The company recently began working with Russia and China in this arena, and a plant in Valdosta, Georgia, manufactures batteries for the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy. The traditional problem of storage memory effect that plagues conventional nickel cadmium batteries is not an issue with these aviation devices, Fran ois says. Most of the aviation applications have cycling patterns that do not create a memory. In some cases, a deep discharge common to these applications destroys any budding memory effect. Scheduled maintenance also may perform a deep discharge or even remove the batteries before the memory limits take effect.
Current research focuses on technologies for reducing maintenance and lowering weight.
Fran ois relates that one step has been to lighten one electrode by changing its concept. With a lower overcharge current, the battery consumes less water in the electrolytes. Accordingly, it offers a longer maintenance interval. This technology must be controlled more precisely than conventional batteries, with the aircraft required to have a battery charger with a charge control system. Nickel cadmium battery technology has proved to be safer than most of its rivals, and it also can work in a greater temperature range.