Power

The University of Leicester is celebrating its progress towards developing a usable space battery employing radioisotope power technologies. Specifically, it highlights that its Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) has successfully completed its extreme vibration test campaign, proving the resilience that would be required for a rocket launch. Space battery The Space Nuclear Power group – a team at the University of ...

TDK-Lambda has announced a series of rugged conduction-cooled dc-dc buck converters rated up to 750W. They come in a five-sided conduction cooled aluminium housing that measures 38.1 x 49.5 (39.4) x 13mm including (ignoring) mounting tabs. None are isolated and all have a single regulated output, remote on-off, remote sense and output trim – through a standard 1/16th brick through-hole ...

Recom has created a 15W ac-dc power supply range that meet a wide range of international specifications including those for medical use. RACM15E-K supplies come in 80 x 23.8 x 22mm open-frame form with Molex connectors (photo below), or in a 83 x 26.4 x 29.5mm IP20 enclosure with push-in terminals and a DIN rail clip (right) – they are ...

Subtle electrolyte changes can maintain power density in electric aviation batteries, according to the University of Michigan. While extended capacity retention is key for vehicle traction batteries, electric aviation demands power density retention from its batteries. “Both takeoff and landing require high power, and landing is more challenging because you’re not fully charged,” said Michigan engineering professor Venkat Viswanathan. “To ...

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has curated an open-access on-line library of waveforms from the US power grid for power engineers wanting to apply AI techniques to grid monitoring and control. “Researchers can search different variables, like the type of sensor or a description of the event – for example, a waveform that represents a blown transformer and its effect on ...

Rohm has released a line of 16bit microcontrollers for power supplies with hybrid analogue-digital control loops, plus an evaluation board with software as a design stepping stone. “In recent years medium power power supplies are required to provide a level of reliability and precise control that is difficult to meet with analogue-only configurations,” said Rohm. “On the other hand, while ...

Würth Elektronik has created a range of opto-isilated triacs for controlling light AC loads and larger triacs. They are called WL-OCTR, and come in a choice of packages: through hole DIP-4 or DIP-6, or surface-mount SOP-4. Through-hole parts offer 5kV breakdown between input and output, which drops to 3.75kC for surface mount. DIP parts can also be supplied with legs ...

The rise in interest for renewable energy has led to power designers looking for sensors that are fit-for-purpose in high-voltage photovoltaic applications, observes Martin Reizner. Renewable energy initiatives are on the rise around the world. Countries are adopting comprehensive plans to reach ambitious solar reliance goals within the next decade. The trend drives new demand for equipment such as solar ...

Cambridge electric vehicle battery start-up Nyobolt has revealed a purpose-built testing and demonstration car, created with Callum Automotive of Warwick. “Whilst the priority use for this Nyobolt EV is showcasing and testing the battery technology, Callum’s team has engineered it so that low volume production, for road or track use, is possible,” according to Nyobolt. “Nyobolt’s battery assembly plans are ...

Texas Instruments and Delta Electronics are to collaborate on the development of on-board chargers and other electric vehicle power electronics. As part of this, they have set up a joint laboratory in Pingzhen, Taiwan. “Having been in Taiwan for 55 years, coupled with decades of experience in automotive power management, TI has built a strong connection with the local automotive ...