초록 ▼

An electrical power system for a spacecraft or other vehicle or structure comprising a structural member containing an integrated solid-state power source is disclosed. The power source includes a solar cell system and an energy storage system that are combined into a single unit or package, and in

An electrical power system for a spacecraft or other vehicle or structure comprising a structural member containing an integrated solid-state power source is disclosed. The power source includes a solar cell system and an energy storage system that are combined into a single unit or package, and in certain embodiments, are configured into the shape of a flexible aerobot balloon or a rigid nanosat surface panel. The power components of a preferred lightweight power unit, include thinly layered photovoltaic cells, a rechargeable lithium solid polymer electrolyte battery, a capacitor, electronics and thermal management capability.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An electrical power system for a spacecraft, vehicle or building, said system comprising: a structural member of a spacecraft, vehicle or building to be powered by the system, said structural member selected from the group consisting of structural panels, housings, coverings,

What is claimed is: 1. An electrical power system for a spacecraft, vehicle or building, said system comprising: a structural member of a spacecraft, vehicle or building to be powered by the system, said structural member selected from the group consisting of structural panels, housings, coverings, supports and trusses and containing at least one integral solid-state power unit, each said power unit comprising a solar power device and an energy storage device, said power unit including a laminate comprising: at least one film photovoltaic cell, at least one thermal management device that is additional to any other components of the system; at least one lithium battery having an energy density of at least 125 Wh/kg, optionally, at least one polymer film capacitor, optionally, at least one film electrochemical capacitor, and electronic circuitry in electrical contact with said at least one photovoltaic cell, thermal management device and lithium battery, and polymer film capacitor, if present, and film electrochemical capacitor, if present. 2. The power system of claim 1 wherein said laminate comprises said at least one photovoltaic cell, thermal management device, battery, polymer film capacitor; and film electrochemical capacitor, layered in the order stated. 3. The power system of claim 2 comprising at least one electronic control in electrical contact with said electronic circuitry. 4. The power system of claim 3 wherein at least one said electronic control comprises a preprogrammed microprocessor. 5. The power system of claim 4 wherein at least one said electronic control comprises a dc-dc converter. 6. The power system of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuitry electrically interconnects at least two said photovoltaic cells in series or in parallel. 7. The power system of claim 1 wherein at least two said batteries are connected in series or in parallel and said electronic circuitry electrically interconnects said photovoltaic cells to said batteries. 8. The power system of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuitry electrically interconnects said photovoltaic cells to said batteries, and, if said at least one polymer film capacitor and/or at least one film electrochemical capacitor is present, interconnects said batteries to said at least one capacitor, to form a single function power module. 9. The power system of claim 1 wherein, said at least one polymer film capacitor and/or said at least one film electrochemical capacitor is/are present, and said electronic circuitry electrically interconnects said photovoltaic cells to said batteries, and interconnects said batteries to said at least one capacitor, to form a multi-function power module. 10. The power system of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuitry connects said at least one battery and/or said at least one capacitor, if said at least one polymer film capacitor and/or said at least one film electrochemical capacitor is present, to a defined electrical load. 11. The power system of claim 1 wherein each said thermal management device comprises at least one heating element. 12. The power system of claim 1 wherein each said battery comprises at least one electrochemical cell containing a film amorphous carbon anode, a film lithium ion polymer electrolyte gel containing a liquid organic solvent, and a film lithiated metal oxide cathode. 13. The power system of claim 12 wherein said metal oxide is chosen from the group consisting of the oxides of manganese, cobalt and nickel, and combinations thereof. 14. The power system of claim 12 wherein said film lithium ion polymer electrolyte gel contains no more than about +wt % liquid organic solvent. 15. The power system of claim 1 wherein said battery comprises an electrochemical cell containing at least one solvent-free solid state lithium polymer electrolyte cell. 16. The power system of claim 15 wherein said solvent-flee solid state lithium polymer electrolyte has a conductivity greater than 1횞10-4 S/cm at 25째 C. or below, and comprises a mixture of: (a) a base polymer material comprising at least one ionically conductive polymer and having an initial conductivity of at least 1횞10-5 S/cm at 25째 C. when combined with a metal salt; (b) a lithium salt; (c) an inorganic filler having an average particle size less than 0.05 micron in diameter and a surface area of at least about 100 m2/g; and (d) an ionic conducting material having an average particle size less than 0.1 micron in diameter and an initial ionic conductivity of at least 2횞10-3 S/cm at 25째 C. 17. The power system of claim 15 wherein each said cell comprises a film lithium metal anode and a film lithium insertion cathode. 