Battery to support Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) Film

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a suitable battery or power source for a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) film that requires continuous activation to maintain transparency. The participants explore various options, including cost, size, and technology limitations, while aiming for a power source that can last approximately 26,000 hours or 3 years.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines the power requirements of the PDLC, stating it draws 0.557 Watts at 60VAC and calculates the total energy needed over 26,000 hours to be approximately 14.5 kWh.
  • Another participant suggests that the design parameters such as size, noise, cost, reliability, and radiation are critical, referencing the Tesla Powerwall as a state-of-the-art example, but notes it may not be affordable for the budget of $50.
  • A participant proposes that a wall plug might be the only feasible solution given the high power requirements, indicating that current battery technology may not meet the needs.
  • There is a suggestion to consider alternative energy sources, such as gasoline or hydrogen fuel cells, though concerns about size and cost are raised.
  • One participant mentions the potential use of solar panels, even indoors, but cautions that the area required may exceed the specified dimensions of 6x6x2 inches.
  • Another participant corrects a previous statement regarding power consumption, emphasizing the correct unit as watts rather than watts per hour.
  • Concerns about radiation are also discussed, with a reference to nuclear reactors used in space applications, suggesting that radiation may need to be considered despite earlier claims to the contrary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of achieving the desired power source within the specified constraints. There is no consensus on a viable solution, and multiple competing ideas are presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations regarding the size and cost of potential power sources, as well as the need for further exploration of energy storage options that fit within the specified dimensions and budget. The discussion highlights unresolved questions about efficiency losses in power conversion and the practicality of alternative energy sources.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for engineers, product developers, and researchers interested in energy storage solutions, particularly in applications involving PDLC technology or similar continuous power requirements.

EDDGROUP07
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TL;DR
What type/ chemical make-up of battery would be able to support an 8in x 36in piece of PDLC drawing 0.557 Watts per hour at 60VAC for ~45,000 hours
We are incorporating a PDLC layer into a product being developed by us and it requires almost constant activation to remain transparent. The PDLC draws 0.557 Watts of power per hour at 60VAC. The goal is to get a battery/power source (of any type even proprietary) to last the upwards of 26,000 hours or 3 years. Does anyone have suggestions to look into or ideas?
 
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hutchphd said:
What design parameters (size,noise, cost, reliability,radiation, etc are most important? There is no magic here

For instance this is probably ~state of the art:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Powerwall#Powerwall_specifications

At $500/kWh it will not be cheap. Don't know the storage lifetime and probably that will cost more

We are looking to keep the cost of the battery itself below $50 if possible and have a size of less than 6x6x2in. radiation isn't much of a concern but it will be in a commercial setting where people will often be near so it can't be abnormally loud.

Thank you!
 
I suggest a wall plug! This requirement exceeds any technology known to me by many orders of magnitude.
 
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EDDGROUP07 said:
We are incorporating a PDLC layer into a product being developed by us and it requires almost constant activation to remain transparent. The PDLC draws 0.557 Watts of power per hour at 60VAC. The goal is to get a battery/power source (of any type even proprietary) to last the upwards of 26,000 hours or 3 years. Does anyone have suggestions to look into or ideas?
EDDGROUP07 said:
We are looking to keep the cost of the battery itself below $50 if possible and have a size of less than 6x6x2in.
Rough numbers:

0.557W x 26,000 hours = 14.5kWhr

From a 12V battery, you would need about 1,200 A*hr capacity. (not adding in any efficiency losses yet for converting 12Vdc to 60Vac)

A typical car battery has a capacity around 100 A*hr, with truck batteries up around 200 A*hr. So far the 6x6x2in. volume numbers aren't working out for you...

You could look at how much chemical energy is available in that volume of gasoline, to see if some other energy storage means might work. But with gasoline, you would have a noisy generator. Maybe look at Hydrogen fuel cells?
 
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It might be a candidate for a solar panel. Even if used indoors, you can use a solar panel if the lights are kept on 24x7. But you might need a lot more area than 6x6, if used indoors.

By the way, say .557 watts. Not .557 watts per hour.

You might make the 6x6x2 form factor with a fuel cell, but you would need thousands of dollars for that, not $50.

By the way, when @hutchphd said radiation, I think he was thinking of the Snap nuclear reactor such as used on the Voyager spacecraft . So I don't think you can say radiation is not a concern.
 
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