January 15, 2020

Submarine Lithium-ion Batteries - Third Review of Battery Arrangements

Following "Huge Study on Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) for Submarines" of December  16, 2019 Anonymous has kindly written a Third Review of Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) arrangements. The Second Review was not published. Changes are in pink. The main revisions are as follows:


1.    Detail description of LIBs for Russian submarine including Kilo-class. Figs. 8 and 9 were added.
2.    Description of LIBs for Japanese submarine.
3.    Addition of Energy density in Table 3 and
4.    Format and expressions were changed to accord Submarine Matters' usage.

No patents on NCA by Japanese company GS-YUASA could be found. No information on sales and  manufacturing of NCA by GS-YUASA could be found.

Anonymous thinks GS-YUASA buys NCA batteries or has a manufacturing license approved by the  Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD). If that is the case, the NCA supplier/licensor (X ) needs the following:

i)            X has patents of NCA, is manufacturing NCA and has enough technology.
ii)           X has a strong and stable financing  (big company),
iii)          X is relied by MOD (X has been reliable Japanese supplier of MOD), 
iv)          there is a reliable relationship between X and GS-YUASA.  A company that satisfies
              conditions i) - iii) is only Panasonic as far as Anonymous knows. 

A few years ago, Panasonic sold all LABs sections to GS-YUASA  making it the biggest LAB manufacturer in Japan. From these facts, Anonymous believes Panasonic offers NCA technology to GS-YUASA.

In this Third Review below recent information on LIBs in Submarine Matters are reviewed with additional new insights, and they are summarized. Battery cells suitable for submarine are estimated from published data, and battery modules and battery groups are also estimated. Finally, energy of battery is estimated. As many assumptions are used, the estimations in this contribution might sometimes be different from fact.

Summary (of possible adoption of Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) in future submarine classes):

-      In current AIP submarines which have Lead-acid Batteries (LABs), the energy of LIBs is considerably lower than for non-AIP submarine (like Soryu/29SS). Soryu/29SS will show best performance at high speed (Table 4).

-      The LIBs in future South Korean 2000t (eg. the DSME 2000) and 3000t (eg. The KSS-III Batch 2) subs will generate higher energy at ever lower cost. The 2000t submarine will become a strong competitor of the future Type 214-LIB (which may have LIBs).

-      In the TKMS Type 212CD and Italian built Type 212NSF, non-magnetic hulls and minimal magnetic field created by batteries will be important. For those subs the width of a battery group is narrow to make variation of vertical position of battery groups small.

-      Australia’s future Attack-class may adopt bigger battery groups than Type 212CDs. If Naval Group fully adopt LIBs in the early 2020s, then possible NAVAL Group Shortfin for - Walrus replacement and future LIB-Scorpene may precede an Attack class equipped with LIBs - with all Naval Group classes adopting the same LIBs battery groups. If the future Attack-class retains LABs then this may be a waste of time and money.

-     Numbers and energy (192pieces, 6.1MWh) of LIBs for China’s Yuan 039B is significantly smaller than reported ones (960 pieces, 32MWh). WB-LYP10000AHA shows excellent performance as Iron Phosphate based battery.

-     Energy level of LIBs (if adopted) for Lada/Amur-class is as same as Western counterparts.[This is noting that Russia has made so little progress with AIP (for Ladas/Amurs in 20 years) that Russia may upgrade future Ladas/Amurs instead]. As Kilo-class is a proven subamerine at a  reasonable price, LIB-Kilo is an attractive choice than Amur-class for some countries.

-      SAAB-DAMEN equips with bigger [heavier] LIBs to satisfy Netherland Navy requirements [for more energy in its 3,000 ton A26s to replace the Walrus's].

-      Currently, safety (=no hydrogen generation) and better maintenance of LIBs are emphasized rather than increase in energy except Soryu/29SS (see SORYU TABLE).


Figure 1

While voltage of LAB is 2V and all of LABs are directly connected to produce high voltage, voltage of LIB is much higher (nominal voltage : 3.2-3.7V) and combination of direct and parallel connection is adopted in LIBs. Favorable numbers of battery groups and battery strings are multiples of four (4, 8, 12, etc.) for minimization of stray magnetic field.



