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only provide the required voltage but also to offer redundancy which accom-
modates the failure of an individual cell. These same cells are used in power grid applications, such as min- ing, to balance power needs. Without going into a deep dive into lithium battery chemistry and construction, this technology provides higher power, lon- ger life and a greater level of safety over other lithium battery technolo- gies, including lithium-metal designs. Nanophosphate technology, patented by A123 Systems, Inc., is engineered nanoscale chemistry that can tolerate a wide variety of environmental condi- tions and still perform. In the unlikely event that an indi- vidual cell does have an issue, they generate significantly less heat, reducing the likelihood of a thermal runaway,
which can occur with lithium metal-oxide designs.
For aircraft operators, that translates into more power and a dramatic increase in safety if an individual cell fails. This is one reason that True Blue Power designs meet the latest FAA requirements, including thermal runaway,
drop impact tests, containment and many others. After personally experiencing a high-temperature exothermic event with a Ni-Cd aircraft battery, it is comforting to know that the True Blue Power battery design and monitoring make this a non-issue.
True Blue Power batteries can also offer substantial weight savings (60 pounds in the Cessna Citation Longi- tude application), and turbine engine starts as low as -40 Celsius. The low-temperature start is the result of a system that involves an integral heater in the battery. When the battery senses either a charge or a current draw as simple as the activation of a baggage or door light, the heater starts and warms the battery up to 0 Celsius. This process takes a maximum of 45 minutes at -40 Celsius. When you start your pre-flight, simply turn on any load or attach a GPU, for example, and the battery warms itself. The batteries also include a display panel with test switches for the pilot to monitor the condition of the battery.
Maintenance Cost Reduction
The standard True Blue Power lithium batteries reduce maintenance costs with an extended battery capacity check of two years, while the Gen5 series only requires on-condition maintenance. The batteries also offer a sig- nificant increase in cycle-tolerance, designed for 10,000 cycles versus 500-800 for lead-acid or Ni-Cd, which makes
The True Blue Power TB44 used in larger aircraft, including the Citation Longitude.
32 • TWIN & TURBINE / January 2020
Covington