BACKGROUND
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to a modular battery system for powering
a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system. In particular, the battery system may include a
plurality of modules and an air flow path through each module, which allow for controlling
the temperature of battery cells in the modules from rising above a predetermined threshold.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] There are many types of Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) systems being
developed, each using a type of focused energy to destroy a target. These DEW systems may
use a laser, microwave or particle beam to target missiles, vehicles, Unmanned Aerial
Systems (UAS), airplanes or other targets. Each type of DEW system fires relatively short,
intense bursts of energy. Some of these systems include battery banks to power the DEW
system. However, these battery banks generate high heat loads during operation that need to
be cooled in order for the DEW system to continue firing without overheating.
[0003] Mobile and smaller DEW systems have size, weight and power (SWAP)
requirements that make it difficult to install bulky, heavy cooling systems on, for example,
the battery system of a portable DEW platform. Conventional vapor compression systems
may be efficient at cooling environmental loads, such as rooms or systems with relatively
slow gains in heat. However, such systems may not provide rapid cooling features due to the
long duration, of up to a minute or in some cases more, to reach full capacity. In some cases,
a conventional vapor compression system may take several minutes or longer to provide
sufficient cooling to a load. Even once these vapor compression systems are running, their
weight, size and power requirements may make them inappropriate for use in DEW systems
for laser and battery cooling purposes.
SUMMARY
[0004] The embodiments disclosed herein each have several aspects no single one
of which is solely responsible for the disclosure's desirable attributes. Without limiting the
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scope of this disclosure, its more prominent features will now be briefly discussed. After
considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled "Detailed
Description of Certain Embodiments," one will understand how the features of the
embodiments described herein provide advantages over existing systems, devices and
methods.
[0005] One embodiment is a system for powering a laser weapon. This system
includes a battery bank comprising a plurality of cylindrical battery cells electrically
connected in series and parallel to form a plurality of modules; an air flow path through a
first module of the plurality of modules, wherein the air flow path is defined by a spacing
between a cylindrical surface of each battery cell and its neighboring battery cell; one or
more fans positioned to move air through the air flow path; a temperature sensor and a
voltage sensor communicating with the first module; an electrical output providing electrical
power to a laser weapon; and a control system configured to provide cooling via airflow from
the one or more fans to temperature control the battery cells across their cylindrical surface to
maintain a temperature gradient of less than about l5°C from a first side of the first module
to a second side of the first module, and further to prevent the temperature of the battery cells
from rising above a predetermined threshold while the laser weapon is active and consuming
energy from the battery bank
[0006] Another embodiment is a method of powering a laser weapon. This
method includes providing a battery bank comprising a plurality of cylindrical battery cells
electrically connected in series and parallel to form a plurality of modules; activating one or
more fans to direct an air flow path through a first module of the plurality of modules,
wherein the air flow path is defined by a spacing between a cylindrical surface of each
battery cell and its neighboring battery cell; monitoring a temperature sensor to determine
the temperature of the battery cells within the first module; and controlling the number or
speed of the one or more fans to maintain a temperature gradient of less than about l5°C
from a first side of the first module to a second side of the first module, and further to prevent
the temperature of the battery cells within the first module from rising above a predetermined
threshold while the laser weapon is active and consuming energy from the battery bank
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become
more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict
only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are not to be considered
limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail
through use of the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, reference
is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar
symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The
illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,
without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be
readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein,
and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide
variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of
this disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an energy weapon (DEW) platform according to
some embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cutaway illustration of a battery system according to some
embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of a battery system according to
some embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a battery bank according to some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] A Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system and platform are described,
which includes systems and methods for managing the temperature and power output of a
battery bank configured to provide power to the DEW system. The DEW system may be
located on a portable platform, and include a battery bank that provides the bursts of power
necessary to repeatedly activate a laser weapon during one or more laser activation cycle.
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[0013] The battery bank may be made up of a plurality of battery modules, with
each battery module containing a plurality of battery cells in a specific geometric
configuration. The geometric configuration allows an air flow path to be formed between the
battery cells so that one or more fans located adjacent to the battery bank can move ambient
air through the air flow path to cool the battery cells. The battery bank may also include
temperature and voltage sensors so that a control system can monitor and control the
operations of the battery bank depending on the ambient temperature, battery cell
temperatures and voltage of each battery cell or battery module.
[0014] In some embodiments, the control system is configured to cool or heat the
battery bank by directing airflow from one or more fans to control the temperature of the
battery cells within each battery module. In one embodiment, the one or more fans direct
ambient air across the cylindrical surface of each battery cell to maintain a temperature
gradient of less than about 5°C from one end to the other end of each battery cell. In other
embodiments, the control system may activate the one or more fans to direct airflow across
the battery cells to maintain a temperature gradient from one end of a battery cell to the other
that is less than 4°C, 3°C, 2°C or 1 oc.
[0015] Moving air flow across each battery cell may further prevent the
temperature of the battery cells from rising above a predetermined threshold while the laser
weapon is active and consuming energy from the battery bank In some embodiments, the
one or more fans in communication and the battery bank and directing ambient air across the
surface of the battery cells may provide sufficient cooling power to maintain the battery cells
within a predetermined threshold temperature. For example, the control system may control
the number of active fans, or speed of each fan, or both, to maintain the temperature of the
battery cells within the battery bank within their threshold temperature.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A system for powering a laser weapon, comprising:
a plurality of modules, wherein each module comprises a plurality of
cylindrical battery cells electrically connected in series or parallel, and each module is
connected in series or parallel to other modules to form a battery bank;
an air flow path through each module defined by a spacing between a
cylindrical surface of each battery cell and its neighboring battery cell;
one or more fans positioned to move air through the air flow path;
a temperature sensor and a voltage sensor communicating with each module;
an electrical output providing electrical power to a laser weapon; and
a control system configured to provide cooling via airflow from the one or
more fans to temperature control the battery cells across their cylindrical surface to
maintain a temperature gradient of less than about 15°C from a first side of each
module to a second side of each module, and further to prevent the temperature of the
battery cells from rising above a predetermined threshold while the laser weapon is
active and consuming energy from the battery bank
The system of Claim , wherein the spacing between adjacent battery cells is
about 2-1 0 mm.
The system of Claim 1, wherein each module comprises between 80 and 120
battery cells in series.
The system of Claim
275-325 VDC.
wherein the battery bank has a voltage of
The system of Claim 1, wherein the laser weapon has lOkW of power and the
battery bank has between 3 and 5 modules in series or parallel.
The system of Claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger positioned
adjacent to the one or more fans to provide heated or cooled ai r for the one or more fans to
move air through the air flow path.
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The system of Claim I, further compnsmg a generator collllected to the
battery bank for recharging the battery cells.
The system of Claim 1, wherein the system is configured to discharge above
30% of the usable capacity of the battery bank during a lasing period.
The system of Claim 1, wherein the laser weapon is configured to be active
for a discharge period of between about 30-200 seconds.
The system of Claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to provide
cooling via airflow from the one or more fans to temperature control the battery cells across
their cylindr1cal surface to maintain a temperature gradient of less than soc from a first end
to a second end of each battery cell.