In this tech talk, Steven had the pleasure of discussing about the Supercapacitors for hydrogen economy with Dennis Honing, Sales Manager at AEP Hybrid Power.
Learn about Supercapacitors for Hydrogen Applications
Steven Oji and Dennis Honing discuss supercapacitors, also known as super caps, are advanced capacitors that store electrical energy with significantly higher capacity (thousands of Farads) compared to conventional capacitors. It achieves this through the use of activated carbon, which increases surface area, and a special electrolyte creates a double-layer capacitor. Supercapacitors can be quickly charged and discharged, making them ideal for applications needing high power for short durations, such as stabilizing DC grids and regenerative energy systems. Integrating supercapacitors with batteries and fuel cells to optimize energy solutions highlights their potential in future energy systems.
Supercapacitors consist of a double-layer setup with an electrolyte and separator, creating two capacitors in one. The components are typically rolled into a cylindrical shape for compactness, where the entire roll is connected to the electrodes.
For practical applications, supercapacitors are connected in series to increase voltage. However, variations in individual cell capacities necessitate a monitoring and balancing system to ensure uniform charging and prolong the lifespan. This system involves balancing boards on each cell, a module management unit (MMU) for each module, and an overall monitoring system to manage voltage and temperature.
Supercapacitors are particularly suitable for applications requiring high power for short durations, such as stabilizing DC grids and regenerative braking in cranes, where they outperform batteries due to their rapid charge/discharge capabilities and longevity. Although they have lower energy density than batteries, their power density is significantly higher, making them ideal for applications with frequent power peaks.
If you like the video, please also subscribe to our new Hyfindr Youtube Channel. We launched Hyfindr Tech Talks in January - a new format that is specifically designed for engineers who are interesed in the hydrogen economy!
Steven is a fuel cell system designer and he will deep-dive into the technology that makes the hydrogen economy work with real experts. We hope you will like the new format.