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Technology / Re: How can renewable energy farms provide 24-hour power?
« on: 02/09/2019 19:03:12 »
Experience, though it was some time ago. The essence of a supercap is a very thin dielectric layer
C = εmε0A/d
where εm is the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric material m and ε0, of the vacuum. A is the area of the plates and d is the thickness of the dielectric. Modern dielectrics can have very high values of ε but the manufacturing process is always a compromise between practical values of A and d. Mechanical fracture or chemical failure at a point in the dielectric produces a local short circuit through which the capacitor discharges, with catastrophic results.
Things may have improved - I hope so!
C = εmε0A/d
where εm is the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric material m and ε0, of the vacuum. A is the area of the plates and d is the thickness of the dielectric. Modern dielectrics can have very high values of ε but the manufacturing process is always a compromise between practical values of A and d. Mechanical fracture or chemical failure at a point in the dielectric produces a local short circuit through which the capacitor discharges, with catastrophic results.
Things may have improved - I hope so!
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