Highly Conductive Composite Pressure Vessel Structures with Fire Resistance Properties
Navy SBIR FY2010.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1
Topic No.: N101-052
Topic Title: Highly Conductive Composite Pressure Vessel Structures with Fire Resistance Properties
Proposal No.: N101-052-1111
Firm: Thermacore, Inc.
780 Eden Road
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601-4794
Contact: Mark Montesano
Phone: (631) 285-6580
Web Site: www.thermacore.com
Abstract: Several types of submersibles, including the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), house batteries and associated electronics in externally mounted pressure vessels. As batteries are charged or discharged, heat builds up in the cells, increasing the chance of thermal runaway of a given cell. Standard composite materials are not highly efficient at transferring heat. A lightweight composite pressure vessel that would maximize the transfer of any heat developed by the battery and electronics from within a composite pressure vessel to the ambient environment (i.e. seawater) is needed to safely house these systems. The pressure vessel must be able to do this while maintaining sufficient structural strength to withstand external collapse pressures. k Technology, a division of Thermacore, proposes to develop a composite pressure vessel that will satisfy the program goals. This proposed vessel will be constructed of an innovative composite material with high thermal conductivity (>250 W/mK or >35X that of 6AL4V titanium), low mass density (<2.0 g/cm3 or < � of 6AL4V titanium), with stiffness and high strength properties equivalent to titanium. The proposed k Technology concept is to develop a high performance composite materials system which will provide both a highly conductive thermal path and structural protection for the encased battery system.
Benefits: The high conductance low mass materials to be demonstrated under this program would have immediate applications in Navy as well as Air Force, NASA, and industrial uses. Key benefits over baseline solutions include reduced manufacturing costs. In addition to cost reduction, the proposed technology will yield improved structure (which will increase system survivability) and increased conductivity (which will increase reliability of the battery systems contained in the pressure vessels.)

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