KYOCERA AVX Offers SpiSCAP, a Supercapacitor Simulation Tool

Kyocera AVX's SpiSCAP simulation tool simplifies the supercapacitor selection process for optimized power management across industries.

Modern electronics demand power solutions to manage energy storage and rapid discharge efficiently. Engineers frequently face obstacles when choosing the right components to improve performance, prolong battery life, and maintain consistent power delivery. Without practical tools, these challenges can result in diminished efficiency, more complex designs, and energy losses that impact system reliability. Inefficient power management may also lead to excessive heat buildup, necessitating extra cooling mechanisms that further complicate designs.

To address these issues, the demand for advanced simulation tools has grown. These tools provide engineers with more precise methods for selecting optimal components and ensuring better overall performance.

Kyocera AVX has launched an updated version of its SpiCAT (SpiSCAP) online engineering simulation software to aid in tackling this challenge, designed explicitly for evaluating supercapacitors. This advanced tool improves the selection process for the SCC and SCM series supercapacitors, enabling engineers to quickly find the best options for power backup, energy harvesting, and peak power applications.

Kyocera AVX’s SpiCAT (SpiSCAP) simulation software. Image used courtesy of Kyocera

Supercapacitor Selection

The SpiCAT platform enhances engineers' decision-making processes by providing an improved way to evaluate supercapacitor discharge characteristics and efficiency under various operating conditions.

Supercapacitors are critical components that bridge the gap between conventional capacitors and batteries. They offer high pulse power handling, rapid charge, discharge cycles, and extended operational lifetimes. With SpiSCAP, users can assess essential factors such as initial and end-of-life capacitance, voltage stability across different operating modes, discharge duration, and power output requirements. Additionally, the tool offers a real-time graphical analysis of voltage and current over time, enabling precise calculations.

Applications and Benefits

The SpiSCAP tool provides valuable insights that could benefit multiple sectors, including industrial automation, automotive, transportation, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. In industrial settings, the tool can help power robotics, smart meters, and control systems. Automotive and transportation applications benefit from applications like improved engine starters and regenerative braking systems, while telecommunications networks can utilize the technology to ensure energy backup in mobile communication systems.

Kyocera AVX’s automotive supercapacitor applications. Image used courtesy of Kyocera

Kyocera AVX Supercapacitors

Kyocera AVX’s SCC and SCM Series supercapacitors are known for their high capacitance values, ranging from 0.47F to 3,000F, low ESR and leakage current ratings. These features make them ideal for modern power applications demanding reliability and longevity.

Kyocera AVX supercapacitors offer numerous other advantages. They can extend the lifetimes of primary and secondary batteries by at least two times, resulting in more consistent and reliable energy storage solutions. Their high pulse power capability makes them ideal for applications requiring instant energy bursts. The flexible design options also allow modular configurations, enabling custom voltage and capacitance ratings to meet specific application needs. These supercapacitors are designed for durability, with some models meeting AEC-Q200 automotive-grade qualifications, ensuring reliability in demanding industrial and automotive environments.

With the introduction of SpiSCAP software, Kyocera AVX has begun to improve power storage solutions through simulation and selection tools. The platform incorporates user-friendly analysis features that enable engineers to optimize performance, reduce downtime, and improve energy efficiency across various industries.