It is another object to provide a bank of distributed battery modules with sufficient power to operate a laser weapon system.

It is a further object to provide a thermal management system for the battery bank. This includes packaging the battery cells in a heat absorbing material that reacts endothermically when burned. The heat absorbing material may be an insulating material or an intumescent material.

It is another object to seal the common internal volume of the battery module and heat exchanger to protect personnel and adjacent equipment.

It is a further object to provide venting for hot gas leakage in the case of a thermal event.

These and other related objects are achieved by an embodiment of the invention comprising a power storage cartridge for placement in a stack with other cartridges arranged along a stack axis. The power storage cartridge is configured as a rack-mountable housing having an active battery module and a passive heat sink modules collectively sealed in a compartment with cooling air circulating between them. The active module includes battery cells and a cell support systems disposed within an airtight compartment having two ducts. The heat sink is contained within a passive environmental management module that is sealed to said active module around said ducts. Cooling fans circulate air between said active module and said passive environmental management module through the two ducts.