Availability of its PC-10 ultracapacitor has been announced by Maxwell
Technologies. The device features a proprietary electrode for enhancing the
reliability of backup power in enterprise storage, powering smart utility
meters, and benefiting a variety of other industrial applications.
The PC-10 is able to efficiently store power and distribute it immediately.
It provides up to 10 years or more of reliable data protection for
high-performance solid-state drives (SSD) and non-volatile memory modules in
enterprise storage systems in the event of power disruptions while reducing
the overall cost of ownership and environmental impacts of conventional
battery solutions.
The PC-10 can also be used in automated utility meters as part of the smart
grid, enabling utility companies to prioritize which individual buildings
should come back up following a power outage. The PC-10 can also aid in
load-sharing arrangements, powering meters to transmit data from residences
that have agreed to lower their energy use during peak periods.
"In enterprise backup storage applications, ultracapacitors are a much more
reliable option than the traditional Lithium-ion, nickel and alkaline
batteries commonly used today," said Michael Liedtke, Maxwell's vice
president for sales, marketing and business development. "Ultracapacitors
eliminate the need for replacing a battery in enterprise storage devices
every year and conducting performance tests. In smart utility meters, the
PC-10 guarantees the meter will keep transmitting information if power is
shut down to the area."
Developed for mass commercial use over the past decade, ultracapacitors
store energy in an electric field rather than through the chemical reactions
of conventional batteries. With an extremely high energy density thousands
of times greater than standard capacitors, ultracapacitors provide an
independent, instantly available source of power unaffected by temperature,
shock, overcharging, and millions of discharging / recharging cycles. They
require no maintenance or special recycling.
In addition to improved reliability, the PC-10's proprietary electrode
provides tighter capacitance and resistance control for more precise
charging times and more efficient discharge. The PC-10 product comes in
straight lead, 90-degree and 270-degree bent lead versions to fit a variety
of different PCBA layout and space requirements. The PC-10's unique
prismatic design makes it the only product for thin, high-energy
applications and fits into a DRAM memory module form factor.
The PC-10 ultracapacitors also offer benefits in automotive subsystems,
wireless transmission, medical devices, and many other applications
requiring a pulse of energy that cannot be efficiently provided by a battery
or power supply alone.
Maxwell Technologies is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative,
cost-effective energy storage and power delivery solutions. Its BOOSTCAPR
ultracapacitor cells and multi-cell modules provide safe and reliable power
solutions for applications in consumer and industrial electronics,
transportation and telecommunications. Maxwell sustainably manufactures its
ultracapacitors which are also fully recyclable, says the company.
