Skeleton To Supply Ultracapacitors To CAF
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Electrive.
These two sentences are in the last paragraph.
In its German plant in Großröhrsdorf, Skeleton Technologies is working on so-called hybrid energy storage systems. In short, the advantages of lithium-ion batteries (high energy density) are to be combined with the advantages of ultracapacitors (high performance, long service life) in such hybrid storage systems
But I suggest you read the article as it indicates how supercapacitors could be used on battery-trams and trains.
If CAF use supercapacitors on their trains it will not be their first application on heavy rail in the UK. In Brush Traction Signs Contract With Skeleton Technologies For Modules For Class 769 Trains, I describe how supercapacitors are used to start the engines.
A Must-Watch Video About Skeleton Technologies And Ultracapacitors
This video is embedded in this page on the Skeleton Technologies web site.
Watch it!
A few points,
- Batteries have typically a life of between 3,000 to 5,000 cycles.
- Capacitors can achieve up to a million cycles.
- Used together batteries and capacitors complement each other.
- Used together can double battery life.
Taavi Madiberk of Skeleton Technologies likens a capacitor/battery energy store with Usain Bolt paired with a marathon runner. Usain would handle the fast energy transfer of braking and acceleration, with the marathon runner doing the cruising.
Ultracapacitors For The Rail Industry
The title of this sub-section is the same as this page on the Skeleton Technologies web site.
Noted applications include.
- Engine starting for diesel trains.
- Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for diesel trains.
- Onboard application for electric trains
- Stationary application for rail industry
- Independent power for level crossings.
I suspect these applications are just the start.
Conclusion
It appears to me, that the development of these large supercapacitors, is going to open up opportunities to develop energy storage systems for transport applications, that will give longer range and aincreased energy efficiency.
Wright Bus Embraces Ultracapacitors
This press release from Skeleton Technologies is entitled Graphene-Based Ultracapacitors Boost Double and Single Decker-Buses Through Low Emission Zones by Reducing Fuel Consumption.
This is said.
The integration of graphene-based ultracapacitors into test WrightBus double deck buses enables a 36% fuel saving compared to a UK based EuroVI diesel bus baseline. It also adds at least another 3 passengers to the capacity of these buses compared to a lithium battery-based hybrid equivalent.
I have a feeling that graphene-based ultracapacitors will give lithium batteries a very good kicking.
Brush Traction Signs Contract With Skeleton Technologies For Modules For Class 769 Trains
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Rail Advent.
This is the first two paragraphs
Skeleton Technologies has announced that they have signed a contract with Brush Traction to supply SkelStart Engine Start Modules for all Porterbrook Bi Mode Class 769 trains.
The high-power density, safe and tiny size of the 24V SkelStart module were decided over other solutions during the feasibility stage to start the Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) units. Simply put, there was not enough room available for another solution.
The article then gives a few brief details on the SkelStart
Who are Skeleton Technologies?
They have a web site at www.skeletontech.com and there is a brief description on the home page.
Under a title of.
Powering Energy Savings With Ultracapacitors
There is this description.
Skeleton Technologies’ patented curved graphene is changing the world of energy storage.
Our superior technology enables us to deliver ground-breaking energy storage solutions with market leading power and energy density. Our products are used across industries from automotive to aerospace and everything in between.
Curved graphene? I know about graphene, but I’d never heard of it being curved.
There is a Press Release on the Skeleton Technologies web site, which is entitled Skeleton Technologies Signs Contract with Brush Traction to Supply Ultracapacitors for All BMU Class 769 Prime Movers.
This gives a lot more details, including this brief description of size and weight.
The 24V SkelStart has the size of a regular car battery and with its 8kg weight, it solved the space restriction we had.
It looks to be a very simple application of a capacitor with the ability to hold a lot of charge.
One of their products is called a SkelMod 170V 53F Ultracapacitor Module.
The datasheet gives these details.
- Voltage – 170 Volts
- Capacitance – 53 Farads
- Maximum Stored Energy – 0.2127 kWh
- Weight – 77 Kg.
That is a lot of energy for a capacitor.
A 50 kWh capacitor suitable for a bus or train, with this energy density would weigh eighteen tonnes, so it’s a bit impractical for this type of application at present.
But who knows what will be possible in the near future?
Skeleton Technologies would already appear to have pushed capacitor design a long way.
Skeleton Technologies Are An Estonian Company
This surprised me at first! But why not?
An Aside
Somewhere in my past about the 1960s, I remember an electronic news item, where someone like AERE Harwell, had built a one Farad capacitor, that was house-sized. Noe we get 53 Farad in a suitcase.
Conclusion
I think we’ll eventually see supercapacitors big enough to replace lithium-ion batteries in a lot of applications.
The Anonymous Widower 