH, APS, Т, BD
|
17NiH-48
|
28.6
|
58
|
27.1
|
49
|
LEO
|
TSB
|
EH, APS, Т, BD
|
17NiH-95
|
28.6
|
105
|
49.8
|
48
|
LEO
|
ATCS
|
APS, Т, BD
|
60NiH-40
|
100
|
41
|
50.4
|
59
|
HEO
|
TSB
|
APS, Т, BD, R
|
18NiH-120К
|
29.4
|
110
|
48
|
52
|
GEO
|
ATCS
|
EH, APS, Т, BD, R
|
SB Management
The main function of SB control algorithm is to ensure maximum state of charge before the beginning of discharge in eclipse at minimal overcharging, in particular, when the given daily thermal balance is observed. For optimal management the indications of the following devices are used:
- Analog pressure sensors;
- Contact pressure sensors of discrete type (as redundant ones);
- Resistance thermometers;
- Cell voltage indications.
In some spacecraft during standard charge, transition to SB trickle charge is possible, when the pressure in the controlling NiH cells reaches values corresponding to threshold ones at the given temperature. After test cycle threshold settings may be corrected.
Moreover, SB management allows performing reconditioning cycles (if necessary); for this
purpose discharge resistors are included in some storage batteries.
To reduce the cable network of the spacecraft, some SBs may have built-in units for initial processing of data on SB state.
Mechanical Interface
In all battery configurations (except batteries with gas cooling - 28NH-45 and 28NH-60) the battery housing is a monoblock, ensuring its high strength and allowing battery fastening in several points along the perimeter, and not over the surface of the baseplate.
When NiH2 cells are mounted in individual heat dissipating sleeves, the load is on the heat dissipating baseplate, to which the sleeves are mounted. Thus, monoblock configuration differs from the sleeve one by the possibility of its use as the load-bearing element in the spacecraft structure.
At the same time, if the operating conditions are thermally intensive, and it is necessary to increase battery radioactive surface, sleeve type battery is possible to manufacture, in which NiH2 cells in heat dissipating sleeves are dispersed on SC heat dissipating basement of the required area.
Electrodes’ stack, consisting of several electro-chemical groups, is clamped between two metallic bridges.
Electrodes’ stack location in NiH2 cell depends on heat dissipation profile in the storage battery.
Cell pressure vessel is made of EP-915 alloy. The sufficient strength margin of the pressure vessel is selected to ensure the required amount of loading cycles. Calculated safety factor for cycles is 3.
Basic Specifications of Nickel-Hydrogen Cells by Saturn PJSC
Type of NiH cells
|
Rated capacity, А·h
|
Specific energy, W·h/kg
|
Use in the SB
|
Use in the spacecraft
|
NiH-25
|
27
|
50
|
19NiH-25
|
Gonetz
|
NiH-35
|
30
|
65
|
40NiH-35
|
Luch-5
|
NiH-40
|
45
|
75
|
28NiH-40
|
Monitor, Dialog
|
NiH-40L
|
41
|
75
|
60NiH-40
|
Luch-5А
|
NiH-45L
|
56
|
84
|
34NiH-50
|
Glonass
|
NiH-50
|
54
|
66
|
28NiH-50
|
Glonass
|
NiH-55
|
63
|
70
|
18NiH-50
|
Phobos-Grunt
|
NiH-70K
|
72
|
75
|
40NiH-70
|
SESAT, Express-АМ
|
NiH-70E
|
72
|
75
|
28NiH-70, 28NiH-70R, 28NiH-70P, 30NiH-70, 30NiH-70А
|
Express -А, Resource-DK, Arkon-2
|
NiH-80
|
89
|
77
|
18NiH-80
|
KazSat
|
NiH-90
|
90
|
80
|
17NiH-90
|
BelKA
|
NiH-95М
|
102
|
86
|
17NiH-95
|
TIPS
|
NiH-110
|
105
|
70
|
27NiH-110
|
APSTAR-VI
|
NiH-120К
|
115
|
72
|
18NiH-120К
|
KazSat-2
|
NiH-120
|
130
|
80
|
18NiH-100
|
Yamal-200
|
NiH-140
|
161
|
90
|
18NiH-120
|
Yamal-300
|
Nickel-Oxide Electrode (NOE) is an electro-chemically impregnated Nickel-fiber substrate.
The structure of NOE provides the following:
- Discharge by current up to 2С;
- Practically unlimited lifetime;
- Insignificant corrosion;
- No swelling of NOE is observed after run cycles.
Hydrogen electrode (HE) is hydrophobizated, with Pt-Pd catalyst on Nickel ceramic-metal substrate.
HE power provides the following:
- A closed Oxygen cycle at О2 concentration less than 1 %;
- A closed Hydrogen cycle at the required excess voltages.
Separator – asbestos matrix.
Gas screen – polypropylene.