Ultracapacitors Deliver High Capacitance in Small Size

Ultracapacitor startup, Ioxus of Oneonta, NY, has introduced its first family of electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) and pseudo-capacitors.

Offered in cylindrical and the less common prismatic packaging (Fig 1.), these components offer values ranging from 100 F to 2000 F (Table) claiming greater capacitance per volume and greater power density than competing devices (Fig 2).

According to Ioxus, these new ultracapacitors provide 30% more capacitance in 90% of the space required by existing ultracaps.

All of these devices are manufactured in the company’s upstate New York factory. Target applications include military, transportation and alternative energy applications where ultracaps and pseudo-capacitors assist batteries, fuel cells, and the power grid in providing peak (pulse) power and supply ride-through during brief power outages (Fig 3).

Fig 1. Ioxus’ ultracaps and pseudo-capacitors are offered in cylindrical or prismatic packages.

Fig. 2. These ultracaps claim higher power density than competing devices.

Table. Ultracapacitor and pseudo-capacitor values range from 100 F to 2000 F

*Pseudo-capacitors, which are also known as hybrid capacitors, provide higher energy density than regular capacitors. These devices combine one capacitor electrode with one battery electrode. Solar lighting is one of the target applications for pseudo-capacitors. However, while ultracapacitors have a life expectancy of over 500,000 charge-and-discharge cycles, pseudo-capacitors have a shorter life expectancy of 100,000 to 200,000 cycles.

Fig 3. Ultracaps can assist batteries, fuel cells, and the power grid in providing peak power and ride-through during brief power outages.