A Fuel Cell Energy Storage System for Space Station Extravehicular Activity 881105
A greater number of manned extravehicular activities (EVAs) are anticipated for the United States Space Station compared to the few experienced on Space Shuttle missions. This requires the design of a new generation extravehicular mobility unit (EMU). Limitations inherent in the current EMU power supply--zinc silver-oxide batteries--include dry shelf-life, active wet-life, cycle-life, and recharge time, thus making its usage impractical for the Space Station.
An alternative solution, a fuel cell energy storage system (FCESS), is being explored by Ergenics Power Systems, Inc. (EPSI), Wyckoff, N.J., with funding from NASA/Johnson Space Center. The ion-exchange membrane (IEM) fuel cell under consideration utilizes hydrogen stored as a metal hydride. EPSI has demonstrated experimentally that the fuel cell/hydride technology pair should be a primary candidate EMU power supply for its high volumetric/energy density and cycle life, quick recharge, durability, EMU integration, and safety.
This paper describes the EMU (IEM) hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell being developed by EPSI including its construction, hydrogen storage, hydride recharge, waste heat and water removal.
Citation: Rosso, M., Adlhart, O., and Marmolejo, J., "A Fuel Cell Energy Storage System for Space Station Extravehicular Activity," SAE Technical Paper 881105, 1988, https://doi.org/10.4271/881105. Download Citation
Author(s):
Matthew J. Rosso, Otto J. Adlhart, Jose A. Marmolejo
Affiliated:
Ergenics Power Systems, Inc., Wyckoff, N.J.
Pages: 10
Event:
Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE Transactions Journal of Aerospace-V97-1
Related Topics:
Energy storage systems
Fuel cells
Spacecraft
Hydrogen storage
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