Power
Tiny probe could improve batteries and fuel cells
A team of American and Chinese researchers has developed a new tool that could aid in the quest for better batteries and fuel cells. Although battery technology has come a long way since Alessandro Volta first stacked metal discs in a "voltaic pile" to generate electricity, major improvements are still needed to meet the energy challenges of the future, such as powering electric cars and storing renewable energy cheaply and efficiently.
Converter range expanded up to 690V
Siemens UK & Ireland is now offering a 690V wide voltage range for the SINAMICS G120P converter series which can be used for additional pump and fan applications. The G120P series has a number of integrated, time-saving functions such as pump cascades, multi-zone control, dry running, blocking and V-belt monitoring, and a smoke extraction mode.
AC/DC converters deliver power punch in compact package
UK Power Conversion distributor PowerPax has launched the Mornsun LHxx-13Bxx, 5 – 25W range of AC/DC Converters which accept an AC input range of 85 – 305VAC (47-63Hz) and a DC Input range of 100 – 430V DC with six models featuring outputs from 3.3V to 24V DC. This series offers a high power density in a compact package with industry standard footprints and efficiency of up to 87% with standby power consumption of 0.3 watts maxi...
Industry's highest current 40A, 16VIN converter
Texas Instruments has introduced the industry's first 40A, 16VIN synchronous step-down DC/DC converter with true differential remote-voltage sensing. The SWIFT TPS548D22 buck converter features a small PowerStack package and integrated MOSFETs to drive ASICs and DSPs in space-constrained applications.
Thermal bag to counter fire risk from Li-ion batteries
Morgan Advanced Materials has introduced to the aviation market a novel means of tackling the risk posed by overheating lithium-ion batteries, following an extensive period of testing in conjunction with Germanwings, part of the Lufthansa Group. The FireMaster battery bag, which measures 500x500mm, comprises two of Morgan’s specialist thermal materials to create a sealable, water-resistant compartment capable of containing the heat spread i...
Magna-Power releases 66 programmable DC power supply models
Magna-Power Electronics added 66 new models to its already expansive line-up of programmable DC power supplies. The 25, 60 and 300VDC models are offered at every power level for the company’s DC power supplies, across 5 product lines from 1.5kW to 1000 kW+. The 66 new models are available immediately at standard pricing and lead-time.
Better combustion for power generation
In 2015, the search for efficiency gains led GE to tackle one of the most complex problems in science and engineering—instabilities in gas turbine combustors. The journey led the company to the Titan supercomputer at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF), a US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Fuel gauge eliminates the need for battery characterisation
Easing and securing the implementation of pack-side battery gauges in portable devices, the ModelGauge m5 portfolio has been announced by Maxim Integrated Products. The MAX17201/MAX17205 and MAX17211/MAX17215 fuel gauges are claimed by the manufacturer to be the industry’s first to integrate SHA-256 for secure authentication to prevent battery clones.
Rays provide power for an electric generator
Scientists from the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center in Japan removed the electric organ from a torpedo and chemically stimulated the organ by injecting a solution of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine though a syringe. They were able to achieve more than a minute of continuous current, with a peak voltage of 91 mV and 0.25 mA of current. By increasing the number of syringes, they achieved a peak voltage of 1.5 V and a current of 0.64mA.
Keeping a step ahead with Vincotech's three level design
Vincotech has announced the launch of a unique three-level solution for high-voltage solar and ESS applications. The cost-efficient new flowNPC 1 split meets the demands of sophisticated devices by combining two fast modules to improve thermal performance and enable four-quadrant operation.