Supercapacitors are energy storage systems with several appealing characteristics such as high capacitance, high power density, and long cycle times. Supercapacitors are sometimes also known as ultracapacitors. They provide a viable solution that stands somewhere between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries.
Due to this property, supercapacitors are used in several applications. Many companies like Cap-XX offer varied and high-end product lines to suit different needs in different industries.
How is Supercapacitor different from Traditional Capacitors?
A typical double-layer supercapacitor differs from a traditional capacitor in two major ways. Since the separator between the plates functions differently from a conventional dielectric, a supercapacitor’s metal plates have a far greater surface area.
Charge and discharge are electrochemical reactions in a battery. On their large surface-area plates, supercapacitors can store charge electrostatically. The devices have a lower energy storage capacity, but they can charge and discharge in seconds.
As a result, supercapacitors are mainly used to provide brief power bursts.
Batteries will still help store vast quantities of energy for longer periods (at least for the near future).
Applications of Supercapacitors
Supercapacitors are relatively new technology (at least in comparison to conventional capacitors), but they are now ready for use in various applications.
Electronic Appliances: Supercapacitors help in replacing primary batteries to bridge short power outages or smooth electrical flow. They can be used in devices like uninterruptible power supply, wireless alarm systems, smart meters, and even solid-state drives or SSDs in this still commonly used position.
Electronic Devices: Supercapacitors are commonly used in pulse applications, telemetry, peak power assist, and electronic locks to provide power. Many engineers consider supercapacitor technology efficient to start backup generators during power outages and provide power before the switch-over reaches full speed.
Infrastructures: Large supercapacitors are often installed in commercial buildings in Japan to minimize grid usage and ease loading during peak demand periods. They are now widely used as energy harvesters, capturing and storing energy from solar panels, wind turbines, ocean waves, and other natural sources to power low-energy electronics.
IoT Sensors: Supercapacitors are suitable for use in Internet of Things (IoT) sensor and communication designs because they can work in harsh environments over a large range of operating temperatures while providing high power density and reliability.
Powering Mobility: Engineers are increasingly using supercapacitors as high-performance energy storage devices that can help drive the rapid growth of low-power electronics. This makes Supercapacitor technology compatible with a variety of portable electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, GSM/GPRS modules, and wearable medical devices.
Hybrid Automobiles: Supercapacitors are also being widely adopted by the automotive industry, incorporating the technology into a variety of vehicle systems. The technology’s efficiency and temperature tolerance attributes will benefit start/stop functions and power steering. Supercapacitors like those from Cap XX offer the ability to quickly charge electric vehicle batteries when used in combination with a gasoline engine in the future. Hybrid vehicles with supercapacitors would be able to drive long distances while retaining high power control and performance.
Rail Industry: The rail industry has also begun to recognize supercapacitor technology’s energy harvesting ability. For example, you can find an onboard supercapacitor-based energy harvesting device designed for street trams. The technology restores kinetic energy lost during braking, increasing the train’s overall energy efficiency.
Final Thought
Supercapacitors are a rapidly developing energy storage technology that has become a common design option for increasing applications. Even though lithium-ion batteries are now used in a wide variety of personal and commercial products, supercapacitors will still outperform them in terms of power density and charge/discharge cycles.
Researchers worldwide are researching new types of dielectric materials, such as carbon nanotubes, polypyrrole, and barium titanate. All of these materials promise to increase capacitance and energy density.