Project will evaluate energy sources that are alternatives to chemical storage batteries for a miniature transponder in cold dark spaces. In order of lowest to highest technical risk: a beta battery using a hermetically sealed beta source, RF energy scavenging, and a miniature reformer-fuel cell that scavenges energy from naturally occurring methane or fuel vapors. Power supply based on one of these energy sources will provide in excess of 15 microamps continuously with occasional bursts of 100 mA to provide a total two ampere-hours of direct current over a period of at least ten years. We will design a power supply to match preferred device that will accumulate energy depending on the source, smooth out variations to produce required current, and match the source impedance to the load. Our goal is to provide a system that will require no modification of missile or munitions containers or bunkers and will eventually be installed on containers using an adhesive backing thus allowing the user to retrofit existing containers as well as modifying new ones. We will build laboratory prototype systems in Phase I demonstrating each concept and trade them off to determine the best candidate for engineering development in phase II. This work dovetails with Scentczar work to develop a missile canister heath monitor for the Navy.
Keywords: Power Source, Missile Health Monitor
