Abstract: A method of iteratively screening a sample of electrolytic capacitors having a predetermined rated voltage is provided. The method can include measuring a first leakage current of a first set of capacitors, calculating a first mean leakage current therefrom, and removing capacitors from the first set having a first leakage current equal to or above a first predetermined value, thereby forming a second set of capacitors. The second set can be subjected to a burn in heat treatment where a test voltage can be applied, then a second leakage current of the second set of capacitors can be measured and a second mean leakage current can be calculated. Capacitors having a second leakage current equal to or above a second predetermined value can be removed from the second set, forming a third set of capacitors. Because of such iterative screening, the capacitors in the third set have low failure rates.

Abstract: Flowlines for use in oil and gas applications are described. The flowlines include a barrier layer that includes polyarylene sulfide composition that exhibits high strength and flexibility characteristics. Methods for forming the flowlines are also described. Formation methods include dynamic vulcanization of a polyarylene sulfide composition that includes an impact modifier dispersed throughout the polyarylene sulfide. A crosslinking agent is combined with the other components of the composition following dispersal of the impact modifier throughout the composition. The flowlines can include production fluid flowlines, supporting fluid flowlines, bundled flowlines, etc. and can be utilized as risers, pipelines, jumpers, and the like.

Abstract: An electrical contact for use in connecting electrical wires is disclosed. The electrical contact includes a cage-like structure, a wire connecting portion, and a flexing contact portion. The cage-like structure includes a plurality of sidewalls and is configured to receive a wire. The wire connecting contact portion includes at least two contact tines that are configured to conductively couple with a corresponding wire. The flexing contact portion includes an end wall, an elastic portion, an extension portion, and a nose portion. The flexing contact portion can store elastic energy and apply a force to a corresponding electrical component.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of performing under extreme conditions, such as at high temperatures and/or high voltages, is provided. The ability to perform at high temperature is achieved in part by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor element. Furthermore, the present inventors have also discovered that the ability to perform at high voltages can be achieved through a unique and controlled combination of features relating to the formation of the anode, dielectric, and solid electrolyte. For example, the solid electrolyte is formed from a combination of a conductive polymer and a hydroxy-functional nonionic polymer.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrolytic capacitor is provided. The method includes obtaining an unverified mineral sample from a mine site, analyzing the unverified mineral sample via quantitative mineralogical analysis and comparing data collected during the quantitative mineralogical analysis for the unverified mineral sample to data in a database that corresponds to quantitative mineralogical analysis collected for verified mineral samples sourced from one or more mine sites from a conflict-free geographic region to determine if the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region. If it is determined that the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region, the method then involves converting the unverified mineral sample into an anode for the electrolytic capacitor. The electrolytic capacitor can be a solid electrolytic capacitor or a wet electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: A low aspect ratio varistor is disclosed. The varistor may have a rectangular configuration defining first and second opposing side surfaces offset in a widthwise direction and first and second opposing end surfaces offset in a lengthwise direction. The varistor may include a first electrode layer including a first electrode having an electrode length in the lengthwise direction and an electrode width in the widthwise direction. The varistor may also include a second electrode layer including a second electrode having an electrode length in the lengthwise direction and an electrode width in the widthwise direction. The varistor may also include first and second terminals adjacent and connected with the first and second opposing end surfaces, respectively. At least one of the first or second electrodes may have an electrode aspect ratio less than about 1.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for constructing thermoelectric devices (TEDs). N-type elements are paired with P-type elements in an array of pairs between substrates. The paired elements are electrically connected in series by various techniques including brazing for hot side and/or also cold side connections, and soldering for cold side connections while being thermally connected in parallel. In selected embodiments, electrical and mechanical connections of the elements may be made solely by mechanical pressure.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that comprises a capacitor element, a lead wire, an anode termination, and a cathode termination is provided. The capacitor element contains a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric. Further, the lead wire is in electrical contact with the anode body and contains a first region that is located in proximity to a surface of the capacitor element. The lead wire contains a core that extends outwardly from the surface, and an oxide layer coats at least a portion of the core within the first region.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for constructing thermoelectric devices (TEDs). N-type elements are paired with P-type elements in an array of pairs between substrates. The paired elements are electrically connected in series by various techniques including brazing for hot side and/or also cold side connections, and soldering for cold side connections while being thermally connected in parallel. In selected embodiments, electrical and mechanical connections of the elements may be made solely by mechanical pressure.

