A Self-Regulating Hydrogen Fueled Flatstack#8482; Fuel Cell / Li-ion Battery Hybrid Power Source for the Objective Force Warrior

摘要

The lightweight functionality of the Objective Force Warrior's 72-hour power source is of paramount significance, especially considering that a soldier must typically carry a load of 90 lbs, of which 30 lbs can be batteries. Neither primary nor secondary battery technology can satisfy the critical needs of the electronic devices necessary for a revolutionary increase in operational capability. With current objectives calling for a 40 % reduction in load carried by the soldier while simultaneously increasing the electronic capabilities and duration, dramatic improvements in energy and power densities are required. The solution to fulfilling the 72-hour requirement of continuous power within such stringent weight constraints can be found in hybrid power sources that exploit the high energy density of a fuel cell in parallel with the high power density of a secondary battery.