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 TiNb₂O₇ . 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

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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 2 Toshiba motors	8105 Oyashio	SS-590/ TS3608	¥52.2B FY1993	LABs only	Jan 1994	Oct 1996	Mar 1998	KHI
6SS-15SS Oyashios  10 subs 2 Toshiba motors 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 12V25/25SB 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	15 Mar 2013	2 Nov 2015	13 Mar 2017	KHI
25SS	8124 Seiryū	SS-509	¥53.1B FY2013	LABs + AIP	22 Oct 2013	12 Oct   2016	12 Mar 2018	MHI
26SS end of SMC-8s	8125 Shoryū	SS-510	¥51.7B FY2014	LABs + AIP	2014	6 Nov 2017	18 Mar 2019?	KHI
27SS First Soryu Mark 2 12V25/25SB  diesel first SMC-8B motor	8126 Oryū	SS-511	¥64.4B FY2015	LIBs only (NCA type)	2015	4 Oct 2018	Mar 2020?	MHI
28SS  Second Soryu Mark 2 12V25/25SB SMC-8B	8127	SS-512	¥63.6B FY2016	LIBs only (NCA type?)	2016?	Oct 2019?	Mar 2021?	KHI
29SS First Soryu Mark 3 12V25/31S SMC-9?	8128	?	¥76B FY2017	LIBs only?	?	?	2023?	MHI?
30SS Second Soryu Mk 3 12V25/31S	8029?	?	¥71.5B FY2018	LIBs only?	?	?	2024?	KHI?

Table from information exclusively provided to Submarine Matters. LABs = 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. 

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Thankyou Anonymous (further translation by Pete).