Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-hgkh8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-19T08:42:07.199Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Recent DOE Sponsored Electrochemical Capacitor Test Results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

R. B. Wright
Affiliation:
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3830, rbw2@inel.gov
T. C. Murphy
Affiliation:
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3830, rbw2@inel.gov
D. K. Jamison
Affiliation:
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3830, rbw2@inel.gov
S. A. Rogers
Affiliation:
U. S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585
Get access

Abstract

Electrochemical capacitors (ultracapacitors) are being developed for hybrid vehicles as candidate power assist devices for the fast response engine and for other energy storage systems that can utilize the high power densities available from these devices. Ultracapacitors show promise toward being able to accept high regenerative pulses and high power delivery capabilities while exhibiting very high cycle life. This paper will present recent test data from two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supported ultracapacitor projects designed to meet the fast response engine requirements. Constant-current and constant-power test results will be presented that have been acquired from recent prototype capacitors supplied by SAFT America, Inc. (ten devices), and Maxwell Energy Products, Inc. (two devices). The SAFT capacitors are rated at 0.5 V to 3 V with capacitance ratings ranging from 135 F to 138 F. Capacitor cells rated at 2.3 V and 101.4 F were also evaluated that were produced by Maxwell Energy Products, Inc. Both sets of devices used proprietary carbon electrodes with non-aqueous electrolytes in their design. From the constant-current discharge tests, the discharge current dependence of the capacitance, equivalent series resistance, and RC-time constant were determined as well as the capacitors’ voltage dependence of the capacitance. Constant-power discharge tests permitted the specific energy as a function of the specific power to be determined, and also the discharge/charge round trip efficiency as a function of the magnitude of the constant-power discharge.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Office of Transportation Technologies, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, UltracapacitorP rogramP lan, (1994).Google Scholar
2. Miller, J. R. and Burke, A. F., Electric Vehicle Capacitor Test Procedures Manual, Revision 0, DOE/ID-10491 (October 1994).Google Scholar
3. Wright, R. B. and Murphy, T. C., Characterization of Carbon-Based Electrochemical Capacitor Technology from SAFT America, Inc., published August 1998, Report INEEL/EXT-98–00818.Google Scholar
4. Wright, R. B. and Murphy, T. C., Evaluation of SAFTAmerica, Inc. Electrochemical Capacitors, published December 1997, Report INEEL/EXT-97–01414.Google Scholar
5. Wright, R. B. and Murphy, T. C., Characterization of Carbon-Based Electrochemical Capacitor Technology from Maxwell Energy Products, Inc., published April 1998, Report DOE/ID- 10634.Google Scholar
6. Proceedings of the 8th International Seminar on Double Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, December, 7–9, 1998, Deerfield Beach, Florida.Google Scholar