Practical fuel cell ripening future mobile devices
Whether you are using a mobile phone call, or listen to songs with a media player for input on a laptop, mobile device battery likelihood, so long as you want. However, this situation will change in the next few years, as designed fuel cell powered mobile devices became popular together.
In particular, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) using a very small amount of methanol, it is expected to provide up to 10 hours of power supply - this is the notebook computer lithium battery is two to three times. Even better, if the battery runs out of fuel, and do not find power outlet and wait for the battery fully charged, you can slightly larger box to the storage tank refilled, methanol, or just plug packed full can of methanol . As long as methanol fuel cells to meet the demand, you can use mobile devices for a long time.
In the past decade, it seems from the attractive fuel cell commercialization in close proximity, but they never really put into the market. Fuel cells are now finally ready to put in place; several traditional batteries, fuel cells and mobile device manufacturers, said that 2009 will usher in the fuel cell era.
Say goodbye to traditional batteries
Small fuel cell company MTI CEO Peng Lim explained: "The people's long-term dream is that any place can use the battery to replace the fuel cell." Headquartered in New York in Albany, the MTI for the development of mobile devices powered internal and external fuel cells.
Market research firm Frost & Sullivan Ltd. Energy and power systems division, said Sara Bradford, principal consultant: "It has begun to migrate to the fuel cell, but will not happen overnight." He stressed that the first external fuel-cell power pack has just been listed.
For example, Medis 24-7 Power Pack provides up to 5.5 volts of pure power. It is priced at $ 30, for about 30 hours of phone power supply, or supply for the media player 60 hours. In addition, you only need 20 dollar price of fuel storage tanks - with the fuel storage tanks can be more than 60 hours continuously.
The system is designed for mobile devices is not a major power, but as a back-up battery to respond to emergency situations, or if the user response time can not find the power socket. And its weight of 6.5 ounces, and smart phones in weight. Medis is currently an external attachment systems, the next step is built into mobile devices, fuel cells can be refilled.
Toshiba America Electronic Components, vice president of business development Sean Collins said: "Next year, expect there will be fuel cell option using smart phones." Although the technical and marketing details have not been finalized, but Collins said, adding that several phone manufacturers Commercial sales are expected to use both traditional batteries, and fuel cell products using the optional, two batteries installed in the same place.
Electrons are directed to the negatively charged anode, the device power supply; hydrogen ions in the upper layer of film over a particular, combines with oxygen to generate a small amount of water vapor. Toshiba Collins explained: "This layer of film is the secret of fuel cells."
This layer of film to methanol and stored in the fuel side of the battery, while allowing the hydrogen ions pass through; but now there are also some of the best films of methanol leakage problem. Collins said: "This technology will continue to develop and improve in the future there will be a more efficient fuel cells."
Improvement work has already begun: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a research department is adjusting the standard molecular surface films. Leakage through the 100-fold reduction in the number of methanol, hydrogen ions do not affect the flow of fuel cell power output will increase by 50%. But the technology may take five years to apply to commercial fuel cells.
Broad application prospects
Looking longer-term future, fuel cell technology to road warriors is indeed very attractive: a mobile device designed for the fuel cell, which is completely powered by the fuel cell. Collins explained: "After three to five years, relies entirely on the fuel cell-powered device will be listed."
In addition to improving technology, is expected to promote the use of fuel cells, another factor is the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Today, fuel cells and methanol are completely banned to the aircraft; but this situation changes in October, when the Federal Aviation Administration will allow travelers to the fuel cell to the plane, you can also bring two cans of methanol.
MTI's Lim joked: "You may not be able to bring nail clippers on the plane, but can bring to the fuel cell. This would greatly facilitate the commercialization of fuel cell technology."
Because fuel cells will soon be able to follow you anywhere, is expected sales will grow rapidly. Frost & Sullivan's Bradford believes that by 2012, sales of small fuel cells will reach 80 million, used for laptops, cell phones, media players and other portable equipment power supply. Delivered in 2007 only one million fuel cell is expected to reach in 2010 25 million.
Address the shortcomings
Although fuel cells assumed a posture ready to go, but there are several drawbacks remain.
MTI's Lim added: "fuel cell for providing continuous power, but they can not meet peak demand for electricity, but most electronic devices need this kind of power."
For example, mobile phones began to play streaming video, the power consumption of less than 1 second in time from 2 watts to 5 watts, but some of the fuel cell power output can not meet this requirement. Thus, the first practical fuel cell hybrid design will be used, the use of small lithium-ion battery bridge (bridge battery) to provide this additional power.
Bridging the battery is exhausted, by the fuel cell to charge, this process takes some time. During this time, the equipment performance may be affected.
To solve this problem a long-term solution is to store enough additional battery power supply capacitors replaced, added to the fuel cell power. In the short program, the Sony recently unveiled a hybrid fuel cell samples, it uses a small lithium-ion battery. The fuel cell can provide a stable 3-watt power supply - typical smart phone needs this power; as needed, can also be powered by a lithium-ion battery.
This device is 1.2 inches × 2 size inches, roughly the same size and battery. It can display digital broadcast TV for mobile phones 14 hours uninterrupted power supply. The methanol fuel is only one-third of an ounce.
Another problem is price. Initially, the price of fuel cells will be higher than traditional batteries. MTI's Lim says: "They are higher than the price of lithium batteries, but we expect this situation changes rapidly."
Expected prices to drop one of the reasons is that the components required for the fuel cell is less than traditional batteries, but relatively easy to produce these components. In addition, of course, usually with the cost of the technology used increases. First began about 13 years ago is that the widely used lithium batteries as a typical example of this trend.
Toshiba Collins recalled: "Back in that time, the price of lithium batteries per session up to 30 dollars." Typical laptop battery to use the 3-9 battery. "Today, the price of lithium batteries each section about 3 dollars. We expect the price curve will be applied to fuel cells; expected to price competitive products will appear in the consumer electronics market. Conclusion is that the era of the fuel cell came . "
Looking near future
Time flies to a few years later: A business traveler to catch a flight to Asia, he took his laptop to handle various tasks. Before boarding the plane, he went to the airport for the convenience store to buy a notebook computer can be re-filled with two methanol storage tanks, and then into the bag inside.
Up to 15 hours of journey, he has made changes to the presentation, to close access to a backlog of email, also prepared a memorandum about the new product. He sat down to watch one or two DVD, a warning signal when laptop, suggesting that the fuel battery. He put a new methanol storage tank, you can in the next long journey unimpeded view movies.
Frost & Sullivan's Bradford said: "Ten years later, we may look back and think how their use of lithium batteries will endure."
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