HESCAP

New generation, High Energy and power density SuperCAPacitor based energy storage system

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

Energy storage is recognised as a key element for energy networks in the near future. Regarding short-term power delivery and high duty cycle applications, such as stabilization of grids, traction networks and drive-trains of hybrid or full-electric vehicles, it is widely accepted that the use of energy storage systems (ESS) can lead to energy savings. This kind of networks needs ESS capable of storing and releasing energy in the power range from a few hundreds of kW up to 1MW, with a high duty cycle. Dealing with these applications, and among other ESS, supercapacitors (SC) appear as a very promising energy storage technology due to their high power density, high efficiency and very long life cycle. However, it is necessary a step forward in increasing the energy density in order to cover the whole range of specifications and to be fully competitive regarding to the cost of the stored kW-h, mainly over batteries. The main objective of this project is to develop a new generation high energy supercapacitor based system (HESCAP system), capable of storing ten times more energy than the reported State of the Art SC technology, but keeping the high power density, long life cycle and total capital cost of currently available supercapacitors. This novel approach is based on the recent developments related with the applications of advanced carbide-derive carbons together with nanoparticulate metal oxides in this new generation supercapacitors. Such materials have shown an amazing behaviour not only in terms of intrinsic specific capacitance, but also in their positive effects on the capacitance of conventional carbon electrodes, when they are deposited as nanoporous coatings. The expected impact of the HESCAP system into these stationary or dual-use applications will be a drastic reduction of the volume and weight for a given energy rate, together with a reduction of the cost of the stored kW-h.

Introduzione (Teaser)

Electric and hybrid vehicles may soon travel further without recharging their supercapacitor (SC) cell packs. Scientists investigated materials to increase the energy density of SCs, the main obstacle to their widespread use.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Batteries and capacitors are both energy storage systems (ESSs). Batteries provide a slow and steady charge and discharge whereas capacitors rapidly charge and discharge. Conventional batteries are ill-suited to electric or hybrid cars. After running out of electricity (analogous to running out of petrol), recharging could take a couple of hours. With the advent of ultracapacitors or SCs, electric and hybrid cars seemed to find the solution to braking and accelerating, but SCs were too expensive and stored too little energy to replace batteries completely.

Scientists initiated the EU-funded project 'New generation, high energy and power density supercapacitor based energy storage system' (HESCAP) to increase SC energy density and make them cost competitive with conventional batteries. Three types of electrode materials were evaluated consisting of nanoparticulate metal oxides, silica (silicon dioxide (SiO2), a metal oxide) coating on conventional carbon-based electrodes and activated carbon.

Best results were obtained with activated carbons, particularly certain carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) that were used to design and optimise SC cells for prototyping. A rigorous experimental testing campaign together with simulations led to the optimisation of design specifications for integration into an SC stack. Scientists also carried out a full life-cycle assessment of the SC module to ensure an eco-design for a green ESS.

HESCAP scientists made an important contribution to development of the experimental and theoretical knowledge base required to develop the next generation of SCs with higher energy density. Such development will be immediately applicable to the electric and hybrid vehicle market sector on the verge of an explosion with the appropriate enabling technologies.