Active primary lithium thionyl chloride battery for artillery application

Sandia National Laboratories and Eagle-Picher Industries have successfully developed an active lithium thionyl chloride (ALTC) power battery for unique artillery applications. The program goal was to provide a direct replacement power battery for the no-longer-produced reserve ammonia battery, capable of extended dynamic environments. This goal was met using the active lithium thionyl chloride flat-plate design. Flight worthiness has been demonstrated through actual artillery projectile usage. The authors provide a summary of maximum dynamic environments in which the ALTC battery has successfully survived and operated in a normal manner. The ALTC battery has successfully provided uninterrupted 24 to 32 VDC at up to 450 milliamperes at -35°C, 25 and 55°C in actual artillery tests at maximum dynamic environments