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New material paves way for high temperature capacitors in cars

New material paves way for high temperature capacitors in cars

Technology News |
By eeNews Europe



The capacitor, called HITECA, can operate close to normal efficiency at over 200°C, significantly higher than any other capacitor on the market. It also offers a high energy density of 18.6 J/cm3 at 972 kV/cm.
“The opportunities for electric vehicles are huge, both financially and environmentally, but they are currently being held back by a few technical issues. With this high temperature capacitor we believe we have solved an important one of those issues and will play a vital part in the move towards mass market electric vehicles,” said Tatiana Correia, lead scientist on the project.
"At the moment the prototype is designed for a capacitance of 100 nF and rated for 1000 V, but these values ought to be tailored by the geometry and design, which will depend on the application," she said. "The designs are standard for a multilayer capacitor, but in terms of the energy density the important part is the capacitance at the operating voltage, and there is where HITECA capacitor has a major benefit as it shows much lower voltage coefficient of capacitance than other ceramic-capacitors in the market."
To develop the capacitor, NPL investigated a range of lead-free materials that could have the desired properties to develop into a high temperature capacitor. The scientists explored different compositions and different ways of fabricating them. They measured current at a range of high temperatures using advanced measurement techniques. The most promising materials were optimised to achieve the desired properties. The resulting capacitor is created from a ceramic, based on doped-BiFeO3 compound.
Current capacitors do not meet the EV requirements due to an inability to function reliably under the high temperatures created in electric vehicles says NPL and the researchers have overcome this issue as part of a project backed by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board funded project.
The project has also allowed NPL to develop a range of new capabilities in metrology to assess energy and power in capacitors across a temperature range, which it will be offering as a new service.
The result for the electrical vehicle driver could mean an increased mileage range, reduced maintenance, and an enhanced driving feel, and NPL is looking to license the technology to manufacturers.
A recent Frost & Sullivan Report shows that capacitors represent a £10bn global market in the automotive industry alone. This capacitor also has huge potential in other areas of high temperature electronics for other industries, for example: pulsed power applications (defibrillators and x-ray generators), energy conversion in photovoltaics and integrated circuits, downhole power electronics in oil and gas industry, which need to work at high temperatures or are subject to overheating.
The capacitor was developed as part of the Technology Strategy Board Project, Advanced Capacitors for Energy Storage (ACES). NPL led the project with partners Queens University of Belfast, Queen Mary University, Syfer and Valeo, and it is interested in licensing the technology to industrial partners.
www.npl.co.uk

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