Stern

Series connection of battery groups


































Bow
































































































































































































































Starboard


Figure 1   Battery group arrangement and its connection for LIB-submarine



Table 1 Definition of terms

Term
Definition
Battery
A parallel circuit composed of battery groups (blue area surrounded by double solid lines in Fig.1).
Battery string
A series of battery groups;
Battery group
A parallel circuit composed of battery lines (blue area surrounded by single solid lines in Fig.1),
Battery line
A series circuit composed of individual battery cells

Asubmarine has one battery or two batteries. Favorable numbers of battery groups and battery strings are multiples of four (4, 6, 12, etc.) for minimization of indiscrete stray magnetic fields [that enemy sensors may detect. Stray magnetic fields may also adversely effect electrical/electronic equipment in a submarine]. Figure 1 is a battery consisted of 8 battery strings where a battery string consists of 8 battery groups.


Table 2  Lithium ion battery cells for LIB-submarine

Lithium ion battery cells are listed in Table 2. The battery cells of FAAM and SAFT are square and others are cylindrical. Square battery cell shows higher efficiency than cylindrical one. Polymer (PO), LFP (lithium ion phosphate), LYP (lithium Ytterium) show higher safety. The best battery cell of the manufacturer is used for submarine.

SAMSUNG SDI shows high performance and excellent price by adopting commercial battery cells for EV (Electric Vhicle). As a reference, Russian latest square type cell (Liotech, LT-LFP72) is introduced. Energy density of LT-LYP (Yttrium added LFP)770 is lower than LT-LFP72[14].

  

Cell name

Make
Type
D
W
H or L
Weight
Voltage
Capacity

Energy density *6
Ref



mm
mm
mm
kg
V
Ah
Wh/kg

SLPB160460330H
Kokam
NMC PO (*1)
14.8
462
327
4.58
3.7
200
164
1
SLPB160460330
Kokam
NMC PO
15.8
462
327
4.51
3,7
240
197
1
94Ah
SAMSUNG SDI
Prismatic NCM
45
173
125
2.01
3.68
94
174
4
111Ah
SAMSUNG SDI
Prismatic NCM
45
173
125
2.01
3.68
111
204
5,6
-
FAAM
LFP
63 (*3)
-
225
1.51
3.2
65
139
7
-
GS-YUASA
NCA
-
-
-
-
3.6
-
250 (*2)

NCA103450 (*2)
Panasonic
NCA
10.5
33.8
48.5
0.0383
3.6
2.35
220
20
SCiB™ 20Ah
Toshiba
LTO
22
116
106
0.515
2.38
20
89.3
8
SCiB™ 23Ah
Toshiba
LTO
22
116
106
0.55
2.38
23
96.1
8
VL56E (*2)
SAFT
LFP
54.1 (*2)
-
244
(*4)
1.17
3.3
56
158
10
LT-LFP 72 (*5)
Liotech
LFP
135
30
222
= or less than 1.8
3.2
72
130
14
*1 Lithium polymer battery
*2 General data of NCA (Lithium Nickel Aluminum)
*3 Diamter
*4 Estimation by using SAFT VL48E and VL52LE
*5 The third generation LFP. Liotech is Russian Lithium ion battery maker.
*6 Energy = Capacity x Vlotage, Energy density =Energy/weight
*7 There is no information on NCA by GS-YUASA. Panasonic NCA103450 is introduced as a reference instead.


Table 3  Lithium ion battery modules (single module) for LIB-submarine

Various factors including diameter of submarine hatch, curvature of pressure hull, dimension and location of batteries, numbers of battery groups and battery modules (4, 8, 12, etc.), and size and performance of battery cell are considered to decide architecture of battery modules.

Details of SAFT-TKMS battery group are not reported, but, its footprint is expected to resemble FAAM battery group. SAFT-NAVAL battery group is hypothetical model based on SAFT-TKMS battery group.




