December 17, 2018

Japan’s NTO aka TNO (2nd Generation LIB) for Submarine Tables

Anonymous has advised of Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) for submarine developments. Pete's comments are in [...] brackets.

There are rumours that the Japanese Navy my eventually replace its NCA LIBS with LTO [maybe operational in the 2030s] and then NTO/TNO LIBs [maybe operational in the 2040s]. These again are rumours but such replacement is logical given the improving development paths of new-generation LIBs. See details of these new LIBs below.

As the current NCA LIB module is governed by the architecture of the preceding lead-acid battery (LAB) Soryu submarine and is not optimal for LIBs, the next generation LIBs will become smaller to achieve a better arrangement. Also, the structure of LIBs and their module arrangements will be altered to achieve higher efficiency and better safety. These changes will require a total review of current LIB production facilities. Financing this is essential.

[Pete Comment - While European countries have  made statements that they are developing LIBs for submarines, Japan has made concrete progress. Japan has actually launched a medium-large conventional submarine (the Oryu) with LIBs. This will give regional superiority (compared to other SSKs) to the Oryu and the Japanese LIBs submarines that follow it.]

The two main First Generation LIBs for submarine that Japan has been developing are:

NCA – (Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide) produced by Japanese company GS Yuasa. This is the LIB type in the Oryu. Oryu is a Soryu Mark 2 (aka Mk. II) (see TABLE 1. and 2. below). NCA has high energy density, but has a relatively short cycle life and less stability, and

LTO (Lithium Titanate Oxide) produced by Toshiba. Following Japan’s policy of continual evolution in submarines the Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) is developing a next generation LIB known as LTO. LTO LIBs will be smaller and more efficient than current NCA LIBs. Studies are being made in FY2017 and 2018. LTO’s are being developed in a Aus$1 billion program 2019 to 2023. Also, new silent [electromagnetic?] propulsion is to be developed. LTO and silent propulsion may be applied to Soryu Mark 3s or a new submarine class to follow the Soryu [see TABLE 2.]. Japan proposed LTO LIBs in Australia’s submarine competition (CEP, SEA 1000). LTO features has a longer cycle life and higher stability, but this is at the expense of low energy density.

Further details on NCA and LTO are at these 2 Submarine Matters article (here and here) both of October 17, 2018.

Since 2017 Toshiba has continued the development of a second generation Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) type using Niobium Titanium Oxide (NTO)(aka titaniumniobate (TNO)). NTO is composed of TiNb2O. NTO’s energy density (160-200Wh/kg?) is twice that of Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO). NTO also has longer charge/discharge cycle life (5000 cycles?) and has higher stability than LTO. In June 2018 Toshiba announced it had made a deal with a Brazilian mining company to mass produce NTO in 2020 (also see https://www.energytrend.com/news/20180627-12359.html ).

NTO’s energy density and cycle life is also reportedly superior to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). LFP, that Europe’s SAFT is developing, has an energy density of 90-120kWh/kg and cycle life of 1000-2000) .

[ See this good Niobium in LIBs website (which, on its last page, favourably compares NTO (aka TNO) with LTO, NCA and LFP. Complete string https://www.cbmm.com/-/media/CBMM/Resource-Center/PDFs/Mobility---Mobilidade/Niobium-in-Li-Ion-Batteries.ashx  ]

TABLE 1.  LIBS BY GENERATION (provided by Anonymous)

Name and abbreviation
Composition and abbreviation
Energy density [kW/kg]
(theoretical)
Note
First Generation
LIBs
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide
NCA
LiNiCoAlO2 or NCA
260
On Soryus Oryu (27SS) & 28SS.
From Japan's GS Yuasa
Lithium Cobalt Oxide
LiCoO2 or LCO
200 (1014)
Shinkai 6500
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide
LiNiMnCoO2 or NMC
200
Lithium Manganese Oxide
LiMn2O4 or LMO
140 (410)
Proto-type by JMSDF
Lithium Iron Phosphate  LFP
LiFePO4    LFP
LFYP in China is family of LFP.
120 (575)
China. Separately SAFT
Lithium titanate LTO
Li4Ti5O12 or 
LTO
80
Toshiba. Offered to Aus in CEP
LABs
LAB
40
LSBs
Lithium-sulfur LSB
Li2S3   LSB
theoretically
about (2500)
Second
Generation LIBs
Lithium Ion Silicate
Li2FeSiO4
(1584)
High Safety, low cycle performance
Lithium Manganese Silicate
Li2MnSiO4
(1485)
High Safety, low cycle performance
Niobium Titanium Oxide NTO
TiNb2O7    NTO
160-200Wh/kg?
Toshiba