Abstract: A capacitor that is capable of exhibiting good properties under humid conditions is provided. The ability to perform under such conditions is due in part to selective control over the particular nature of the solid electrolyte and cathode coating that overlies the solid electrolyte. For example, the solid electrolyte contains pre-polymerized conductive polymer particles, which can help act as a blocking layer for any silver ions migrating through the capacitor. Likewise, the cathode coating also contains conductive metal particles (e.g., silver particles) that are dispersed within a resinous matrix. The resinous matrix includes a polymer that absorbs only a small amount of water, if any, when placed in a humid atmosphere.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor that is in contact with a hot atmosphere having a temperature of about 80° C. or more is provided. The ultracapacitor contains a first electrode, second electrode, separator, nonaqueous electrolyte, and housing is provided. The first electrode comprises a first current collector electrically coupled to a first carbonaceous coating and the second electrode comprises a second current collector electrically coupled to a second carbonaceous coating. The capacitor exhibits a capacitance value within the hot atmosphere of about 6 Farads per cubic centimeter or more as determined at a frequency of 120 Hz and without an applied voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for increasing the resonance frequency and useful frequency range of surface mount RC equalizer devices. The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved operational characteristics of generally known such RC equalizer devices by implementing a reverse geometry that relocates the internal termination points, as well as external termination points for such devices, along lateral portions of the assembled device. Such reverse geometry achieves improvements by providing a reduction of the equivalent series inductance (ESL) to provide the increased resonance frequency and useful frequency range.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrical contact comprising a first aperture and a first insulation displacement opening. Centers of the first aperture and the first insulation displacement opening are aligned. The apparatus also includes an insulated housing comprising a first wire opening, a second wire opening, and a first electrical contact inlet extending through the first and second wire openings. The first electrical contact is at least partially inserted into the first electrical contact inlet such that at least a portion of the first aperture is aligned with the first wire opening.

Abstract: A system includes a housing and a contact portion. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion interlocking with the second portion so as to enclose a first volume and form a first wire opening within a first end of the housing and a second wire opening within a second end of the housing. The contact portion is disposed within the first volume and includes a first wire receiving portion, a first flexing beam extending from a first surface of the first wire receiving portion towards a second surface of the first wire receiving portion, a second wire receiving portion, a second flexing beam extending from a first surface of the second wire receiving portion towards a second surface of the second wire receiving portion, and a common wire stop disposed between the first wire receiving portion and the second wire receiving portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods of charging and discharging an ultracapacitor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a circuit for charging a capacitor can include a power source configured to provide a source voltage. The circuit can further include an ultracapacitor, a temperature sensing device, a power converter, and one or more control devices configured to receive signals indicative of a temperature from the temperature sensing device, and to control operation of the power converter based at least in part on the one or more signals indicative of the temperature.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor that comprises a first and second electrochemical cell that are connected in parallel is provided. The cells are define by a first electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, a second electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second cell is by the second electrode, a third electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the second electrode and the third electrode. The ultracapacitor also contains a nonaqueous electrolyte that is in ionic contact with the electrodes and contains a nonaqueous solvent and an ionic liquid. A package encloses the first cell, the second cell, and the nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: A tunable multilayer capacitor is provided. The capacitor comprises first active electrodes that are in electrical contact with a first active termination and alternating second active electrodes that are in electrical contact with a second active termination. The capacitor also comprises first DC bias electrodes that are in electrical contact with a first DC bias termination and alternating second DC bias electrodes that are in electrical contact with a second DC bias termination. A plurality of dielectric layers are disposed between the alternating first and second active electrodes and between the alternating first and second bias electrodes. At least a portion of the dielectric layers contain a dielectric material that exhibits a variable dielectric constant upon the application of an applied voltage.

Abstract: A capacitor element for use in high voltage environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor element contains an anode that includes a solid electrolyte that overlies an anode. The anode includes a sintered porous pellet and a dielectric layer having a reduced degree of crystallinity formed on a surface of the pellet and within its pores.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains a casing within which is positioned an anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous body and a fluidic working electrolyte is provided. The casing contains a composite coating disposed on a surface of a metal substrate. The composite coating includes a noble metal layer that overlies the metal substrate and a conductive polymer layer that overlies the noble metal layer.

Abstract: A capacitor that comprises a capacitor element that includes an anode that contains a dielectric formed on a sintered porous body, a solid electrolyte overlying the anode, and a cathode coating is provided. The cathode coating includes a noble metal layer (e.g., gold) overlying the solid electrolyte and a layer overlying the noble metal layer that includes sintered metal particles (e.g., silver particles).