JNCASR and Dreamfly Innovations Collaborate on Aviation Battery Tech

The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has partnered with Bengaluru-based Dreamfly Innovations to advance thermal materials for aviation batteries. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 24, 2024, aims to enhance thermal management solutions crucial for the aviation sector.

Under this partnership, researchers will focus on developing innovative thermal materials and thermoelectric devices. This initiative seeks to tackle existing challenges in aviation battery performance by translating foundational materials research into practical technologies. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the collaboration will synergize JNCASR’s expertise in materials design and thermal transport with Dreamfly’s capabilities in aviation battery engineering.

Effective heat management is a critical concern for the aviation industry, particularly with high-energy-density lithium-based batteries. Excessive heat generated during high-power operations can lead to reduced efficiency, shorter battery lifespan, and potential safety hazards. Current passive thermal management strategies, such as Phase Change Materials (PCMs), have limitations due to their inadequate thermal conductivity, which hampers effective heat absorption and results in temperature increases that can degrade battery components.

To address these issues, the collaboration will explore the incorporation of high-thermal-conductivity additives to create composite PCMs. These composites aim to enhance heat absorption capabilities, although they have faced challenges related to long-term stability and performance degradation during thermal cycling.

The advanced thermal materials being developed in this partnership are engineered to achieve high thermal conductivity. This will allow for the rapid absorption of excess heat during demanding operations, thereby maintaining optimal operating temperatures and ensuring lightweight thermal regulation without sacrificing long-term stability.

The collaboration combines academic research led by Prof. Kanishka Biswas at JNCASR with industrial innovation from Dreamfly Innovations. Together, they aim to address vital challenges in drone performance, safety, and operational endurance, contributing to the advancement of aviation technology.

As the demand for efficient and safe battery systems in aviation continues to grow, this partnership highlights the importance of materials-level innovation in creating robust solutions that can be deployed in real-world applications. The ongoing development of these advanced thermal materials could play a significant role in the future of aviation battery technology.