Voltage and Current Ripple Considerations for Improving Lifetime of Ultra-Capacitors used for Energy Buffer Applications at Converter Inputs

Abstract

When ultra-capacitors are used for providing energy to power downstream switch mode converters used for power conversion, the significant change in their capacitance with frequency can result in significantly higher voltage ripple and current ripple in these capacitors. This results in over voltage and temperature rise in these capacitors resulting in their consequent lifetime reduction. Based on extensive measurements of these voltage ripple and current ripple at different converter switching frequencies, design considerations that can significantly reduce these voltage and current ripple is proposed in this paper.