Ultracapacitor Technology Powers Electronic Circuits

Oct 1, 2003 12:00 PM
By Youngho Kim, Director of Product Development, NESSCAP Co. Ltd., Korea

Ultracapacitor Applications

Ultracapacitors benefit many applications, from those involving short power pulses, to those requiring low-power support of critical memory systems. Whether used alone or with other power sources, ultracapacitors provide an excellent solution in several system configurations and high-power applications, such as cellular electronics, power conditioning, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), industrial lasers, medical equipment, and power electronics in conventional, electric and hybrid vehicles.

In electrical vehicle applications, ultracapacitors permit faster acceleration, increased range, and extend battery life by freeing it from stressful high-power tasks. In addition, ultracapacitor technology now can do load-leveling to extend the life of EV batteries and provide the high power essential for EV acceleration. For example, a vehicle might use this power burst to accelerate and climb a steep hill. Ultracapacitors also can absorb regenerative braking energy and thus limit the otherwise very high charging current to the battery.

UPS: Ultracapacitors provide short-term support for UPS. With less energy storage capability than a battery, an ultracapacitor isn't a viable substitute in UPS as a long-term power source. However, for short-term support, its instant power and rapid response capability allows it to act as a bridge during power outages until an alternative source kicks in, such as a generator or other backup power supply. In addition, ultracapacitors can serve as a load-leveling function by absorbing power surges and spikes and then releasing clean quality power essential for precision high-tech equipment.

Peak pulse power: Ultracapacitors are optimal for applications requiring a high energy burst not achievable with a battery alone, such as with consumer electronics and wireless devices. For example, unlike analog equipment that draws steady current, digital wireless communication devices often burden the battery with short, heavy current spikes during transmission mode. An added ultracapacitor can provide the intermittent pulse power while the battery supplies the steady current. End users benefit from an extended battery life and lengthened time between charges. Other electronics with ultracapacitor applications include VCRs, CD players, electronic toys, security systems, computers, scanners, smoke detectors, microwaves and coffee makers.

Quick-charge applications: Ultracapacitors charge in seconds whereas batteries often require hours, thus potentially benefiting quick-charge applications. Wireless power tools employing an ultracapacitor can be charged just before use. Moving toys, such as miniature racing cars, also benefit from the fast-charge properties of the ultracapacitor.

Memory backup applications: Widely used in consumer electronics, small ultracapacitors defend against data loss during short-period power outages or, in the case of portable devices, during battery replacement. For this, an ultracapacitor is superior to a battery because it's less expensive and requires no replacement during the device's lifetime.

All-weather quick start: Today's car batteries meet peak power requirements during engine startup, even in the coldest weather conditions. Ultracapacitors, unaffected by weather, can supply the seconds-long peak power, thus permitting the battery to be downsized and its useful life extended. The current catalytic converter in vehicles sends untreated exhaust gas into the environment for a few minutes until it warms and begins functioning. Ultracapacitors quickly preheat the catalytic converter and enable it to function immediately.

Applications to decrease battery size: Often, power loss in batteries can be traced to voltage “spikes” that occur when a device is activated or draws a higher-than-average current. Adding an ultracapacitor to handle voltage spikes allows either a prolonged life or smaller battery — whatever is application optimal.

Implications

Although some ultracapacitor applications, such as memory backup, are already in widespread use, many of the applications just discussed are still in the initial phase of adoption. Higher-voltage ultracapacitor technology looms on the horizon, and the implications are enormously far-reaching.

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