Module name
Make
Cell name
Cell
D
W
H
Weight
Voltage
Capacity
Energy
Energy density
Ref



number-
mm
mm
mm
kg
V
Ah
kWh
Wh/kg

Green Orca
Floattech
SLPB160460330H
14
542
335
541
82
51.8
200
10.3
126
2
Green Orca
Floattech
SLPB160460330
14
542
335
541
80
51.8
240
12.4
155
3
M8994 E2 (*1)
94Ah
24
370
588
160
Less than
60
88.3
94
8.39
138
5,6
E3-090
111Ah
24
370
588
160
Less than 60
88.3
111
9.91
163
5,6
-
FAAM
-
24
252
378
225
More than
36
76.8
65
5.00
139
7
-
GS-YUASA
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
178 (*7)

20Ah 2P12S
Toshiba
24
360
190
125
14
27.6
40
1.10
79
9
23Ah 2P12S (*2)
Toshiba*1
SCiB™ 23Ah
24
360
190
125
15
27.6
45
1.24
83

(*3)
SAFT-TKMS
VL56E
16
237
586
131
Less than
20
52.8
56
2.95
148

(*4)
SAFT-NAVAL
VL56E
24
345
530
131
Less than
30
39.6
112
4.43
148

(*5)
Liotech
LT-LFP 72
36
270
540
222
64.8
57.2
144
8.23
127
19
(*6)
Winston Battery
WB-LYP10000AHA
11
367
687
756
335
3.2
10000
3210
96
16

*2 Estimation by using various Toshiba [8,10]
*3 Estimation by using various SAFT publications and TKMS LIB [11,12,13]. Footprint of SAFT-TKMS is assumed to be as same as FAAM.
*4 This model is hypothetical. Change battery change through a hatch with diameter of 650-711mm [15], which is estimated from hatch of Suffren submarine, and cell of VL56E are considered.
*5 Estimation based on battery arrangement of Kilo-class.
*7 Esimation by using Pnasonic NCA103450 cell, SAMSUNG SDI 111Ah cell and SAMSUNG SDI E3-090 module
Figures 2 to 9

Battery modules and battery groups based on FAAB cell, latest SAFT VL56E cell and LT LFP 72 cell are proposed in these figures. Dimension of FAAB battery module is decided based on perspective view of Type 212A and picture of FAAB battery module. The SAFT modules and groups are assumed to be different from SAFT commercial Flex’ionTM Figures 4&6 and 5&7 correspond to SAFT-TKMS and SAFT-NAVAL, respectively. Improvement of FAAB and SAFT cylindrical cells to square type cells will provide increase of energy (e.g., plus 20%).

In Figures 8 and 9, Lada-class (single hull, beam 7.1m) and Kilo-class (double hull, dianmeter of inner hull 7.2m) were compared, also LABs arrangement in Kilo-class (12 x 15 LABs and 8 x 15LABs under diesel and torpedo sections, respectively) were considered to estimate number and dimension of battery groups and their arrangement.












W=378mm
D=252mm













BTU (*1)

BTU
H=
ca.1100mm































W=378mm
D=252mm



H=225mm























Front view
Side view


Front view
Side view
Figure 2  Battery module consists of 24 FAAB cells
 24 cylindrical battery cells (diameter 63mm, blue solid line) are vertically arranged.


Figure 3  Battery group consists of 4 layers of [24 FAAB cells]-modules
Battery modules (blue solid line) & battery group (double solid line).
(*1) Battery Management Unit = BMU.















W=530mm


















D=345mm


W=586mm














D=273mm






































Top view






Top view






H=131mm






H=131mm










Front view






Front view


Figure 4  Battery module consists of 16 VL56E cells

Battery module consists of 2 battery trays. A battery tray consists of horizontally arranged 8 VL56E cylindrical cells (diameter 54.1mm, solid line). Inner diameter of submarine hatch is assumed to be 650-711mm.


Figure 5  Battery module consist of 24 VL56E cells

Battery module consists of 2 battery trays. A battery tray consists of  horizontally arranged 12 VL56E cylindrical cells (diameter 54.1mm, diblue solid line). Inner diameter of submarine hatch is assumed to be 650-711mm.

