Fuel Cells by Casio

Steelwolf

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Don't know if anyone has seen this press-release yet.

In the pictures, notice the smaller fuel cell which looks like a 2CR5 battery? It runs on methanol, which is basically methylated spirits. It has a small silicon wafer reformer to turn the fuel in to hydrogen before the fuel cell actually converts that to electricity.

They are looking to commercialise by 2004. This is quite exciting, especially considering the first reforming fuel cells could only be carried by a bus.

As an aside, I wonder if airlines would be willing to have filled batteries of this nature on board, either in the checked luggage or as carry-on. They are already so picky with stoves, butane/propane cartridges and other fuel carrying devices, especially those under pressure.
 

Silviron

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Hmm, Cool. I'll be looking forward to getting some.

Just a day or two ago someone posted a link to another company working on a small fuel cell similar to this.
 

Quickbeam

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I would need to research it a bit, but if I remember correctly the fuel cells run on a methanol/water mix. As a result it's either not flamable or very difficult to ignite.
 

Darell

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LOCO is more like it.
I'm still waiting for Leo to chime in here....

The main problem with these fuel cell batteries is that seem to be perpetually "two years off." I'm sure they'll get here eventually, but the fuel cell-powered automobile has been perpetually "10 years off" and the small batteries have been "two years off." I'd like them to at least get closer one day.
smile.gif
 

Steelwolf

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Yeah, they always seem to be a few years off. However, that has not stopped prototypes from being tested. Perth has been testing out a couple of fuel-cell powered buses for the past year. I think I've even ridden in one. This might be the first instance of a commercially viable fuel-cell powered transport.

But people need to be aware that with any new technology, and especially when that technology is supposed to be better for the environment, it always comes at a price disadvantage, and sometimes with a performance loss.

In the case of these batteries, one would hope that the starting price is not prohibitive, that it would provide as much power on one charge, if not more than the regular lithium or alkaline equivalent, with at least a life span of NiMH/NiCd/Li-ion rechargeables, and take an easily sourceable fuel (not something as esoteric as pure liquid hydrogen). Bonus points would be that it probably won't be more expensive than running rechargeables, it can be "recharge" almost instantly (just top up with more fuel), and in the long run, would probably be better for the environment as there probably won't be as many of these filling the dump sites, or rotting away in warehouses and in our cupboards (like alkalines do. Honestly, if you thought about how many alkaline batteries are made and how few actually get used to their full potential before having to be tossed or rotting away, and how much energy and chemicals go in to making a single alkaline battery...).

But the starting price, as I mentioned, will probably be quite expensive and may remain relatively so, even after economies of scale have brought the price down.
 

PsycoBob[Q2]

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Biggest downside would be that it needs air, so it wouldn't work as a flashlight battery.

Perhaps as a methanol-powered cell to charge my NiMH batts. As long as it can recharge 2 NiMH AA's, I'd be willing to pay $50, easy. Especially if it could charge SINGLE batteries, too.
 

Steelwolf

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Good point about the ventilation. It will operate like any other fuel burning engine in that there will be exhaust, and I think it requires some oxygen. Admittedly the exhaust should be rather benign being just water and a little bit of carbon dioxide (depends on the carbon content of the fuel.) Shouldn't be too much of a problem for terrestial flashlights, but anything that needs to be waterproof will not be able to use these fuel cells without some serious modifications (like a gas cylinder). I'm sure there will be more limitations that need to be worked around as fuel cells of this nature are introduced.

Actually, I did some research on some older reforming fuel cells and discovered that the exhaust temperature is around 80degC. That's quite warm to hold in your hands. I wonder what the operating temperature of these are.
 
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