Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a battery. The battery can include a case having a hollow accommodation cavity formed therein. The case having a material that includes a blend comprising at least one of polysulfone, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Nylon, polyphenylene oxide (PPO), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), and polypropylene. The material of the case enables removal of thermal energy generated during operation of the battery.

Abstract: A biasing mechanism for pressurizing an electrolytic solution of a reserve battery cell, the biasing mechanism containing a compressed spring and a trigger operatively associated with the compressed spring. The trigger is configured to release the compressed spring to pressurize the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a dual activation mode thermal battery for powering a load. The thermal battery can include a first power source activable upon receiving mechanical energy. The thermal battery can also include a second power source activable through one of the electrical power produced by the first power source and external electrical stimuli, the second power source is configured to, upon activation provide a voltage for powering the load, wherein the first power source and the second power source are thermally and electrically isolated and the initiator thermal energy output from one initiator is prevented from initiating the other power source directly.

Abstract: A current collector including: a polymer film including a first major surface, an opposite second major surface, and a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the polymer film; a first layer on the first major surface of the polymer film; a second layer on the second major surface of the polymer film; and a third layer on an inner surface of an opening of the plurality of openings, wherein the third layer contacts the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently has an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 Siemens per meter.

Abstract: A submersible power supply apparatus provides the ability to provide power for recharging batteries used to operate underwater vehicles, manned and unmanned. A battery charging station apparatus containing at least one modular reserve battery magazine with a plurality of compartments is provided. A plurality of reserve battery modules may be respectively provided in the plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of reserve battery modules being configured to provide power when a reserve battery provided therein is activated.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrochemical cell including a lithium anode, a solid cathode, a first separator and a second separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte in fluid communication with the anode, the cathode, and the first and the second separators, the first separator having a higher melting point (or shut-down) temperature than the melting point (or shut-down) temperature of the second separator.

Abstract: An improved electrolyte including a fire-retardant additive suitable for application in wide temperature cell and/or battery operation with safer cell design, a battery including the electrolyte and a separator optionally containing a fire-retardant additive, improved electrical and thermal conductive electrodes are disclosed. The presence of the fire-retardant additive reduces flammability of the electrolyte and improved the overall safety of the battery.

Abstract: A bypass module including a plurality of P-Channel MOSFETs connected in parallel to form a P-Channel MOSFET array, a plurality of N-Channel MOSFETs connected in parallel to form a N-Channel MOSFET array, and a control module to control switching of the P-Channel MOSFET array and the N-Channel MOSFET array is disclosed. A battery or load management device used to switch higher current and low voltages is disclosed. A battery bypass and bypass method for charge, discharge, and charge limiting control for various types of batteries is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved lithium-sulfur battery containing a surface-functionalized carbonaceous material. The presence of the surface-functionalized carbonaceous material generates weak chemical bonds between the functional groups of the surface-functionalized carbonaceous material and the functional groups of the polysulfides, which prevents the polysulfide migration to the battery anode, thereby providing a battery with relatively high energy density and good partial discharge efficiency.

Abstract: A eutectic formulation of KOH and NaOH is used as an electrolyte or an electrolyte-separator. An anode, and/or a cathode can contain the eutectic formulation of KOH and NaOH. A battery can contain an electrolyte-separator, an anode, and/or a cathode with the eutectic formulation of KOH and NaOH. The electrolyte in the electrolyte-separator can have a melting point from about 170° C. to about 300° C. making it suitable for use in a thermal battery that does not require a pyrotechnic device for certain high-temperature applications.

Abstract: A system and method use an open-circuit voltage (OCV) method of calculating a state-of-health (SOH) of a chemical battery. The OCV system and method includes charging the battery to a maximum charge potential, determining an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery after waiting a predetermined period of time after completion of the charging, and determining the SOH of the battery based on the determined OCV of the battery. Another system and method use a time-to-charge (TTC) method of calculating a state-of-health (SOH) of a chemical battery. The TTC system and method includes monitoring and storing a charge time of the battery in a memory and scaling the stored charge time to form an SOH indication.

