Industry news

28
Apr

WATT Fuel Cell Acquires PEEI and Tubular SOFC Technology

WATT Fuel Cell Corp. announced its purchase of tubular SOFC developer Pittsburgh Electric Engines, Inc. (PEEI). The acquisition makes PEEI a wholly-owned subsidiary of WATT and facilitates combining both companies’ fuel cell technologies and personnel into a single entity. WATT is a developer of SOFC systems that will operate on many readily available hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas, propane,

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28
Apr

Adaptive COT Buck Converter Handles Fast-Changing Loads

Diodes Incorporated has introduced a synchronous buck converter designed to optimize transient response in low-voltage TV and monitor applications. Based on an adaptive constant on-time (COT) control algorithm, the 650kHz, 5A-rated, AP65550 quickly reacts to rapid changes in load conditions, guaranteeing a minimal drop in output voltage. The COT control scheme handles wide input/ output voltage ratios and provides low

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28
Apr

GE offers Industry’s First UL-Certified Smart Meters

GE’s Digital Energy business in collaboration with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), has announced that its residential smart meters have achieved UL voluntary safety certification, making them the first meters in the industry to receive this significant mark. GE’s UL-certified smart meters are being rolled out as part of ComEd’s recent grid modernization efforts, which include the

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28
Apr

Current-Sensing Solution Measures up to 100A with no Shunt Resistor

By measuring the voltage drop across a copper track on a PCB, a new reference design board from ams AG can linearly measure currents up to 100A to an accuracy of +/1%. The development of the new technique, which uses the ams AS8510 data-acquisition front end, enables designers of battery management systems (BMS) to reduce bill-of-materials cost by eliminating the

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28
Apr

100W to 600W Power Supply Series Has Five-Year Warranty

TDK Corporation has introduced TDK-Lambda RWS-B series of ac-dc power supplies, designed to provide solid performance at an economical price and featuring a five-year warranty. The product line up has four power levels and compact case sizes, rated at 100-, 150-, 300- and 600-W. Operating from a universal input of 47-63Hz, 85-265Vac (300Vac for 5 seconds), the RWS-B series is

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28
Apr

Current Transducers Measure up to 25A in Small Package

LEM Holding SA has added three new members to its HO series of PCB-through-hole mounting current transducers, which provide an aperture of 8 x 8 mm to carry the primary conductor under measurement, extending the options for this form-factor. The new models, for 6-, 10- or 25-A nominal measurements of dc, ac, and pulsed signals benefit from the revised LEM

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26
Apr

New Solar Cell Efficiency Record Achieved For 9 Millimeter-Squared Cell Made Of Gallium Arsenide

A new conversion efficiency record for 9 millimeter-squared solar cells made of gallium arsenide was recently achieved by engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas. The new record — 14% efficiency — was achieved via the utilization of a new approach using a thin layer of zinc oxide. With the new higher efficiency, a small array (9-12) of these cufflink-sized

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26
Apr

Epic Electric American Road Trip – Longest Vehicle Journey Ever Taken Using 100% Electric-Power Crosses Finish-Line

The record-setting Epic Electric American Road Trip — a first-of-its-kind, 24-day, 12,183-mile journey, the longest ever taken using nothing but electric power — recently concluded when the standard-issue Tesla Model S used crossed the finish line in Venice, California. The journey — which ran a 27-state route that spanned all four corners of the lower 48 states — was undertaken

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26
Apr

Yingli Solar Enters Framework Agreement With United PV For Purchase Of 300 MW Worth Of Solar PV Plants

Yingli Solar — the biggest vertically integrated photovoltaic module manufacturer on the planet — recently announced that it’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Yingli Energy Company Limited, has entered into a framework agreement with United PV for the purchase of a number of solar PV plants that are to be developed and built by Yingli Green Energy. As per the agreement, United PV

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26
Apr

Rooftop Solar – Are The Grids Really Needed?

Just over a week ago we reported on the anticipated moves by network operators in Western Australia and Queensland to ditch their reliance on poles and wires in favour of new technologies that would supply and store energy locally. In Australia’s remote and distant outback, the development of micro and mini-grids – based around solar and battery storage – seems

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