Electrochemical Supercapacitors For Electromechanical Actuators

In a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract with Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Griner, Inc., of Waltham, Massachusetts, is developing a highly efficient, long-life, all-solid ionomer electrochemical capacitor stack capable of supplying high-current impulses. While still in the prototype development stage, a 50V, 2kJ capacitor has already been fabricated and tested.

For all target markets, Griner is the sole provider that uses all-solid ionomer capacitors with no corrosive acids or bases present. Potential NASA applications include utilization as a pulse power source on the Space Shuttle for electromechanical actuator activation, while the U.S. Air Force could employ the technology for charge storage devices in uninterruptable power supplies. Private-sector commercializations also encompass application in uninterruptable power supplies and pulse power sources as well as defibrillators.

Significant cost savings are expected due to weight eductions from the removal of hydraulic systems.