Portable Power Systems on the Battlefield

Jonathan J. Miles, Associate ProfessorDepartment of Integrated Science & TechnologyJames Madison University

28 September 2004

Who am I?Background

Assistant/Associate Professor, ISAT, 1996/2000• Affiliated with Energy Academic Team• Teach courses at all levels that involve applied sciences and

engineering, energy technologies and issues• Co-director, Infrared Development and Thermal Structures

Laboratory (funded by NASA, NSF, industry)• Director, JMU Office of the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative

(funded by U.S. DOE, VA DMME)Research Associate, Energy Research Center, Lehigh University, 19951996Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1994B.A., Physics, Clark University, 1985milesjj@jmu.edu / www.isat.jmu.edu/miles.htm

Define “portable”Webster defines as “capable of being carried.”Fuel is heavy, a limited resource in the field, and not easily transported.In theory, portable power production via solar- or wind-based technologies could reduce substantially fuel demands.In practice, are the sizes and operating profiles of conventional renewable energy systems practical for military operations?

Define “remote”Webster defines as “located out of the way.”The U.S. military today, and in the future, is active in

Middle East hot spots (easy to advance, hard to hold, requires occupation of urban areas);preemptive strikes/special ops in “borderline” countries and remote areas;humanitarian missions to stop ethnic cleansing or to assist in natural disasters.

In remote locations, disruption of supply of fuel, spare parts, and other resources critical to reliable power production is mission critical.

Where is portable, remote power needed?

Forward command postVehicle-based activitiesIndividual/troop

Special ops or foot soldierSquad on patrol

What are the applications?

CommunicationsVoiceData

LogisticsWater purificationFood preparationSanitation and HygieneFuel supply

TransportationFuel pumping and filteringMaintenance

Innovative applications

Drones

What are the needs of the troops?

Power systems that areextremely reliableportableunderstandable

Where is the technology today?

Today’s options includeBatteries• Issues: weight, environmentally

unfriendly, limited capacity, disposition

Photovoltaic and small wind systems• Issues: size, weight, availability of power

Diesel generator sets• Issues: weight, fuel, maintenance, noise

What are the future challenges?

CommunicationsSoftware will continue to advance, will be able to supply situational information across all levelsSmaller systems, more data, greater power consumption

LogisticsIncreasing need for clean waterTechnology provides ability to tap seawater, brackish water, even sewage“Orange County officials

Wednesday night overwhelmingly approved the first stage of a controversial $600-million plan to turn sewage into drinking water.”

What are the future challenges?

TransportationFuel sources likely to become increasingly scarceNeed to think about technologies to create, store, and utilize hydrogen

In 2001, Ballard introduced the Nexa® power module, the world's first volume-produced proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell module designed for integration into a wide variety of stationary and portable power generation applications.

Which technologies are most promising?

Fuel cellsCharacteristics

• Platinum loading necessary for power density, expensive

• Methanol leading as fuel of choice

• Could enable universal connectivity of wireless devices (high power loading)

Fuel cellsChallenges

• Portable fuel cells produce low power (even a 1.2-kW unit is large)

• Durability is not yet comparable batteries

• Micro-fabrication of fuel cells is promising but still in development phase

1 “Fuel Cells for Portable Power: Markets, Manufacture and Cost,” Darnell Group, Inc., 20032 ”Micro-Fabricated Thin-Film Fuel Cells for Portable Power Requirements,” Jankowski et al., 2002

Which technologies are most promising?

Remote/integrated solar, wind

Characteristics• No fuel

requirements• Highly reliable and

commercially-proven technologies

Challenges• Intermittent supply• Require significant

infrastructure and open space

1http://www.oksolar.com/military/military_battery_Chargers.htm

Which other technologies are promising and where can I learn about them?

The Institute for Defense Analysis (www.ida.org) publishes relevant research at

Defense Technical Information Center (www.dtic.mil)National Technical Information Service (www.ntis.gov)

Examples:“Portable Power Generation Based on Mesoscale Free Piston Knock Engine,” Honeywell, Inc., 2002“Modular Portable Air-Conditioning System,” Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, 2001

Space is the limit!

Solar Power Satellites

A SPS converts solar into electricity, then into microwaves to be beamed to EarthBeam is received and converted to electrical current by rectifying antennaSPS resides in geo-stationary orbit

SPS would operate 24/7 and receive, nominally, eight times the insolation available on Earth

1http://www.freemars.org/history/sps.html

1http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/solar_power_sats_011017-1.html

Acknowledgements

Mr. Phil Dougherty, U.S. Department of EnergyDr. Christie-Joy Brodrick, Department of Integrated Science and Technology

Questions?

Portable Power Systems on the Battlefield

Jonathan J. Miles, Associate ProfessorDepartment of Integrated Science & TechnologyJames Madison University

28 September 2004