3 years, 4 months ago
Will Ultra Capacitors take the place of Lithium Ion and other battery types?
Where can UltraCaps be purchased? In what applications are Ultra capacitors used today? What are the drawbacks of Ultracaps? What is the best way to keep up on this technology?
Separate topics with commas, or by pressing return. Use the delete or backspace key to edit or remove existing topics.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$2 Answers
Without some major advances we won't see ultra capacitors replace lithium ion batteries in the near future.
I don't know where they can be purchased alone, but they are used in cars like the Tesla and probably most newer roller coasters to provide power to the electromagnets.
There are a number of problems including:
If you are interested in learning more I highly recommend listening to the Security Now podcast. In episode 177 they got off topic from security and spent a fair amount of time talking about ultra capacitors and the positives and negatives involved.
Steve Gibson is interested in this technology and promised to continue provided updates in his podcast.
I don't know where they can be purchased alone, but they are used in cars like the Tesla and probably most newer roller coasters to provide power to the electromagnets.
There are a number of problems including:
- They take a long time to charge unless you have a 200amp circuit (most homes have 20).
- They operate at high voltages which is dangerous.
- They can fully discharge in seconds again making them dangerous.
If you are interested in learning more I highly recommend listening to the Security Now podcast. In episode 177 they got off topic from security and spent a fair amount of time talking about ultra capacitors and the positives and negatives involved.
Steve Gibson is interested in this technology and promised to continue provided updates in his podcast.
source(s):
http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-177.htm (full text of episode 177)
http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm (see episode 177, Breaking SSL, PDP-8's & UltraCapacitors)
http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-177.htm (full text of episode 177)
http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm (see episode 177, Breaking SSL, PDP-8's & UltraCapacitors)
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Buy them online : http://www.tecategroup.com/ultracapacitors/ultracapacitors.php
Lithium Ion and other battery storage technologies will likely be around for a long time. One of the "next big things" in battery development is the addition of carbon nanostructres (not always tubes) to the sides of the cell chambers. This is very similar to what they're doing for ultracapacitors, but using the carbon nanostructures as Lithium Ion annodes can also increase the reaction surface area for such batteries hugely, resulting in much greater effective capacity. This link discusses both batteries and supercapacitors, both of which are benefitting from the technology. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21938/page1/
My assertion that Lithium Ion will be around for some time is based on the idea that they provide a basically stable, known industrial technology on which to grow and expand. Established technologies in crowded markets like energy storage tend to linger. People have already invested dollars and mind share, and unless a significantly supeior product is introduced ("we'll be out of business by next quarter because our competitor's device runs twice as long, takes 1/4 the time to charge and the power storage component costs 2/3 of ours" kind of superior, not a couple percentage points) the tendenct is to keep up, rather than innovate of excel beyond the competition. I fully support and welcome ultracapacitors as battery replacements, but "good enough" is a lot easier to invest and hang hopes on than "could be, with enough R&D funding." Eventually the funding will come, but Lithium will have, to pun, "a long life."
Buy Ultracapacitors online: http://www.tecategroup.com/ultracapacitors/ultracapacitors.php
Current applications include things like flash photography (this also includes regular capacitors, but ultracapacitors are penetrating the market),
flashlights:
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/lighting/ultracapacitor-flashlight-charges-up-in-90-seconds-lasts-135-years-069308
and high power situations in devices like cell phones and PDAs:
http://www.ultracapacitors.org/ultracapacitors.org-blog/cap-xx-super-capacitors-thin-enough-for-a-mobile-p-2.htm
Current drawbacks are price to power yield, overall power capacity, production availability/scale, lack of public knowledge (thanks to Steve Gibson for working on that), as well as some technical hurdles to lesser needs for recharging and better "battery-like" characteristics.
Probably the best place to keep up with news is ultracapacitors.org http://www.ultracapacitors.org/ultracapacitors.org-blog/batteries-vs.-ultracapacitor-comparison.html
Lithium Ion and other battery storage technologies will likely be around for a long time. One of the "next big things" in battery development is the addition of carbon nanostructres (not always tubes) to the sides of the cell chambers. This is very similar to what they're doing for ultracapacitors, but using the carbon nanostructures as Lithium Ion annodes can also increase the reaction surface area for such batteries hugely, resulting in much greater effective capacity. This link discusses both batteries and supercapacitors, both of which are benefitting from the technology. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21938/page1/
My assertion that Lithium Ion will be around for some time is based on the idea that they provide a basically stable, known industrial technology on which to grow and expand. Established technologies in crowded markets like energy storage tend to linger. People have already invested dollars and mind share, and unless a significantly supeior product is introduced ("we'll be out of business by next quarter because our competitor's device runs twice as long, takes 1/4 the time to charge and the power storage component costs 2/3 of ours" kind of superior, not a couple percentage points) the tendenct is to keep up, rather than innovate of excel beyond the competition. I fully support and welcome ultracapacitors as battery replacements, but "good enough" is a lot easier to invest and hang hopes on than "could be, with enough R&D funding." Eventually the funding will come, but Lithium will have, to pun, "a long life."
Buy Ultracapacitors online: http://www.tecategroup.com/ultracapacitors/ultracapacitors.php
Current applications include things like flash photography (this also includes regular capacitors, but ultracapacitors are penetrating the market),
flashlights:
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/lighting/ultracapacitor-flashlight-charges-up-in-90-seconds-lasts-135-years-069308
and high power situations in devices like cell phones and PDAs:
http://www.ultracapacitors.org/ultracapacitors.org-blog/cap-xx-super-capacitors-thin-enough-for-a-mobile-p-2.htm
Current drawbacks are price to power yield, overall power capacity, production availability/scale, lack of public knowledge (thanks to Steve Gibson for working on that), as well as some technical hurdles to lesser needs for recharging and better "battery-like" characteristics.
Probably the best place to keep up with news is ultracapacitors.org http://www.ultracapacitors.org/ultracapacitors.org-blog/batteries-vs.-ultracapacitor-comparison.html
source(s):
Sources are in the posting. Energy storage is one of those fun hobbies geeks get into, and it should be one more people pay attention to.
Sources are in the posting. Energy storage is one of those fun hobbies geeks get into, and it should be one more people pay attention to.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Haha, Thanks Ssharon, but SN is exactly what got me thinking myself! I know a great deal about Lion Batteries as well as capacitors. Thanks for your input.
I'm impressed how many SN listeners there are here. Funny coincidence that it got you thinking about, I didn't know at all just from reading the question. At least other users that come across this question might listen to SN now and also become interested.