Falcon Electric unveils first lightweight lithium-polymer battery pack for mobile military applications
Posted by Courtney Howard
SAN DIEGO, 8 Feb. 2010. Falcon Electric Inc., a provider of COTS and custom uninterruptible power systems (UPS) for military and aerospace applications, has unveiled a new lightweight power conversion system and ultra-light lithium-polymer battery pack.
Falcon's ED LIB Series 5kVA UPS includes a Lithium-Polymer battery system which is the first Department of Transportation (DOT) -- certified battery for use on-board Mobile Armored Vehicle (MAV), High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and other mobile applications.
Falcon's power conversion system converts the Three Phase, 400Hz power provided by an Auxillary Power Unit (APU) in the vehicle and converts this raw alternate power to a clean, regulated 120VAC/60Hz source for critical computer and communications gear on board. Hundreds of the new rackmount ED-LIB Series 5kVA models are in use by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The Army challenged Falcon to design a lightweight battery pack and the necessary micro-processor based battery management system for this application," says Michael Stout, vice president of engineering at Falcon Electric. "With the Lithium-Polymer battery system weighing 55 pounds, the Army was impressed by the system's light weight, small size and a stellar back-up time of 25 minutes at 2,300 watts -- a lead-acid battery equivalent would weigh over 150 pounds. Every pound saved is an extra pound of armor on the vehicle and this is vital for occupant safety."
Due to its light weight and small size, the ED-LIB is a solution for powering sensitive computer-based equipment from generator-based APU sources typically incorporated into single and dual-pallet shelters, as well as tactical, hospital, or laboratory shelters. Furthermore, to accommodate mobile applications, the ED-LIB is designed to meet the shock and vibration requirements of RTCA/DO160, Zone A, and the Munson Road Test.
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