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18/03/2011
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Scientists at six British universities are working on a project to create a power pack which could be up to 50% lighter than current batteries used by UK soldiers.
The two year Solar Soldier project has been given £650,000 in funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and aims to improve thermoelectric energy harvesting by supplementing batteries with photovoltaics and thermoelectrics.
"Thermoelectric devices convert heat to electrical energy and this can be from the sun or a drop in temperature such as day temperatures to night," said Professor Duncan Gregory from the University of Glasgow, who is leading the design and research on the thermoelectric devices. "The idea is to harvest the energy and store it using a combination of a super capacitor and a lithium battery. As far as we are aware, there is not an integrated system like this anywhere in the world."
This picture represents a soldier from above in a fictitious urban, desert environment. The superimposed numbers are readings for anticipated sunlight.
Prof Gregory claims the technology could also increase the potential range and duration of infantry operations as it would not need to be recharged at base. "The new power pack will absorb energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, making infantry less liable to detection by night vision equipment that uses infra red technology," he said.
Micrograph of the thermoelectric nanowires.
The project team, which is also supported by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, currently consists of approximately 15 scientists and researchers from the universities of Glasgow, Loughborough, Strathclyde, Leeds, Reading and Brunel. According to Gregory, it is currently looking at how the device could be woven into soldiers' battle dress, with a prototype system expected within two years.
"Batteries can account for more than 10% of the 45 to 70kg of equipment that infantry currently carry," said Gregory. "By aiding efficiency and comfort, the new system could play a valuable role in ensuring the effectiveness of army operations and will improve mobility."
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Author
Laura Hopperton
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