  


W=586mm
D=273mm


W=530mm
D=345mm
H=
ca.
1200mm
BTU

BTU


H=ca.1200mm
BTU

BTU










































Front view
Side view


Front view
Side view
Figure 6  Battery group consists of 8 layers of [16-VL56E cells]-modules.
Battery modules (blue solid line) & battery group (double solid line) are assumed from pictures of TKMS battery modules and data of SAFT battery cells/modules.

Figure 7  Battery group consists of 8 layers of [24-VL56E cells]-modules
Structure of battery group (double solid line) is based on Figure 6 and maximum package of battery modules (blue solid line). Height is estimated from curvature of pressure hull and other factors.




W=540mm






































































































Top view


D=270mm


H=222mm














































Front view


Side view


Figure 8  Battery module consists of 36 LT-LFP 72 cells

Number (n) of battery cell is assumed to be 36, but, n = 34 also is possible. Encloseute is neglected..





W=540mm
D=270-300mm


BTU


BTU


H=1250mm


















































Front view
Side view
Figure 9  Battery group consists of 4 [36-LT-LFP 72 cells] modules

Enclosure of battery group is considered. Diameter of hatch is 650mm. Height of battery group is estimated from perspective of Kilo-class

Table 4  Structures of battery group and energy of battery for LIB-submarine

Explanation – Battery Management Unit (BMU) is located on the top of battery group (Table 3 (a)). Adoption of LIBs does not always provide significant increase in absolute energy of batteries. Increase in actual energy due to bigger depth of discharge in LIBs (80%), easy maintenance and higher safety without generation of hydrogen are achieved for LIBs. As output of AIP is not high, increase of LIBs is important to improve performance of submarine at high speed. Adoption of optical mast provides improved freedom of sections and arrangement of batteries. Here batteries are assumed to locate under diesel generator and torpedo sections. 

A Non-AIP submarine is equipped with larger amounts of LIBs than AIP submarine as shown in the Soryu/29SS and Kilo. As estimated energy of a LAB battery group for Kilo-class is 3.36MWh (*11), considerting depth of discharge (DOD, 50% for LABs and 80% for LIBs), energy of LIBs will increase 3.8-4.8 times of LABs. Kilo-class is a proven submarine with reasonable price. Therefore, LIB-Kilo may be more attravtive choise than Amur- class, which has unproven AIP and single hull structure (Russian submarine has double hull structure), for some countries.



a
Configura-tion of a battery group:

BMU (Battery Management Unit, ye1low), battery modules (blue solid line), battery group (double solid line)
































































































































































































































b
Make
GS-YUASA
SAMSUNG SDI
SAFT-TKMS
SAFT-
NAVAL
FAAM
Liotech
Floattech
Winston Battery
c
Submarine builder
KHI/MHI
HHI(Hyndai Heavy Industries)
TKMS
NAVAL-ASC
FINCAN-TIERI
Russia
SAAB-DAMEN
SAAB
China
d
Number of battery modules in a battery group
10
8
8
8
4
5
2
2
1
f
Voltage of a battery group [V] (*1)
36
88.3
52.8
39.6
76.8
57.4
51.8
51.8
3.2
g
Energy of a battery group
[kWh]
86(*10)
70.2 (*2)
23.6 (*3)
35.5 (*4)
20.0
41.1
37.2 (*5)
24.8 (*5)
32
h
Submarine
Soryu/29SS
3000t-class
2000t-class
Type 212CD
Attack-class
Type 212NFS
Kilo (*9) Lada Amur
SAAB-DAMEN
A26
Type 039B
i
Number of batteries
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
j
Number of battery strings
(stern+bow *6)
28+28
12+12
8+8
12+12
16+12
0+24
10+15
12+12
8+8
8+12
8+12
8+8
k
Number of battery groups in a battery string (*7)
12
8
8
12
12
8
12+8
8
8
12
8
12
l
Energy of batteries [MWh]
58
15.2
10.1
6.8
11.9
3.8
9.9
7.9
5.3
8.9
4.0
6.1 *8
*1 Guideline of (f) and (j ) is 400V< (f) x (j) < 800V considering maximum and minimum voltage of battery cell.
*2 SAMSUNG SDI 111Ah cell and 24-cell module
*3 SAFT VL56E cell and 16-cell module
*4 SAFT VL56E cell and 24-cell module
*5 Kokam SLPB160460330 cell and 14-cell module
*6 Stern and bow batteries are placed under diesel generator and torpedo sections, respectively for submarines except Soryu/29SS.
*7 As battery groups and battery strings are directly and parallel connected, respectively.
*8 As diameter of hatch for exchange of WB-LYP 10000AHA is more than 780mm whitch is too big for crew, WB-LYP 10000AHA may be exchanged through hatches on the diesel and torpedo sections with 6-7m in length. Considering that footprint of WB-LYP 10000AHA is 1.32 times bigger than GS-YUASA LIB, that Type 039B is 80% smaller than AIP-Soryu MKI and that Type 039B is tear-drop type double hull structured, Type 098 may equip with ca. 200 battery groups at most (half of Soryu MKI). So, Type 039 equips two batteries of 6.1MW which considerably smaller than reported [18].
*9 Rubin Design Bereau of Russia is considering LIB – Kilo-class. Kilo-class has two batteries consist of 240 LABs. Estimated arrangement of LABs is 8 x 15 and 12 x 10 under torpedo and diesel sections. Arrengement of LIBs is expected to be the same.
*10 Estimation by using Panasonic NCA103450 cel, SAMSUNG SDI 111Ah cell, SAMSUNG SDI E-30] and its module E3-0903. In the 4 layered battery group (d=4), energy will be 80% of Table 4 (l).
*11 Size (D540mm x W270mm x H1200mm) and volumetric energy (80kWh/L) are assumed for LABs.

