SoH Recognition of Aviation Batteries Via Passive Diagnostic Device

Aviation battery maintenance is trending toward on-condition maintenance. Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd), Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA), or prospective Li-ion batteries are used to start engines, provide emergency back-up power, and assure ground power capability for maintenance and pre-flight checkout. As these functions are mission essential, State of Health (SoH) recognition is critical. SoH includes information regarding battery energy, power and residual cycle life. This paper describes an SoH recognition technique for on-board aviation batteries and presents a passive diagnostic device (PDD). The PDD monitors on-board system battery current, voltage and ambient temperature and utilizes no active signals to the battery which can be restricted or even prohibited in order to avoid any interference with the vehicle electrical system. A procedure for sampling, treatment and analysis of transient and stationary battery voltage and current under changeable thermal condition resulting in a matrix of battery parameters is discussed. A matrix of parameters (MoP) like ohm and chemical resistance, instantaneous and dynamic open circuit voltage forms the basis for SoH recognition.