Self-supporting capacitor structure

Abstract

A plurality of high capacitance capacitors are coupled to supply or accept large currents. Bus bars are welded to the capacitors to provide improved thermal performance as well as self-supporting rigidity to the geometrical structure formed by the capacitors and the bus bars.

1 . A method of using a plurality of capacitors comprising: 
 providing a first and a second double-layer capacitor;    providing a first bus bar;    welding a first end of the first bus bar to the first double-layer capacitor to form a self-supporting structure; and    welding a second end of the first bus bar to the second double-layer capacitor to form the self-supporting structure.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing a current of at least 250 amps through the first bus bar.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a third double-layer capacitor;    providing a second bus bar;    welding a first end of the second bus bar to the third capacitor to form the self-supporting structure; and    welding a second end of the bus bar to the second capacitor to form the self-supporting structure.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 providing an electrical device; and    coupling the double-layer capacitors to the electrical device to pass current between the capacitors and the electrical device.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical device comprises a propulsion engine.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second capacitors are connected in series by the bus bar.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-supporting structures comprised of double-layer capacitors and bus bars are oriented in any orientation.