18. The power system of claim 1 wherein each said film battery has an energy density at least in the range of about 200-250 Wh/kg. 19. The power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one polymer film capacitor is present and each said polymer film capacitor has an energy density at least in the range of about 5-10 J/cc. 20. The power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one film electrochemical capacitor is present and comprises at least one high surface area carbon electrode and an aqueous or non-aqueous electrolyte. 21. The power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one film electrochemical capacitor is present and is capable of supplying 1-3 volts. 22. The power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one film electrochemical capacitor is present and comprises at least one electrode containing a valve-metal oxide. 23. The power system of claim 22 wherein said valve-metal oxide contains 50-95 wt. % ruthenium oxide and the balance is vanadium oxide. 24. The power system of claim 1 wherein said structural member comprises a solar panel containing electronic circuitry laminated between two power units, each said power unit comprising: at least one film photovoltaic cell, a thermal management device, at least one lithium battery, at least one polymer film capacitors and at least one film electrochemical capacitor. 25. The power system of claim 24 wherein said laminate comprises, in the order given: at least one film photovoltaic cell, a thermal management device, at least one battery, at least one polymer film capacitor, at least one film electmochemical capacitor, electronic circuitry, at least one polymer film capacitor; at least one film electrochemical capacitor, at least one lithium battery, a thermal management device, and at least one film photovoltaic cell. 26. The power system of claim 1 wherein said laminate is conformable to a predetermined three-dimensional shape. 27. The power system of claim 1 wherein said laminate is flexible. 28. The power system of claim 1 wherein said laminate is substantially impervious to gaseous species. 29. The power system of claim 1 wherein said laminate is at least semi-rigid. 30. The power system of claim 1 wherein said laminate is resistant to thermal and electromagnetic radiation. 31. The power system of claim 1 wherein said solid-state power unit is embedded in said structural member. 32. The power system of claim 1 wherein said structural member comprises an exterior surface of a spacecraft, vehicle or building. 33. The power system of claim 1 wherein said structural member is an interior support of a spacecraft, vehicle or building and said solid-state power unit is conformable to the shape of said structural member. 34. The power system of claim 1 wherein said solid-state power unit is laminated onto a structural member of a spacecraft, vehicle or building. 35. The power system of claim 1 wherein said solid-state power unit provides structural support for said structure. 36. The power system of claim 1 wherein said structural member comprises a structural panel of a satellite. 37. The power system of claim 1 comprising at least two electrically interlockable modular panels. 38. The power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one thermal management device comprises a temperature sensor. 39. The power system of claim 38 wherein said at least one thermal management device further comprises a heating element and/or a thermoelectric cooling element. 40. The power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one polymer film capacitor is present and also serves as a radiation shield. 41. The power system of claim 1 wherein said solid-state power unit comprises at least one thermally insulating material. 42. The power system of claim 1 wherein said battery and said at least one polymer film capacitor, if present, and/or said at least one film electrochemical capacitor, if present, are operational at a temperature of about-20째 C. to about +150째 C. 43. A vehicle comprising the solid-state power system of claim 1 wherein said solid-state power unit is integral with a structural member of said vehicle. 44. The vehicle of claim 43 chosen from the group consisting of satellites, nanosats, aerobots, balloons, high altitude or space platforms, terrestrial vehicles and boats. 45. The vehicle of claim 43 wherein said solid-state power unit comprises at least one operationally interconnected laminate containing: at least one thin film photovoltaic cell layer, at least one layer containing a thermal management device, at least one thin film lithium battery layer, each said battery being capable of a multiplicity of discharge/recharge cycles, optionally, at least one film capacitor layer, optionally, at least one film electrochemical capacitor layer, and electronic circuitry. 46. The vehicle of claim 43 wherein said thermal management device comprises at least one heating element and said power unit is capable of operating under cryogenic conditions. 47. The vehicle of claim 46 wherein said solid state power system is capable of electrolyzing, compressing, liquefying or freezing a vehicle-transported gas or of electrolyzing, compressing, liquefying, freezing, sublimating or boiling a frozen or liquid phase of an atmospheric gas comes into contact with said vehicle when said vehicle is used for its intended purpose. 48. The vehicle of claim 43 wherein said power unit is capable of operating for up to about 15 years. 49. A spacecraft, vehicle or building comprising the power system of claim 1 wherein said at least one power unit is integral with a structural member of said spacecraft, vehicle or building. 50. The structure of claim 49 wherein said structural member is flexible. 51. The structure of claim 49 wherein said structural member is at least semi-right. 52. The power system of claim 1 wherein each said thermal management device comprises at least one thermoelectric cooling element.