Collection

+8

Batteries used in the Deepsea Challenger submersible

Made by Allum, Ron in Leichardt, New South Wales, Australia

This custom made lithium-ion battery is one of a number of objects related to the design and development of the submersible vehicle, Deepsea Challenger, that was used by James Cameron in his historic descent to the bottom of the Marianas Trench in March 2012.

Lithium-ion batteries are valued for being rechargeable, portable, having an energy density with a slow loss of charge and no memory effect. They exist in several forms, but the type that Allum assembled for the Challenger is called a pris...

Summary

Object No.

2012/101/2

Physical Description

This battery, utilised in the Deepsea Challenger, are made up of multiple power cells fitted with motherboards encased in a plastic box; joined with multiple silver hinges, and lubricated with silicon fluid. The external connection leads are present, 2 loose and 1 connected external to the case in a U-shape.

Marks

- barcode sticker on bottom, inside (S 075106205 ||| KCL11TFOD0036)
- "WATER" written in black texta on bottom; surmised this is from a testing cycle

Short URL

https://ma.as/456598

Dimensions

Height

141 mm

Width

160 mm

Weight

10 kg

Production

Notes

Designed, sourced and assembled by Acheron Pty Ltd, NSW, 2012; these battery cells, housed in the top half of the 24ft structure, are used to power the submersible's engine thrusters, navigation tools and LED lighting systems once it had reached the ocean floor. In order to meet the design challenge of extreme exposure to pressure, Allum engineered a bladder compensating system which allowed silicon liquid to occupy any air pockets which would otherwise collapse in on themselves.

Made

Allum, Ron null

Made

Acheron Project Pty Ltd 2012

History

Notes

Lithium-ion batteries are valued for being rechargeable, portable, having an energy density with a slow loss of charge and no memory effect. They exist in several forms, but the type that Allum assembled for the Challenger is called a prismatic cell, characterised by its semi-hard plastic outer case, threaded cabling, and its use in vehicular traction packs. Prismatic cells usually require an external means of containment to reduce expansion when they're fully charged and in use. All lithium-ion batteries require a positive electrode (made of metal oxide), a negative electrode (made of carbon) and an electrolyte (made of lithium salt and an organic solvent) .

Source

Credit Line

Gift of Ron Allum and James Cameron as Acheron Pty Ltd, 2012

Acquisition Date

28 August 2012

Cite this Object

Harvard

Batteries used in the Deepsea Challenger submersible 2018, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 15 October 2018, <https://ma.as/456598>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/456598 |title=Batteries used in the Deepsea Challenger submersible |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=15 October 2018 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}
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Incomplete

This object record is currently incomplete. Other information may exist in a non-digital form. The Museum continues to update and add new research to collection records.

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