References



[3] Estimation based on [2]

Capacity [Wh/kg] = 94Ah x 3.68V / 2.01kg = 173Wh/kg

[5] M8994 E2 module 

[6] E3-M090 module 
A comparison between M8994 E2 module (94Ah) vs E3-M090 module (111Ah) suggests same dimension of 94Ah and 111Ah.








LT-LYP(http://www.enelt.com/?id=530) is also possible cell for submarine, but, its volumetric energy density is lower (93Wh/kg) than LT LFP72 (130Wh/kg).

[15] Hatch diameter range of 650-711mm is based on the followings: i) DSRV’s ( Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle’s) and SRC (Submarine Rescue Chamber’s) can accommodate hatches up to 28 inches (=711mm) in diameter [reference here], page 698, ii) diameter of small hatch of Japanese submarine are 650mm, and iii) Japanese is smaller than Westerner.


[17] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_039A_submarine Type 039B Length 77.6m, Beam 8.4m, AIP, crew 36, submerged displacement 3600, double hull structure. 039B (upgraded)

The battery pack consists of 960 pcs of the WB-LYP10000AHA cells making the total energy of 31MWh.”

[19] From the pictures and perspective of battery section in Kilo-class submarine, size of LAB (D=ca.300mm, W=ca.550mm) and number of battery group (n=8) were estimated. And sizes of LIBs for Kilo, Lada and Amur-class are assumed to be same as LABs.



Anonymous

6 comments:

  1. Lithium batteries may see some improvement soon with the addition of Sulfur:

    "By designing a novel robust cathode structure, researchers have now made a lithium-
    sulfur battery that can be recharged several hundred times. The cells have an energy
    capacity four times that of lithium-ion, which typically holds 150 to 200 watt-hours
    per kilogram (Wh/kg). If translatable to commercial devices, it could mean a battery
    that powers a phone for five days without needing to recharge, or quadruples the range
    of electric cars.

    That’s unlikely to happen, since energy capacity drops when cells are strung together
    into battery packs. But the team still expects a “twofold increase at battery pack
    level when [the new battery is] introduced to the market,” says Mahdokht Shaibani, a
    mechanical and aerospace engineer at Australia’s Monash University who led the work
    published recently in the journal Science Advances."

    See:

    https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/batteries-storage/lithium-sulfur-battery-news-ev-electric-vehicle-range

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Anonymous

    Several countries/companies (including the UK's Oxis Energy?) have been looking at the strengths and weaknesses of lithium-sulfur (or sulphur) batteries (LSBs) for submarine for some years. Submarine Matters has appoached this several times over the years.

