Japan - Use of lithium-ion capacitors extends compensation time

Development of Lithium -ion Capacitor-based System for Compensation of Short-term Power Disruptions — Use of lithium-ion capacitors extends compensation time —

January 19, 2012

Source: Chubu Electric Power Co.,Inc.

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (President and Director: Akihisa Mizuno; Headquarters: 1, Higashi-shincho, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture), in collaboration with Meidensha Corporation (President: Junzo Inamura; Headquarters: ThinkPark Tower, 2-1-1 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo), has developed a lithium-ion capacitor-based system for compensation of short-term power disruptions. The new system provides comprehensive protection for production facilities in the event of power disruptions due to lightning strikes, etc. Field trials of the system commenced at JSR Corporation’s*1 Yokkaichi Plant from December 2011.
The disruption of power due to lightning strikes or other unexpected events can cause manufacturing equipment to malfunction or stop operating, resulting in major losses. Chubu Electric Power has already developed an electrical double-layer capacitor-based system for compensation of instantaneous voltage drop for this reason. However, our customers have indicated their need for a longer period of compensation for power disruptions.

The newly developed system announced here employs high-energy-density lithium-ion capacitors in its energy storage section, enabling it to respond to power disruptions of up to 20 seconds. Improvement of the capacitor charge control method has resulted in a further increase in the efficiency of the system in constant operation. Using no lead or other heavy metals, the environmental burden represented by the system is low, and it offers identical levels of reliability to conventional electrical double-layer capacitors.
The developed system will be subjected to field trials over a two-year period in order to verify its compensation performance in actual operation and its long-term reliability in continuous operation. If the system is shown to be reliable, it will go on the market from 2014.

Main features of lithium-ion capacitor-based system for compensation of short-term power disruptions

○High-voltage, high-capacity compensation for a longer period

Using lithium-ion capacitors manufactured by JM Energy Corporation*2 able to store approximately three times as much energy as conventional electrical double-layer capacitors, the system offers high-voltage, high-capacity compensation for a longer period, and is able to respond to short-term power disruptions of up to 20 seconds in duration.

○Increased efficiency in constant operation

Improved capacitor charge control increases efficiency in constant operation to 99%.

○Identical reliability and ease of operation to existing electrical double-layer capacitor-based system for compensation of instantaneous voltage drop

The system employs high-speed, high-capacity solid-state transfer switches offering high reliability and ultra-high-speed switching.
The use of long-life lithium-ion capacitors makes replacement of the energy storage section unnecessary for 15 years. In addition, because no lead or other heavy metals are used, the burden on the environment is low, and there is no need to recover materials when the system is scrapped.

*1 JSR Corporation (Representative Director and President: Mitsunobu Koshiba; Headquarters: Shiodome Sumitomo Bldg., 1-9-2, Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

*2 JM Energy Corporation (Representative: Goro Miyabe; Headquarters: 8565 Nishi-ide, Ooizumi-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture)

Attachment

• Overview of Lithium-ion Capacitor-based System for Compensation of Short-term Power Disruptions[PDF：280KB]