Aluminum-air batteries for military applications

The authors review the basic characteristics of aluminum-air batteries, describe some of the recent advances involving aluminum anodes and air cathodes, aluminum-air batteries and demonstrate certain potential military applications. They can be transported as lightweight, collapsible batteries and can be filled with water at the site of operation. The alkaline Al/air battery is advantageous when a high power is desired. The salt water battery is best suited for moderate power demand and to achieve multiple use, emptying and rinsing the battery between uses. A self-contained man-portable battery to provide satellite communication was also designed using alkaline electrolyte. The operational requirements demanded cold start-up in a half-hour from -40 °C, a power output from 6 to 400 W, and an energy density of 435 Wh/kg. Activation of the battery was accomplished by emptying the reservoirs on the top of the cells which contain the electrolyte. Design modeling and demonstration test results of batteries for field communication, unmanned ground and airborne vehicles, and field recharger units for Ni-Cd and lead-acid are discussed