Portable fuel cells

There is considerable interest in the viability of fuel cells as power sources. While most FCVs rely on PEM fuel cells, portable applications are split between the PEM and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Portable fuel cell applications are those under 1.5 kW and include such products as batteries for electronics and generators. 

Gottesfeld S. Comparative evaluation of direct methanol fuel cells portable power sources state of the art and projections. In Small fuel cells for portable applications, 5 edition. Salem, MA William Andrew, 2004 173-95. 

Because of the low operating temperature and ease of fabrication for low power units, PFFCs are the most likely fuel cell to be introduced in portable power packs. PFFCs in sizes of 300—500 W are being considered as a power source, eg, 4-h duration, 300 W, 1.2 kW, for the modem soldier operating in the enclosed environment of a self-contained protective suit, which has faciUties for air conditioning, radio communication, etc. Analytic Power Corp. (Boston) is assessing the use of PFFCs for this appHcation. 

The dynamic behavior of fuel cells is of importance to insure the stable operation of the fuel cells under various operating conditions. Among a few different fuel cell types, the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) has been known to have advantages especially for portable... 

Interestingly, the PEMFC may also operate directly on methanol. Naturally, the problems associated with high coverage of various intermediates will be present, as mentioned above, as well as additional problems such as loss of methanol over the membrane. Nevertheless, it is possible to operate a methanol fuel cell with a voltage around 0.4 V and a reasonable current, to power small mobile devices such as portable computers and cell phones and make them independent of connection to the conventional power net. For more details on fuel cells we refer the reader to L. Carr-ette, K.A. Friedrich and U. Stimming, Fuel Cells 1(1) (2001) 5-39. 

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol has been widely investigated for exploitation in the so-called direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The most likely type of DMFC to be commercialized in the near future seems to be the polymer electrolyte membrane DMFC using proton exchange membrane, a special form of low-temperature fuel cell based on PEM technology. In this cell, methanol (a liquid fuel available at low cost, easily handled, stored, and transported) is dissolved in an acid electrolyte and burned directly by air to carbon dioxide. The prominence of the DMFCs with respect to safety, simple device fabrication, and low cost has rendered them promising candidates for applications ranging from portable power sources to secondary cells for prospective electric vehicles. Notwithstanding, DMFCs were... 

The DMFC is the most attractive type of fuel cell as a powerplant for electric vehicles and as a portable power source, because methanol is a liquid fuel with values for the specific energy and energy density being about equal to half those for liquid hydrocarbon fuels (gasoline and diesel fuel). 

The second example describes distributed, mobile and portable power-generation systems for proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells [106]. A main application is fuel processing units for fuel cell-powered automobiles it is hoped that such processing units may be achieved with a volume of less than 8 1. 

ISPP imits are not the only micro device imits of interest for space applications micro fuel cells, compact cleanup units for water treatment, portable heating and cooling units and devices for chemical processing and mining are considered [91]. 

Muradov, N., Emission-free fuel reformers for mobile and portable fuel cell applications, J. Power Sourc., 118, 320, 2003. 

Leads will chanae Portable Fuel Containers CGA. CSA, ASME Fuel Cells... 

The modular design of the HyPM fuel cells allows scaling for higher power requirements using a variety of configurations, such as series and parallel systems. Potential applications for the technology include vehicle propulsion, auxiliary power units (APU), stationary applications including backup and standby power units, combined heat and power units and portable power applications for the construction industry and the military. 

Micro-fuel cells using small tanks of hydrogen could operate mobile generators, electric bicycles and other portable items. Large 250-kW... 

Fuel cells can be used to power a variety of portable devices, from handheld electronics such as cell phones and radios to larger equipment such as portable generators. Other potential applications include laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and handheld video cameras—almost any application that has traditionally used batteries. These fuel cells have the potential to last more than three times as long as batteries between refueling. 

In addition to these smaller applications, fuel cells can be used in portable generators, such as those used to provide electricity for portable equipment. Thousands of portable fuel cell systems have been developed and operated worldwide, ranging from 1 watt to 1.5 kilowatts in power. The two primary technologies for portable applications are polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) designs. 

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