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Field

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Thermal batteries

Principle

The Thermal Batteries are primary (non-rechargeable), single-use power sources.
Totally inert before their activation, they are storable without limitation and deliver high electrical powers.

The current range of the thermal batteries is being expanded:

  • thermal battery is in a solid state before activation and is therefore able to meet the harshest environments (dynamics, thermics, electrical loads)
  • capacity of thermal battery is flexible along it's activated duration: load profile can include high peaks at far end of duration, or even reverse load
  • battery weight from 0,014kg to 35kg*
  • output power from 2W up to 70kW* with a specific power up to 5.5kW/kg*
  • operating duration from 5 seconds till 1 hour
  • with specific interfaces (fixation, connecting solutions)

(*) Exclusive ASB-Group

Applications

ASB-Group produces thermal batteries for civil and military applications, designed to meet the most extreme requirements. The thermal batteries of ASB-Group are developed according to the specific needs of the customer, which confers them a dimension of tailor-made products.

In the widening world of the power supply solutions, the Thermal Batteries feature very specific advantages:

  • no maintenance for over 15 years storage
  • zero self-discharge as long as no activation
  • reliability, simplicity, robustness
  • modularity
  • owning cost
  • ITAR & BAFA free
  • Reach compliance
  • Non hazardous goods, easy shipment
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Defense

The application range of the thermal batteries in the field of the defense is still widening, in diversity of domains and ranges of solutions:

  • Tactical missiles and guided rockets, to power the seeker, the control electronics, to the Safety & Arming Unit, the activations of propellers or military warheads, the actuators, the telemetries and the self-destruction systems
  • Strategic missiles
  • Artillery guided shells and Precision ammunition
  • Decoys for planes and submarines
  • Buoys submarine sonars
  • Lightweight & heavyweight Torpedoes, for the power supply during the launch phases
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Aeronautics

The intrinsic characteristics of robustness, life expectancy and specific power of the thermal batteries confer them some demonstrated advantages in the following applications:

  • Emergency power supplies for aircrafts, in particular for the supply of the hydraulic generation in case of engine breakdown of a fighter aircraft: they are delivering several tens of kW under 270V
  • Ejector seats, canopy ejection: these batteries are qualified with activation duration of the order of 50ms, even at extreme cold operating temperatures
  • Back-up power supply for helicopter turbine: within the framework of the innovations MEA (more electrical aricraft), the thermal batteries represent new opportunities of emergency power
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Space

Successfully used for more than 20 years on spatial launchers, the thermal batteries are the power sources for the following applications:

  • Pyrotechnic ejectors (ex: phase of ejection of boosters)
  • Electromechanical actuators (TVC, TVAS)
  • Hydraulic pump (ex: hydraulic actuators of closed circuit TVC)
  • Specific need in power (ex: nozzle deployment)
  • Electromechanical ejectors of satellites from launchers
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Energy

Recently, ASB Group seeks to diversify into distant areas of historic areas. For this, we develop thermal batteries that may be suitable for civil applications that affect everyone every day. Energy field like oil and gas needs power sources that are able to face high operational temperatures (above 220°C). ASB Group has the technology to develop customer solution to be used up to +300°C during 3 weeks after activation.

Land mobility systems also need emergency power supplies.

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Offshore

This battery is capable of operating at temperatures between 150°C and 250°C, with discharge times in excess of 10 days. The advantages of this technology are as follows:

  • these batteries have exactly the same characteristics as thermal batteries, in terms of robustness, storage life (the battery is inert at room temperature), reliability and lack of maintenance,
  • safety is guaranteed, as these cells have been tested above 300°C: the technology used prevents any risk of explosion,
  • The performance of the battery increases with temperature, as does the depth of drilling and therefore the power requirement: unlike other technologies limited by operating temperature, it reaches its optimum performance where it is needed most The technology is therefore fully aligned with the need.
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Backup

ASB's long experience in battery back-up, or in single power supplies for critical systems (Defence & Space), allows to consider applications that would require a reliable power supply in extreme conditions, and without possible maintenance:

  • all unmanned vehicles: drones, underwater or land robots...
  • all major developments of airships, economic transport units, or observation and control units replacing a large potential of manned or unmanned aircraft
  • all critical control systems for nuclear or oil exploitation, or even geothermal or mining; in the event of a disaster, when mechanical or thermal conditions beyond specification are reached, the thermal battery remains operational, when all other technologies stop.
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Hermetic Seal

Introduction

The ASB Hermetics division was created in 1998, initially in support to the thermal battery activities. As a key internal process, this is now a strategic activity for the ASB-group, which is also dedicated to external customers, and in continuous growth.

