ULTRACAPACITOR APPLICATIONS

6/15/2016 11:30:33 PM


 
alt Ultracapacitors play the important role as highly powered and effective energy sources widely demanded in various fields. The majority of the alternative energy sources lack the ability to combine both high output power and energy density - that fact results in necessity to increase the weight of the device.


Comparison of the ultracapacitors with conventional capacitors, fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and other energy storage technologies is shown on Ragone plot representing specific power versus specific energy relation.

Compare chart of fuel cells, batteries, capacitors and ultracapacitors

Implementing ultracapacitor as the energy storage technology makes it possible to create new products and solutions with competitive properties, that were not available before with using other technologies. The examples of such products include high-power portable welding machines, start-stop systems for micro-hybrids, low-temperature combined starter batteries, kinetic energy recuperation systems (kers) with high efficiency, electrical blade control (pitch systems) in wind turbines, power supply elements in microsatellites etc.


TRANSPORT

Kinetic energy recuperation systems (kers), start-stop systems in micro-hybrids

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The transportation market is the most attractive segment for ultracapacitor manufacturers worldwide, in particular, automotive applications such as various on-board systems for hybrid electromobiles, kers, start stop systmes. In the same time, this segment is extremely demanding in terms of ultracapacitor performance, reliability and safety. Moreover, a great deal of resources and time has to be allocated when dealing with automotive applications due to most of such programs have long and sophisticated development cycles which take several years to output results. It is clear that this segment generally represents rather oligopolistic type of economy and, hence, only a few leading manufacturers have a real chance of becoming suppliers to large automaker companies.

The heavy hybrid market is already the most mature sector in the ultracapacitor market and continues to expand rapidly. The ultracapacitors function as energy storage for storing and reusing energy which comes from regenerative braking in hybrid buses and trucks. Ultracapacitors can be used both in onboard and stationary systems in this segment. Other opportunities here include cold starting of diesel engine for trucks and trains, emergency power to various subsystems etc.

alt Mass Transit – buses, trams, commercial vehicles

alt Automotive – hybrid drivetrains, electrical systems, cold cranking, kers, start stop.


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INDUSTRY

Cranes, loaders, forklifts, robots, welding machines etc.

Industrial segment is characterized by a large versitility of applications. It includes vehicles such as forklifts, shovel trucks, agricultural machinery, and excavators. Large potential for ultracapacitor use in these vehicles is also stimulated by CO2 emission regulations imposed in various countries. This sector is characterized by a long design-in and testing periods.

 

ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEMS

Power stabilizers, uninterruptible power supplies, smart grid systems etc.


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Industrial applications are primarily characterized by stationary stand–by applications where ultracapacitors are superior over other solutions due to outstanding power characteristics. This segment of the ultracapacitor market generally has somewhat shorter commercialization period compared to automotive market – from one to three years. Examples of industrial stand-by applications for ultracapacitors include emergency backup power to the pitch control system of wind turbine generators, power for memory backup, UPS and other short-term bridging power applications.

alt Power Grid – power stabilization, supporting Smart Grid

alt UPS – telecom backup stations, power quality and uninterruptible power



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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

PDA, AMR, SSD, flashlights, toys, hand tools etc.

Consumer electronics segment of the market can be characterized as a market of opportunities. However, it has a lot of features making it quite different from industrial and automotive applications. It is costly and time-sensitive due to very short design-in times, the volumes of ultracapacitors are significant, product often requires customization according to versatile customer needs.

alt Consumer Electronics – memory backup, extending battery lifetime, data transmitting support

alt Tools – portable power applications


 

SPECIAL NICHES

Specialized technical equipment,
rigs, microsatellites etc.

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In addition to the major ultracapacitor market segments, specified above, there are also more specific niches for these energy storage devices. It includes versatile systems for military, medical and space applications.

alt Industrial and special applications – power quality and redundancy