Mitsubishi Electric Develops Key Technology for Next-Generation Power Capacitor

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Japan announced on February 7, 2008, that it has developed a new technology for the practical application of a large power capacitor, a power storage unit that can repeatedly charge and discharge without a chemical reaction and has an excellent lifecycle. This facilitates the development of a next-generation power capacitor that can be used in the various fields of bulk power, including photovoltaic generation and large motor regeneration (power generation by motor).

Due to large time constant, it is typically difficult to charge capacitors rapidly, but new, ultra-thin electrode-coating technology and the reduction of internal resistance have made it possible to charge capacitors in less than one second, a major improvement from the conventional ten seconds. This allows efficient recovery of power from peaks in electrical current, a feature that is useful in accommodating variations of photovoltaic generation output and regenerating electricity when the speed of motor-driven equipment is reduced.

Because the charging energy of capacitors increases with the square of the voltage, higher-voltage capacitors are preferable. Mitsubishi Electric has succeeded in improving the withstand voltage from 2.7 volts to 3.0 volts using additives to carbon composite electrodes and an enhanced electrolyte solution, thereby increasing the charging energy by more than 20 percent. In addition, the company has developed a coated- electrode, suitable for mass production, which can further reduce costs.


- Breakthrough in 'Nanogate Capacitor' has Applications in Electrical Power Supplies (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/470-e
- Joint Venture to Promote Next-Generation Power Storage System (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/695-e

Posted: 2008/05/24 09:52:05 AM