This development is supported by our will to develop high-technology solutions in response to the specific requirements for aeronautics, space, energy, and armement industries. Our activities are focused on the design and production of hermetics parts, in small and medium series, with professionalism and efficiency.

As ASB Hermetics has the necessary competences, calculation & industrial means, and know-hows associated to various technologies, we are in position to offer you a global solution. Whatever your hermeticity issue, do not hesitate to challenge us

Applications

With its range of technological solutions, ASB Hermetics has developed numerous products for various applications:

  • in the aeronautics sector with interconnection systems
  • on offshore platforms for specific high-pressure and high-temperature feedthroughs
  • in the medical sector for sensor bases
  • in the optical sector for portholes or optoelectronic housings
  • in the battery sector for thermal or lithium battery covers
  • in the defence sector for hybrid housings for the encapsulation of electronic components and for pyrotechnic initiator bases

Compression glass

The sealing on steel and stainless steel is a compression sealing.

Description: During the high temperature furnace run, the housing (having a higher coefficient of expansion than the glass) expands, the glass melts and fills the available space. On cooling, the glass is compressed by the housing.

Advantages: This type of sealing is mechanically very resistant, especially to thermal shocks. It is widely used in connector technology or for the manufacture of pyrotechnic bases, sensors (pressure, temperature, etc.) and battery covers.

Materials used:

  • Stainless steel (AISI 303, 304L, 316L, 321...)
  • Mild steel (XC10F...)
  • FeNi (ASTM F30, Nilo ©, N48 ©, N52 ©)
  • FeCo (Vacon ©)
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Kovar

The sealing on Kovar© is a tuned sealing.

Description: The case and the pin are made of a particular alloy (iron-nickel-cobalt) with a low expansion coefficient, identical to that of glass; the oxide created on the surface of the metal interacts with the glass to create a physico-chemical type bond.

Advantages: This type of sealing is traditionally used to make housings for microelectronics and optronic applications. It offers a wide range of possibilities for parts with complex shapes.

Materials used:

  • FeNi (ASTM F30, Nilo ©, N48 ©, N52 ©)
  • FeNiCo (ASTM F15, Kovar ©, Nilo K ©, Dilver P ©)
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Matched Glass

The sealing on Kovar© is a tuned sealing.

Description: The case and the pin are made of a particular alloy (iron-nickel-cobalt) with a low expansion coefficient, identical to that of glass; the oxide created on the surface of the metal interacts with the glass to create a physico-chemical type bond.

Advantages: This type of sealing is traditionally used to make housings for microelectronics and optronic applications. It offers a wide range of possibilities for parts with complex shapes.

Materials used:

  • FeNi (ASTM F30, Nilo ©, N48 ©, N52 ©)
  • FeNiCo (ASTM F15, Kovar ©, Nilo K ©, Dilver P ©)
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Cold Temperature

Made at a lower temperature, it has the same characteristics as the so-called traditional sealants. It uses a special glass for this purpose.

Advantages: It allows the use of materials which, until now, were not or hardly used for sealing (aluminium, titanium, brass, etc.). But it can also be used on more traditional materials (stainless steel for example), making them even more mechanically efficient.

Materials used:

  • Stainless steel (AISI 303, 304L, 316L, 321..)
  • Titanium (TA6V, T40...)
  • Aluminium (1050A, 2017A, 2024, 5083, 5086, 6061...)
  • Brass
  • Mild steel (XC10F...)
  • FeNi (ASTM F30, Nilo ©, N48 ©, N52 ©)
  • FeCo (Vacon ©)
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Titanium

As titanium is a particularly reactive metal, ASB has developed a special process for sealing this type of lightweight material.

Advantages: It offers the same performance as sealing on more traditional materials while allowing the product to be lighter.

Materials used:

  • Titanium (TA6V, T40...)
  • FeNiCo (ASTM F15, Kovar ©, Nilo K ©, Dilver P ©)
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Ceramic Metal

This technology, which is complementary to sealing, makes it possible to offer products that are resistant to higher temperatures. It can be applied to various sectors of activity such as space, aeronautics, defence, nuclear, vacuum industry, scientific research...

Advantages: This technology allows the production of ultra-resistant bushings with a wide temperature range: -260°C to 1,000°C (depending on the type of solder).

Materials used:

- Metal materials :

  • Stainless steel: 304L, 316L, 321...
  • Titanium: Ta6V, T40...
  • Copper: OFHC, CuBe2...
  • Kovar®, Dilver P®...

- Ceramic insulators :

  • Alumina (Al2O3)...
  • Zirconia (ZrO2), stabilised (Y2O3), (MgO), (Ce2O3)...

- Brazing alloys :

  • Copper, Gold, ABA® Gold, AgCu, AgCuPd, TiCuNi®, OrNi...
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