Overview
Ultracapacitors are an ideal energy storage solution for high power, low energy applications or for cyclical power cycles. The long life of capacitors compared to batteries, combined with low resistance and self-heating, make ultracapacitors the superior design choice in many cases.
However, selecting a robust and reliable cell is only the first step. There is engineering necessary to match the solution with the application. That effort can often be a barrier for a company to select ultracapacitors, even when the application is right.
UTS will provide a "how-to" approach to this engineering. The presentation will cover the steps necessary to correctly match the energy storage capacity target for the application with different ultracapacitor sizes, while keeping in mind the voltage and current limitations of the power electronics. Attendees will learn that cell capacity and series/parallel configurations provide many options and variables to achieve the best solution.
This presentation will also address other parameters typical of ultracapacitor modules. Attendees will see mechanical features that address physical sizing, weight, vibration protection, and thermal management. Finally, UTS will also cover common controls requirements, such as cell balancing and module feedback communication methods, as well as the pros and cons of these design choices
Key Takeaways
- Learn the fundamentals of ultracapacitor module design.
- Understand the design interaction between cell capacity, array configuration, and voltage limits.
- Find out the typical design features to deal with vibration and thermal management, and the common potential technical pitfalls.
- Learn the pros and cons of different controls and feedback communication options.
Speaker
Kuhl has a BSE in mechanical engineering and 12 years of experience in product development and testing, with a focus in the areas of system design for mobile and stationary applications that utilize a variety of energy and power sources. Kuhl has extensive expertise in developing complex mechanical systems that integrate high power electric sources, along with propulsion systems integration using conventional and advanced technologies. Michael also has experience in developing ultracapacitor modules, electrical schematics, and harnesses drawings for vehicle applications. For the last five years, Kuhl has been the engineering manager at Unique Technical Services, leading a team of mechanical, electrical, and software engineers.
