LiSOCL2 batteries

Thales Cryogenics produces modular design Lithium Thionyl chloride reserve batteries using standardized components offering a high level of flexibility to meet a wide range of applications. The Thales lithium batteries can be activated with a minimum acceleration force of 1500 g for the artillery version to give fast rise times under high loads. They are also fully functional in non-spin applications.

Chemistry

The cell reaction of the Lithium – Thionyl chloride system is : 4Li + 2 SOCl2 -> 4LiCl + S + SO2(g)

Lithium metal acts as anode while the liquid thionylchloride (SOCl2) acts as both electrolyte and cathode material, discharging at a porous carbon electrode acting as current collector. During the cell reaction, Lithium metal dissolves in the electrolyte as lithium ions while at the surface of the carbon electrode thionylchloride is being discharged. The SO2 is dissolved in the electroyte, preventing internal pressure build up .
The open cell voltage for such a cell is 3.65V and it is capable of delivering high currents, even at temperatures as low as -40°C, where still more than 50% of its capacity is available.

Construction

In Thales lithium batteries the thionylchloride electrolyte is retained in a glass ampule suspended in a special construction that allows the ampule to break out of the suspension and shatter by a minimum acceleration of 1500 g up to 5000 g where higher flick ramming forces are present. In most applications the electrolyte distribution is enhanced by spin forces, but even without these forces, activation rise time is very short.

The stainless steel housing allows for flexible one cell or multi cell stacks of up to 9 cells in the present design. Parallel cell connection can handle even larger current densities.

Recent design improvements have increased the drop resistance to withstand drops up to 5 metres and still achieve 100% activation at forces as low as 800 g.

Properties

  • Customised design possible upon request
  • Function time: > 200 seconds @ 250 mA
  • Maximum load: 250 mA [500 mA with 2 parallel stacks]
  • Verions use identical stainless steel housing: 32 x 23 mm
  • Open circuit voltage: 3.5-31.5 V in 3.5 V increments [OCV of 1 cell]
  • Linear acceleration for activation: > 1500 g [UA 6215] or> 5000 g [UA 6275]
  • Rotation for optimal activation: 2900 rpm [no-spin applicationsare also possible]

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