Power-generation and heating units using radioactive decay as their primary energy source have been successfully used in space and on Earth for over 60 years. Q: How much power does a single Pu-238 RTG core generate? A: The newest thermoelectric converters using PbTe/TAGS-based thermocouples can produce between 100 and 125 Watts of electrical energy from […]
Battery
Batteries for energy storage apps can provide 60 kWh
Growatt has released the one-fits-all APX HV Battery with leading innovations in performance, operation, protection, and installation. Integrated with the novel soft-switching parallel connection technology, the new battery solution contributes more energy by eliminating the effect of the energy mismatch between packs, allowing each module to fully charge and discharge independently. In addition, the innovation […]
Li-ion battery protectors prevent overcharging, overcurrent damage
Littelfuse, Inc. announced the new ITV4030, a series of 22 amp, three-terminal, surface-mountable Li-ion battery protectors. These 4.0 x 3.0 mm devices protect battery packs against overcurrent and overcharging (overvoltage) conditions. The innovative design uses embedded fuse and heater elements that provide fast response and reliable performance to interrupt the charging or discharging circuit before the […]
Long-life batteries harness the passivation effect
A little known chemical reaction helps extend battery life. Sol Jacobs, Tadiran Batteries As remote wireless devices become increasingly essential to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), there is a growing need to understand the principles behind extended battery life. Many IIoT nodes require a battery-driven energy source. These off-grid low-power applications fall into two […]
Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a flying battery!
leland teschler, Executive editor According to a company called Joby Aviation, in a few years you’ll be able to summon up an air taxi on your Uber phone app for trips of 25 miles or so. And you won’t have to feel guilty about the environmental impact of your trip because the plane will actually […]
Battery management IC improves charge and fuel gauge accuracy
Analog Devices, Inc. announced the MAX17330 battery management integrated circuit (IC) with integrated fuel gauge and advanced battery protection for one-cell lithium-ion/polymer batteries that delivers a longer battery runtime for consumer applications than similar products. The new IC expands ADI’s battery management portfolio, which already delivers accuracy for the automotive and industrial markets that are […]
PXI, multi-cell battery simulator modules target automotive and aerospace applications
Pickering Interfaces launched a new family of battery simulator modules, ideal for Electric Vehicle (EV) battery stack emulation in Battery Management Systems (BMS) test applications. The 41-752A (PXI) and 43-752A (PXIe) modules enable direct voltage and current readback either programmatically or using Pickering’s soft panel control. Each cell simulator is highly accurate, specified at ±5 mV from 1 […]
100-W charge pump fast charging IC targets smartphones, mobile hardware
NuVolta Technologies announced its second-generation charge pump fast charging IC — NU2205, which is the first 100W charge pump fast charging IC in the whole industry. NU2205 is the leading fast charging IC for a 2S battery with a 4:2 charge pump fast-charging architecture for ultra-fast charging applications in flagship smartphones and other mobile devices. […]
Volkswagon ID.4 tour highlights vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure
Every seventh car produced today is operating on a form of electrification. Demonstrating the power and convenience of an electric vehicle (EV), Volkswagen of America has teamed up with long-distance driving expert Rainer Zietlow for the VW ID.4 USA tour that recently kicked off at Volkswagen of America’s headquarters in Herndon, VA. Infineon Technologies AG […]
Multi-chemistry battery chargers designed for energy storage apps
Applied Power Systems (APS) is offering its latest three-phase industrial battery charger, the SmartCharger Series intelligent multi-chemistry battery chargers. The BC6837 SmartCharger Series intelligent multi-chemistry battery chargers are designed for energy storage applications with a wide range of battery voltages and power levels. Features include High efficiency, high-frequency chargers; For EV, Marine, Transit, Backup, or […]