CHEMICAL DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITOR POWER SOURCE FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL THRUST VECTOR CONTROL ACTUATOR

Power sources for electrical actuation systems need to be made as comp act as possible for many potential applications. Size and weight const raints require that the energy and power densities of the source he as large as possible, While, in general, it is not possible to optimize both these parameters simultaneously, chemical double-layer (CDL) capa citor technology offers an excellent combination of the desirable ener gy and power density characteristics required in a source for these ap plications, The work presented here focuses on the design, testing, an d evaluation of the CDL capacitor technology in combination with batte ries as a unique power source for electrical actuation systems. In thi s research effort CDL capacitor technology was applied in the design a nd development of a power source for thrust vector control electromech anical actuators currently being developed for use on the Space Shuttl e's solid rocket boosters, CDL capacitors have many properties that ma ke them well suited for actuator applications, Among them are that the y have the highest demonstrated energy density for capacitive storage (about a factor of 5-10 less than NiCd batteries), have power densitie s up to 50 times greater than NiCd batteries, are capable of 500,000 c harge-discharge cycles, can be charged at extremely high rates, and ha ve nonexplosive failure modes. Thus, CDL capacitors exhibit a combinat ion of desirable battery and capacitor characteristics.