| Mathematical descriptions of mass transport in concentrated electrolyte solutions require accurate property values. Because there is no reliable means of predicting these transport values from fundamental properties, they must be experimentally measured. This dissertation is primarily concerned with the measurement and correlation of conductivity and differential diffusion coefficients of potassium hydroxide as applicable to nickel-hydrogen cells, which are widely used for energy storage on communications satellites and other aerospace applications. The correlations are functions of temperature and concentration and were designed for input into the USC Nickel-Hydrogen Cell Model, a mathematical model describing the mass transport, kinetic, and ohmic behavior of nickel-hydrogen cells.; In addition, traditional laboratory tests of batteries consisting of 45 and 50 A-hr nickel-hydrogen cells have been conducted in a controlled environment for capacity performance over a range of temperature. Finally, the capacity increase associated with a ramped temperature discharge regime on a battery of cells has been quantified. This discharge regime is currently used in a number of satellite power applications, but this is the first time that the increase in capacity has been systematically investigated under controlled conditions. The results of these tests may be used for first-principles model verification or may be used to extend the range of an empirical model. |
