Recent advances in high voltage, high energy capacitor technology

Capacitors continue to be major components of pulsed power systems, especially as energy storage and pulse discharge devices. On-going research and development at GA-ESI (formerly “Maxwell”) in capacitor technology and dielectric materials has resulted in significant expansion in several dimensions of the film capacitor operating envelope. Examples of such advances include increased energy density, increased energy per unit, longer DC life at high energy density, lower temperature (cryogenic) operation, faster discharge capability, higher continuous working specific power, and higher reliability. Future improvements are expected in all of the above performance parameters as well as higher temperature operation.