    (A) One is "Alternates Technologies (LTOs and LSBs) to Oryu's NCA Submarine LIBs" October 17, 2018 at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2018/10/alternates-technologies-ltos-and-lsbs.html which judged:

    "Lithium-Sulfur (or Sulphur) Batteries LSBs are a possible future LIB for submarine technology that may take 20 more years to mature for submarine use. For development of LSBs to maturity, they need extensive testing then placing on the civilian market to establishment a reliability and safety record. LSBs for submarine would need to be produced (by GS Yuasa?) efficiently with adequate return of investment and profit."

    (B) [abridged due to blogger comment limits] A more specific, earlier, article was "Li-S or Lithium Sulfer Batteries (LSBs) for Submarine On the Way" June 1, 2015 at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2015/06/li-s-or-lithium-sulfer-batteries-lsbs.html including a very useful graph and:

    "In late May 2015 “S” and I discussed Lithium Sulphur Batteries (LSBs) in the Comments section.

    ...LSBs are intended to have a higher energy density than LIBs or, of course, LABs. However the reliability and safety of all battery types in submarines are essential traits...

    So LIBs may be the new in-operation batteries for submarine from the 2020s while LSBs may be the next advance in batteries for use from the 2030s.

    For Australia...

    Probably no-one knows how many years LIBs for submarine will remain efficient. Hence decisions on LSB replacement are far in the future.

    Several companies worldwide are researching-developing LSBs. This includes UK company Oxis Energy Ltd. Oxis has provided the diagram above and the description below http://www.oxisenergy.com/technology/ which explains:

    "Sulfur represents a natural cathode partner for metallic Li and, in contrast with conventional lithium-ion cells, the chemicals processes include dissolution from the anode surface during discharge and reverse lithium plating to the anode while charging. As a consequence, Lithium-Sulfur allows for a theoretical specific energy in excess of 2700Wh/kg, which is nearly 5 times higher than that of Li-ion.

    Oxis’s next generation lithium technology platform offers the highest energy density among lithium chemistry:
    - 300 Wh/kg achieved at cell level in 2014 (and) 400 Wh/kg forecast in 2016

    Oxis patented chemistry provides inherent safety allowing it to meet international standards concerning shock, crush, thermal stability and short circuit...Thanks to its two key mechanisms, a ceramic lithium sulfide passivation layer and a non-flammable electrolyte, our cells can withstand extreme abuse situations such as bullet and nail penetrations with no adverse reaction."
    --------------

    Naturally companies need to sell their product and many details need to be worked out with new technologies.

    For submarine use batteries need to be very safe (under normal and abnormal conditions) and reliable. Other issues under Australia mission conditions are their: weight; charge speed to minimise indiscretion; rate of self-discharging; memory effect; propensity to surge; discharge rates (speed, volume, percentage); cycle life and operational life; and, degree of maintenance needed.

    It would be interesting which German, French and US companies are developing LSBs? Pete"

    Don't know if Australia's Lithium-Sulfur Battery (LSB) advocates have fully researched such existing literature as Submarine Matters...Cheers Pete

    ReplyDelete
  3. P.S.

    UK's Oxis Energy current website https://oxisenergy.com/

    "Pioneering patented technology

    LITHIUM SULFUR [LI-S]

    We are developing an innovative Lithium Sulfur [Li-S] battery chemistry that will revolutionize the rechargeable battery market. With a theoretical energy density 5 times greater than Li-ion, OXIS patented Li-S technology is lighter, safer and maintenance free, and ready to meet the demands of tomorrow.

    NEXT GENERATION BATTERY TECHNOLOGY
    VIEW TECHNOLOGY

    [Significantly Oxis is looking at such areas as] Aviation, Aerospace, Defence, Electric Vehicles, Marine"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very nice blog. This blog explains about the Lithium ion batteries for submarines. Keep sharing.

    ReplyDelete

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    battery test standard

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such a great blog! So many unknown facts and explanation I've read here. Hope to see many more interesting articles like this by the author

    Very nice blog to explain about the lithium ion batteries. Check out Godi Energy for them.

    ReplyDelete

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