SBIR-STTR Award

Qynergy proposes to design/build an innovative asymmetric ultracapacitor (QynCap) to provide energy storage for Navy aircraft pulse power applications. These devices will improve the Warfighting ability of fighter aircraft by enabling the use of laser-based weapon systems. The QynCap will contain a nickel oxy-hydroxide cathode and a high surface area carbon anode immersed in an aqueous electrolyte. The use of a battery electrode (nickel oxy-hydroxide) allows for a higher capacitance per weight and volume than traditional ultracapacitors. Ultracapacitors in general and QynCaps specifically are known for their high power density, high cycle life (ability to charge and discharge many times) and fast recharge time. For this application, the QynCap is superior to lithium-ion batteries for a variety of reasons. The QynCap operates well over a wide temperature range (-40C to +71C), utilizes environmentally friendly substances (i.e. nickel, carbon, KOH) versus dangerous Li+ ion compounds, is not subject to thermal runaway if overcharged and does not require thermal management. Because the QynCap is an ultracapacitor, it can be charged and discharged over 100,000 times and be properly sized to provide the power required.

Benefit:
There are a several near-term customers and markets for this QynCap technology. The first is the US military aircraft market. There are numerous tactical & strategic US military aircraft that could benefit from a high pulse power electrical storage device to power a solid-state HEL system. While it is not envisioned that these HEL systems will be used as stand-alone weapons, they will provide significant increase in combat capability. The second market for this technology is for military vehicle engine starting. The 24V NATO 6T QynCap will be superior to lead-acid batteries for vehicle engine starting. The Department of Defense (DoD) is currently shipping 100,000 6T, 12V lead-acid batteries per year to the Iraq and Afghanistan areas of operations. Not only will the 24V NATO 6T QynCap significantly reduce the overall logistic footprint required to purchase, ship and maintain a stockpile of vehicle batteries, but the disposal costs associated with this waste stream will also be significantly reduced.

Keywords:
QynCap, QynCap, aqueous asymmetric ultracapacitor, wide operating temperature range, high cycle life, Environmentally Friendly, Safety, fast charge & discharge rates, high power density

The Navy is in the process of improving the warfighting capability of critical platforms by introducing laser-based weapon systems that require pulses of DC electric power. Electrochemical capacitors, or ultracapacitors, are superior to Li-ion batteries for pulse power applications. Qynergy has developed a hybrid ultracapacitor technology called the QynCap which utilizes one activated carbon (capacitor) electrode and one nickel hydroxide (battery) electrode in an aqueous KOH electrolyte. Compared with conventional ultracapacitors, QynCaps have a higher capacity per mass because of the use of the battery electrode, and they operate at lower temperatures (-55C) because of the aqueous electrolyte. Although the use of this electrolyte reduces the QynCap operating voltage, it also lowers the internal series resistance which improves power performance (KOH/water is > 50 more conductive than any organic electrolyte). The objectives of this eighteen month Phase II SBIR Basic Effort are to fabricate and test spirally-wound QynCap cells for use in Navy high-energy laser systems. In addition, a multi-cell module prototype will be designed and fabricated, complete with control electronics, active cell balancing, and state-of-health sensors. In the six month Phase II SBIR Option, extensive electrical and mechanical testing will be performed on the cells.

Benefit:
There are a several near-term customers and markets for this QynCap technology. The first is the US military aircraft market. There are numerous tactical & strategic US military aircraft that could benefit from a high pulse power electrical storage device to power a solid-state HEL system. While it is not envisioned that these HEL systems will be used as stand-alone weapons, they will provide significant increase in combat capability. The second market for this technology is for military vehicle engine starting. The 24V NATO 6T QynCap will be superior to lead-acid batteries for vehicle engine starting. The Department of Defense (DoD) is currently shipping 100,000 6T, 12V lead-acid batteries per year to the Iraq and Afghanistan areas of operations. Not only will the 24V NATO 6T QynCap significantly reduce the overall logistic footprint required to purchase, ship and maintain a stockpile of vehicle batteries, but the disposal costs associated with this waste stream will also be significantly reduced.

Keywords:
wide operating temperature range, QynCap, high cycle life, high power density, spirally-wound, aqueous asymmetric ultracapacitor