Ultracapacitors employing phase change materials
Implementations and techniques for employing phase change materials in ultracapacitor devices or systems are generally disclosed.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an ultracapacitor core including a separator and a current collector; and
a support structure adjacent to at least a portion of the ultracapacitor core,
wherein at least one of the separator, the current collector, or the support structure comprises a phase change metal alloy material.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase change metal alloy comprises at least one of Ag—Cd 44/49 at. % Cd; Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd; Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd; Cu—Al—Ni 14/14.5 wt. % Al and 3/4.5 wt. % Ni; Cu—Sn approximately 15 at. % Sn; Cu—Zn 38.5/41.5 wt. % Zn; Cu—Zn—X (X=Si, Al, Sn); Fe—Pt approx. 25 at. % Pt; Mn—Cu 5/35 at. % Cu; Fe—Mn—Si; Pt alloys; Co—Ni—Al; Co—Ni—Ga; Ni—Fe—Ga; Ti—Pd; or Ni—Ti (approximately 55% Ni).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separator comprises a phase change metal alloy mesh adjacent to a dielectric membrane.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support structure substantially surrounds the ultracapacitor core.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat sink structure adjacent the support structure.
6. An ultracapacitor system, comprising:
a plurality of ultracapacitor cells, each ultracapacitor cell including a separator and a current collector; and
a support structure adjacent to at least a portion of the plurality of ultracapacitor cells,
wherein at least one of the separator, the current collector, or the support structure comprises phase change material configured to transition between martensitic and austenitic crystalline structures in response to thermal impulses.
7. The ultracapacitor system of claim 6 , wherein phase change material comprises a phase change metal alloy.
8. The ultracapacitor system of claim 7 , wherein the phase change metal alloy comprises at least one of Ag—Cd 44/49 at. % Cd; Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd; Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd; Cu—Al—Ni 14/14.5 wt. % Al and 3/4.5 wt. % Ni; Cu—Sn approximately 15 at. % Sn; Cu—Zn 38.5/41.5 wt. % Zn; Cu—Zn—X (X=Si, Al, Sn); Fe—Pt approx. 25 at. % Pt; Mn—Cu 5/35 at. % Cu; Fe—Mn—Si; Pt alloys; Co—Ni—Al; Co—Ni—Ga; Ni—Fe—Ga; Ti—Pd; or Ni—Ti (approximately 55% Ni).
9. The ultracapacitor system of claim 6 , wherein the separator comprises a phase change metal alloy mesh adjacent to a dielectric membrane.
10. The ultracapacitor system of claim 6 , wherein the support structure substantially surrounds the plurality of ultracapacitor cells.
11. The ultracapacitor system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a heat sink structure adjacent the support structure.
12. The ultracapacitor system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of ultracapacitor cells comprise a plurality of ultracapacitor cells electrically coupled together in one of a serial or a parallel manner.
13. An ultracapacitor system, comprising:
a plurality of ultracapacitor cells, at least one ultracapacitor cell including a separator and a current collector; and
a support structure next to at least a portion of the plurality of ultracapacitor cells,
wherein at least one of the separator, the current collector, or the support structure comprises phase change metal alloy material, and the plurality of ultracapacitor cells are electrically coupled together in one of a serial or a parallel manner.
14. The ultracapacitor system of claim 13 , wherein the phase change metal alloy comprises at least one of Ag—Cd 44/49 at. % Cd; Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd; Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd; Cu—Al—Ni 14/14.5 wt. % Al and 3/4.5 wt. % Ni; Cu—Sn approximately 15 at. % Sn; Cu—Zn 38.5/41.5 wt. % Zn; Cu—Zn—X (X=Si, Al, Sn); Fe—Pt approx. 25 at. % Pt; Mn—Cu 5/35 at. % Cu; Fe—Mn—Si; Pt alloys; Co—Ni—Al; Co—Ni—Ga; Ni—Fe—Ga; Ti—Pd; or Ni—Ti (approximately 55% Ni).
15. The ultracapacitor system of claim 13 , wherein the separator comprises a phase change metal alloy mesh adjacent to a dielectric membrane.
16. The ultracapacitor system of claim 13 , wherein the support structure substantially surrounds the plurality of ultracapacitor cells.
17. The ultracapacitor system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a heat sink structure adjacent the support structure.
18. The ultracapacitor system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ultracapacitor cells comprise of a plurality of ultracapacitor cells configured to form an ultracapacitor bank.