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The heat dissipated during various rates of charge, overcharge, and discharge of a nickel-hydrogen (Ni/H2) cell was measured using a radiative-type calorimeter. A flight configuration-type Ni/H2 cell was prepared for this study by wrapping the 4-in.-wide cylindrical portion with heater tape and insulating the two dome ends with 10 layers of aluminized Mylar. The radiating surface was limited to the cylindrical portion of the cell. The calorimeter consisted of a liquid-nitrogen-cooled copper chamber arranged inside a vacuum jar. Since the experiments were not performed under isothermal conditions, the term was included in the equation used to calculate heat dissipation. Experimentally measured heat values were compared against those calculated using a thermoneutral potential of 1.51 V.

The thermal dissipation of a 48-Ah nickel-hydrogen (Ni/H2) battery cell has been derived by testing it in a controlled radiative environment. Temperature profiles and corresponding cell thermal dissipations are presented for different battery discharge/charge cycles. A comparison between test results and theoretical predictions for battery dissipation is presented. The thermal capacitance of a Ni/H2 cell is computed from both test data and tabulation of individual cell component weight and specific heat.