What Are Ultracapacitors
What Are Ultracapacitors
Find out about ultracapacitors - how they work and what they are used for.
storage | electronicsUltracapacitors (sometimes called
double-layer capacitors or
supercapacitors) store energy electrostatically by
polarising an electrolytic solution. Unlike batteries no chemical reaction takes place when energy is being stored or discharged and so ultracapacitors can go through hundreds of thousands of charging cycles with no degredation.
Ultracapacitors are currently being developed all over the world for use as a potential alternative to
chemical batteries. One area of particularly concentrated research is in developing ultracapacitors for electric vehicles - such as the
EEStor Ultracapacitors which will be powering
Zenn electric vehicles by the end of 2007.
Commercial Uses for Ultracapacitors
There are many commercial uses for ultracapacitors of all sizes - from multi-kWh electric vehicle power systems down to tiny back-up power sources for electronic devices. Ultracapacitors can provide a
pulse of energy far more efficiently than chemical batteries or a power supply, and so they are often used in tandem with standard batteries to provide such energy pulses when required and also to act as a back-up power source should the batteries fail.
Pictured above is a commercially available
ultracapacitor promising 500,000
duty cycles and a 10 year life. This
Maxwell BCAP0140 is the same size as a C-type cell battery and would typically be used in tandem with C-sized batteries.
Even if
ultracapacitors turn out not to be suitable for use as
electric vehicle power systems, many manufacturers of
hybrid vehicles are looking at using ultracapacitors to capture deceleration and braking energy which can then be discharged quickly later on to boost acceleration and to start the engine.
Car manufacturer Honda have independently developed a 9.2 Farad ultracapacitor system to act as supplementary power for the
Honda FCX hydrogen
fuel cell powered car.
Article Last Modified: 10:21, 2nd Feb 2007
Recommended Related Articles
People who read this article also enjoyed the following articles:
EEStor Battery UltracapacitorFind out about a new battery for electric vehicles - 10 times the power of lead acid
Article Last Modified: 08:54, 2nd Feb 2007storage | news | transport200W 12V Immersion HeaterUsing a wind turbine to heat water for your home via an immersion heater element
Article Last Modified: 13:21, 4th Sep 2008heating | wind | waterHow I Built A Wind TurbineRead how a wind turbine was built for under US$150
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008wind | educationDIY Solar Water Heating PrototypeFollow the construction of a successful DIY solar water heating prototype
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008solar | heating | waterSwitch from Inverter to Mains AutomaticallyPower a circuit directly from a power inverter, but with automatic mains power back up.
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008electric circuit | storage | generalIts Not Easy Being GreenFind out more about the It's Not Easy Being Green television series
Article Last Modified: 09:49, 13th Dec 2006general | energy efficiency | newsIntroduction to Hydro Electric PowerA brief introduction to Hydroelectic power generation
Article Last Modified: 16:37, 18th Jul 2007hydroPermanent Magnet GeneratorBuild a wind or water power system with around a PM Generator
Article Last Modified: 11:44, 21st Jul 2008wind | hydroPico Hydro PowerFind out more about Pico Hydro power (sub-5kW generators)
Article Last Modified: 14:35, 3rd Jan 2007hydroMake a Simple Battery Status MonitorMonitor battery status with this easy electric circuit project - no skill required!
Article Last Modified: 12:33, 16th Mar 2007storage | electric circuit
|
|
