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This paper investigates double layer capacitor (or supercapacitor) thermal modelling. The originality of this work resides in the fact that 4 type K thermocouples are inserted inside a 350 F supercapacitor modified cell. These thermocouples allow supercapacitor internal temperature measurement. Experimental results have shown that the electrical storage device temperature increases in the phase of charge and decreases during the discharge. The developed model takes into account the effect which is due to the reversible heat generation in the supercapacitor. The model is based on heat equation solution and allows temperature distribution determination inside and outside the supercapacitor as a function of the position and of the time. The model is developed for double layer capacitor based on activated carbon and organic electrolyte technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new thermal model, which allows temperature distribution determination inside a supercapacitor cell, is developed. The model is tested for a supercapacitor based on the activated carbon and organic electrolyte technology. In hybrid vehicle applications, supercapacitors are used as energy-storage devices, offering the possibility of providing the peak-power requirement. They are charged and discharged at a high current rate. The problem with this operating mode is the large amount of heat produced in the device which can lead to its destruction. An accurate thermal modeling of the internal temperature is required to design a cooling system for supercapacitor module, meeting the safety and reliability of the power systems. The purpose of this paper is to study the supercapacitor temperature distribution in steady and transient states. A thermal model is developed; it is based on the finite-differential method which allows for the supercapacitor thermal resistance determination. The originality of this paper is in the fact that a thermocouple (type K) was placed inside the supercapacitor from Maxwell Technologies. A test bench is realized. The cases of supercapacitor thermal distribution using natural and forced convection are studied. Simulations and experimental results are reported to validate the proposed model. The results obtained with this model may be used to determine the cooling system required for actual supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]