Characterization of double-layer capacitors for power electronics applications

Abstract

The double-layer capacitor (DLC) for power applications is a new device. A simple resistive capacitive equivalent circuit is insufficient to characterize its terminal behavior. Based on physical reasoning, an equivalent circuit is proposed to provide the power electronics engineer with a model for the terminal behavior of the DLC. The equivalent circuit model consists of three RC branches, one of them with a voltage-dependent capacitance. A method to identify the circuit parameters is presented. Measurements of carbon-based DLC's for power applications are presented, analyzed, and the equivalent circuit response is compared with experimental results.