-----------------------------------------------------------

TABLE 2.   SORYU & Oyashio Program as at December 17, 2018 

SS
No.
Diesel Type
Motor
Build No
Name
Pennant
No.
MoF approved amount ¥
Billions FY
LABs, LIBs, AIP
Laid Down
Laun
-ched
Commi
ssioned
Built
By
5SS Oyashio
8105 Oyashio
SS-590/ TS3608
¥52.2B FY1993
LABs only
 Jan 1994
Oct 1996
Mar 1998
 KHI
6SS-15SS
Oyashios 
10 subs
SMC-7?
8106
-8115
various
SS-591-600
¥52.2B per sub
FY1994-FY2003
LABs only
 15SS Feb
2004
15SS
Nov
2006
15SS
Mar 2008
 MHI
&
KHI
16SS
Soryu Mk 1
SMC-8
8116
Sōryū
SS-501
¥60B FY2004
LABs + AIP
Mar 2005
Dec 2007
Mar
2009
MHI
17SS
8117
Unryū
SS-502
¥58.7B FY2005
LABs + AIP
Mar 2006
Oct 2008
Mar
2010
KHI
18SS
8118
Hakuryū
SS-503
¥56.2 FY2006
LABs + AIP
Feb 2007
Oct 2009
Mar
2011
MHI
19SS
8119
Kenryū
SS-504
¥53B FY2007
LABs + AIP
Mar 2008
Nov 2010
Mar
2012
KHI
20SS
8120
Zuiryū
SS-505
¥51B FY2008
LABs + AIP
Mar 2009
Oct 2011
Mar
2013
MHI
No 21SS
No 21SS built
22SS
8121
Kokuryū
SS-506
¥52.8B FY2010
LABs + AIP
Jan 2011
Oct 2013
Mar
2015
KHI
23SS
8122
Jinryu
SS-507
¥54.6B FY2011
LABs + AIP
Feb 2012
Oct 2014
7 Mar 2016
MHI
24SS
8123
Sekiryū
SS-508
¥54.7B FY2012
LABs + AIP
KHI
25SS
8124
SS-509
¥53.1B FY2013
LABs + AIP
22 Oct 2013
12 Oct   2016
MHI
26SS
end of SMC-8s
8125
SS-510
LABs + AIP
2014
6 Nov 2017
18 Mar 2019?
KHI
27SS First
Soryu Mark 2
diesel
first SMC-8B
motor
8126
SS-511
LIBs only
(NCA type)
2015
4 Oct
2018
Mar
2020?
MHI
28SS  Second
Soryu Mark 2
SMC-8B
8127
SS-512
¥63.6B FY2016
LIBs only
(NCA type?)
2016?
Oct 2019?
Mar 2021?
KHI
29SS First Soryu Mark 3
SMC-9?
8128
?
¥76B FY2017
LIBs only?
?
?
2023?
MHI?
30SS Second Soryu Mk 3
8029?
?
¥71.5B FY2018
LIBs only?
?
?
2024?
KHI?
Table from information exclusively provided to Submarine MattersLABs = lead-acid batteries, AIP = air independent propulsion, LIBs = Lithium-ion Batteries. ¥***B = Billion Yen. MHI = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, KHI = Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. 
---

Thankyou Anonymous (further translation by Pete).

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete

There is no information on the next generation LIB for Japanese submarine, but overview is somewhat predictable based on existing information or data.

Unless efficiency of the next generation LIB considerably increases, MoD can not provide a rational explanation of budget of 1 billion AUD to Board of Audit.

As the current LIB module is based on archetecure of the LAB submarine and is not optimum for the LIB dedicated submarine, the next gen LIB will become smaller to achieve better arrangement. Also, the structure of unit battery and its arrangement in the LIB module will be changed to achieve higher efficiency and better safety. These changes will provide total review of current production facility for LIB and need money.

Regards

Pete said...

Thanks Anonymous

For this extra LIBs information.

I have changed the first part of the article accordingly.

Regards

Pete

Anonymous said...

Some info about improving NiMH batteries (link in Swedish but it links to the document for the doctor degree which is in English) by adding oxygen the batteries will manage 3 times more cycles.

/Kjell

Pete said...

Thanks /Kjell

All the best till after Christmas.

Pete