Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Also disclosed is an exemplary process for manufacturing an electrode for use in an energy storage device product, the process comprising: supplying dry carbon particles; supplying dry binder; dry mixing the dry carbon particles and dry binder; and dry fibrillizing the dry binder to create a matrix within which to support the dry carbon particles as dry material.

Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Also disclosed is an exemplary process for manufacturing an electrode for use in an energy storage device product, the process comprising: supplying dry carbon particles; supplying dry binder; dry mixing the dry carbon particles and dry binder; and dry fibrillizing the dry binder to create a matrix within which to support the dry carbon particles as dry material.

Abstract: Active electrode material, such as fibrillized blend of activated carbon, polymer, and conductive carbon, is pretreated by immersion in a sealing coating. After the active electrode material is dried, the coating seals micropores of the activated carbon or another porous material, thus preventing exposure of water molecules or other impurities trapped in the micropores to outside agents. At the same time, the sealing coating does not seal most mesapores of the porous material, allowing exposure of the mesapores' surface area to the outside agents. The pretreated active electrode material is used for making electrodes or electrode assemblies of electrical energy storage devices. For example, the electrodes may be immersed in an electrolyte to construct electrochemical double layer capacitors. Pretreatment with the sealing coating reduces the number of water molecules interacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the breakdown voltage of the capacitors.

Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for a self-supporting dry adhesive electrode film for use therein is disclosed.

Abstract: A high voltage capacitor design is provided that provides improved performance. The high voltage capacitor includes a stack of mechanically bonded capacitor cells, which in one variant utilize a separator formed of two layers of paper. In one version, the high voltage capacitor may be used as a capacitative voltage divider.

Abstract: A high voltage capacitor design is provided that provides improved performance. The high voltage capacitor includes a stack of mechanically bonded capacitor cells, which in one variant utilize a separator formed of two layers of paper. In one version, the high voltage capacitor may be used as a capacitative voltage divider.

Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for a self-supporting dry adhesive electrode film for use therein is disclosed.

Abstract: An energy storage device electrode product is provided. The product comprises: at least one current collector and at least one electrode film disposed adjacent to the at least one current collector. The at least one current collector comprises a plurality of voids extending through a thickness of the current collector, wherein the plurality of voids allow electrolyte to flow through the thickness of the current collector. The plurality of voids extending through the current collector is formed without reducing a surface area of a conductive material of the current collector disposed adjacent to the electrode by more than about fifty percent. A method of producing an electrode product and a double layer capacitor product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Particles of active electrode material are made by blending or mixing a mixture of activated carbon, optional conductive carbon, and binder. In selected implementations, the activated carbon particles have between about 70 and 98 percent microporous activated carbon particles and between about 2 and 30 percent mesoporous activated carbon particles by weight. Optionally, a small amount of conductive particles, such as conductive carbon particles may be used. In one implementation, the binder is inert. The electrode material may be attached to a current collector to obtain an electrode for use in various energy storage devices, including a double layer capacitor.

Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Also disclosed is an exemplary process for manufacturing an electrode for use in an energy storage device product, the process comprising: supplying dry carbon particles; supplying dry binder; dry mixing the dry carbon particles and dry binder; and dry fibrillizing the dry binder to create a matrix within which to support the dry carbon particles as dry material.

Abstract: An energy storage system is described for use in, for example, electronics systems such as a bank of computers. The disclosed energy storage systems allows the use of an efficient energy source, such as ultracapacitors, while providing a desired voltage level for an extended period of time. One embodiment of the energy storage system provides power to a load. The system includes a power module including at least one ultracapacitor adapted to store and discharge energy. The power module provides an output voltage as the ultracapacitor discharges energy. The system also includes a voltage regulator for boosting the output voltage of the power module. The voltage regulator may include a voltage converter. The voltage converter may be adapted to boost the output voltage when the output voltage falls below a predetermined threshold. The voltage converter may include a plurality of interleaving inductor circuits, each of the circuits including a switch and an inductor.

Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for using one or more recyclable electrode film structure is disclosed.

Abstract: A high voltage capacitor design is provided that provides improved performance. The high voltage capacitor includes a stack of mechanically bonded capacitor cells, which in one variant utilize a separator formed of two layers of paper. In one version, the high voltage capacitor may be used as a capacitative voltage divider.

Abstract: Electrodes of a double-layer capacitor are designed so that sub-capacitors formed at each electrode are stressed substantially equally at the rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, each electrode includes a current collector and an active electrode layer, such as a layer of activated carbon. The electrodes are held apart by a porous separator, and the assembly is immersed in an electrolyte. The thicknesses of the active electrode layers differ, resulting in asymmetrical construction of the capacitor. Different thicknesses cause the sub-capacitors to have different capacitances. When voltage is applied to the double-layer capacitor, the voltage is divided unequally between the unequal sub-capacitors. Properly selected thicknesses allow the voltages at the sub-capacitors to stress equally each sub-capacitor. The rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor can then be increased without overstressing the sub-capacitors.

Abstract: Particles of active electrode material are made by blending and fibrillizing (i.e., fibrillating) a mixture of activated carbon, conductive carbon, and fibrillizable binder. In selected embodiments, chloride level in the activated carbon is relatively low, a small amount of conductive carbon with low impurity levels and high conductivity is used, and the binder is inert. For example, chloride content of the activated carbon is below 50 ppm, and total impurities in the conductive carbon are below 120 ppm. The mixture may include about 10% of PTFE and 0.5% or less of conductive carbon. Blending and fibrillization may be performed without solvents. The fibrillized particles are dried, blended again to reduce clumping, and used to make active electrode material film. The film is attached to a current collector to obtain an electrode for use in various electrical devices, including double layer capacitors. The electrode increases breakdown voltage of the capacitor electrolyte.

Abstract: Electrical energy storage cells, for example, electrochemical double layer capacitor cells, are assembled into a module within an enclosure. The enclosure is built using modular construction so that it can be fitted to a variable number of cells. In exemplary embodiments, the enclosure may be expanded or reduced in size in one, two, or all three dimensions by inserting or removing additional panels. The panels may be interconnected using tongue and groove connectors.

Abstract: Active electrode material, such as fibrillized blend of activated carbon, polymer, and conductive carbon, is pretreated by immersion in a sealing coating. After the active electrode material is dried, the coating seals micropores of the activated carbon or another porous material, thus preventing exposure of water molecules or other impurities trapped in the micropores to outside agents. At the same time, the sealing coating does not seal most mesapores of the porous material, allowing exposure of the mesapores' surface area to the outside agents. The pretreated active electrode material is used for making electrodes or electrode assemblies of electrical energy storage devices. For example, the electrodes may be immersed in an electrolyte to construct electrochemical double layer capacitors. Pretreatment with the sealing coating reduces the number of water molecules interacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the breakdown voltage of the capacitors.

Abstract: Power supply voltage of a PCI or a similar communication bus interface is separated from one or more other power supply voltages on a backplane, on boards insertable into the backplane, and on the bus interface components of the boards. The power supply of the bus interface (VIO) is provided to cold spare boards inserted into the backplane, while the other voltages are not provided to the cold spare boards. Availability of the VIO on the cold spare boards prevents the VIO clamping diodes on the PCI I/O lines from grounding the PCI bus. Cold spare capability is thus provided to systems with PCI and similar communication buses.

Abstract: High reliable energy density capability of double-layer capacitor electrode technology now enables the use of capacitors as supplements to, or replacements for, battery technologies. In one application, when sized to a standard battery form factor, the large end terminal surface areas of such form factors enable that the energy density of capacitors can now be safely used as direct drop-in replacements for batteries.

Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry adhesive electrode film for use therein is disclosed.