PowerCore/sup TM/, combining structure and batteries for increased energy to weight ratio

Much of the mass of a battery is comprised of nonreactive materials. In an Ni-H/sub 2/ battery, this includes the pressures vessel and 50% of the positive electrode PowerCore/sup TM/ reconfigures the battery materials to serve as a structural sandwich panel. The effective specific energy of the new device can exceed 100 Wh/kg. PowerCore/sup TM/ is intended to handle power demands of low Earth orbiting communications satellites such as IRIDIUM(R). This paper describes the concept and development progress.