Next Space Lab

Dnipro | Exploring Venus Together

Awards & Nominations

Next Space Lab has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!

Global Finalists Honorable Mentions

"TECK" Battery module

High-Level Project Summary

Our team competes in the Exploring Venus Together category. Main objective of this challenge is to design a power storage system which can provide a rover or lander with power for at least 60 days. Sodium-sulphur battery technology works perfectly in Venus conditions. So we decided to use it as the foundation on which improvements were made. Modified geometry allows to reduce size and weight. Modern materials and production technologies make it durable, easy to manufacture and reasonably priced. Its intended usage is to provide a temporary energy source for time when small amounts of power are generated. Best fighting power unit is solar panels, but others also will work.

Link to Final Project

https://github.com/NextSpace-team/TECK-battery-module

Link to Project "Demo"

https://youtu.be/HTwEf6DSMqU

Detailed Project Description

Batteries

Sodium-sulphur technology was chosen because of high efficiency in extremely high temperatures. Optimal for work temperatures are 300-600 °C . Due to its not bad power density, which is around 300 Watt-hours per kilogram, it can provide a significant amount of storage in relatively small mass. Sistem could be recharged 230 times with no characteristics lost. Cells have square casing which is made from AISI 202 Stainless Steel, coated with pure copper for adhesion and pure molybdenum layer for protection using electroplating method. Around cells also a fibreglass insulation main purpose of which is to protect cells from short circuit. The upper and lower contacts have an M6 internal thread for connecting cells to each other.

You can look at assembly drawing (img. 1) to see the design of the cell.

Cell characteristics:

Full cell mass is 0.935 Kg;

Dimensions: 50*50*139 mm;

EMF: 2 V

Capacity: 25 Ah

Sodium electrode mass: 58 g

Sulphur electrode mass: 160 g

(img. 1; Cell assembly drawing)

Electronics

Electronic compartment contains small 3 circuits designed to withstand Venus' extreme temperatures. Purpose of these circuits is to lower Voltage from 24V to 12V. Each circuit can handle 60 Watts. All 3 of them can handle 180 Watts, in time when all battery assembly gives 100 Watts in optimal work mode. Changing the tuning resistor, R1; R4; R15, power output can be from 1V-23V to better suit the power system of the lander. Tracks made of gold to resist corrosion. All chips have their plastic covers removed and made from silicone carbide or gallium nitrate. This type of chip is able to work in extreme temperature and pressure.

(img. 2; High-temperature battery electronics)

Frame

Frame made from two plates made from AISI 302 Stainless Steel using SLM (Selective Laser Melting) 3D printing technology. Part coated with pure copper for adhesion and pure molybdenum layer for protection using electroplating method. Frame has slots for cells to fit in.

(img. 3; Frame)

Assembly

Each TECK unit is made of 24 separate cells. All cells connected into two groups, both of them make 24V and 4.1A. Each group has 2 ways to connect to output. Two parts of frames connected with threaded rods. Cells take place in slots and are properly fixed by compression of construction. External weirs are single core copper cowered in a molybdenum protective layer. They raped in fiberglass and have ceramic covers to prevent sort circuit.

Assembly characteristics:

Mass: 26 Kg

Dimensions: 370*270*181 mm

Volume: 0,01798 m^3

Voltage: 24V, 12V

Power in optimal mode: 100W

Max Power: 180W

Capacity: 50Ah

(img. 4; Assembled TECK)

Analog comparing

According to table.1 we can see that our solution in no parameter is significantly worse. And some much better than other analogs. For beginning, preferable temperature is perfectly suitable for this application. Also important is life cycle, because it directly affects mission lengths. High energy density is also important, it reduces overall costs of mission.

(table.1; comperesing)

Space Agency Data

While designing the TECK, we took inspiration from NASA Glenn research center’s development of the Venus rover for a mission called Venus Landsailing Rover “Zephyr” . Also we researched DAVINCI Mission from Goddard Spaceflight center. We analyzed their power systems, and developed engineering solution to satisfy the demands of these missions.

As well we analyzed NASA’s public information in looking for data from past Venus missions for complete understanding of the problem.

Hackathon Journey

Our journey began one year ago from the last Space apps. Since that time we have been waiting for this year's event. When the first challenge was published we were curious, like a childs in a candy store. We had a long debate about what to choose. Eventually we decided to stop on Exploring Venus Together. Then we decided on roles in our team. After this we started admiring NASA’s projects and gathering info about the planet. When the time of beginning came we were motivated to compete for victory. So the work began, hours and hours we were making progress step by step. We spent the night working and sleeping, but by the morning a huge part of work was behind. We stepped into a new day with new courage and pattion. All day we were doing tons of work and by the end we were tired and proud.