Abstract: An alloy includes lithium, silicon and tin. An anode may be formed of an anode material containing the alloy of lithium, silicon and tin. The anode material may include an electrolyte. The anode material may be a pressed powder pellet that is solid at ambient temperature. A battery, for example, a thermal battery, can contain an electrolyte-separator, a cathode, and/or an anode with the alloy of lithium, tin and silicon. The anode formed of the alloy consisting of lithium, tin and silicon can have a melting point from about 500° C. to about 600° C. or higher making it suitable for use in a thermal battery.

Abstract: A battery case houses a battery with a plurality of non-prismatic electrochemical cells and at least one electronic component. The battery case includes a plurality of cell housings and at least one electronic component housing that accommodates the at least one electronic component. The plurality of cell housings each (1) define an internal space sized to accommodate one of the electrochemical cells, and (2) include (a) an internal surface at least a portion of which is shaped to substantially correspond to a non-prismatic exterior surface of the one of the electrochemical cells to be housed by the cell housing, and (b) an external surface at least a portion of which follows contours of a corresponding portion of the inner surface.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has at least one modular reserve battery magazine with a plurality of compartments. A plurality of reserve battery modules may be respectively replaceably provided in corresponding ones of the plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of reserve battery modules being configured to provide power when a reserve battery provided therein is activated. Each reserve battery module of the plurality of reserve battery modules includes a sleeve and a reserve battery provided within the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to fit within one of the plurality of compartments in a predetermined orientation. Each sleeve may be detachably connectable within any compartment of the plurality of compartments and includes electrical connections so that each reserve battery module of the plurality of reserve battery modules is separately replaceable while the power supply apparatus remains remotely located.

Abstract: A bypass module including a plurality of P-Channel MOSFETs connected in parallel to form a P-Channel MOSFET array, a plurality of N-Channel MOSFETs connected in parallel to form a N-Channel MOSFET array, and a control module to control switching of the P-Channel MOSFET array and the N-Channel MOSFET array is disclosed. A battery or load management device used to switch higher current and low voltages is disclosed. A battery bypass and bypass method for charge, discharge, and charge limiting control for various types of batteries is disclosed.

Abstract: A battery includes an anode containing a lithium material, a cathode containing sulfur and a porous conducting medium, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte contains an additive selected from the group consisting of an organic surfactant additive, an inorganic additive, and a mixture thereof. The organic surfactant additive may be a fluorosurfactant.

Abstract: A subsea system includes an electrically powered control system for controlling the subsea system and a replaceable reserve battery electrically coupled to the control system to provide backup and/or supplemental power to the control system when the reserve battery is activated. The reserve battery is provided in a housing having a first coupling, the subsea system includes a second coupling, and the first and second couplings are detachably connectable to each other and include electrical connections so that the reserve battery is replaceable while the subsea system remains below the sea-surface.

Abstract: An improved electrolyte including a strontium additive suitable for lithium-sulfur batteries, a battery including the electrolyte, and a battery including a separator containing a strontium additive are disclosed. The presence of the strontium additive reduces sulfur-containing deposits on the battery anode, thereby providing a battery with relatively high energy density and good partial discharge performance.

Abstract: An improved lithium-sulfur battery containing a surface-functionalized carbonaceous material. The presence of the surface-functionalized carbonaceous material generates weak chemical bonds between the functional groups of the surface-functionalized carbonaceous material and the functional groups of the polysulfides, which prevents the polysulfide migration to the battery anode, thereby providing a battery with relatively high energy density and good partial discharge efficiency.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to stabilizing energy provided by an energy source, and more particularly to systems and methods for using multiple types of energy storage devices to selectively capture and provide energy. An energy source provides energy, and the energy storage devices selectively capture energy provided by the energy source in excess of an immediate energy requirement of a load and selectively provide energy when the immediate energy requirement of the load exceeds the energy provided by the energy source.