Toshiba develops fuel cell prototypes for portable music players
Toshiba said Friday it has developed two small direct methanol fuel cell
prototypes that can dramatically increase the playing time for mobile music
players. A fuel cell unit the size of a pack of chewing gum can power a
flash-memory-based player for about 35 hours on a single charge.
The new fuel cell units have an output power of 100mW and 300mW and have
been applied to a flash-memory-based digital audio player and an HDD-based
digital audio player, respectively
The 100mW unit, similar in shape and size to a pack of gum at a compact
W23mm x L75mm x D10mm, can power the flash-based player for approximately 35
hours on a single 3.5ml charge of highly concentrated methanol, the fuel
that drives the electricity producing chemical reaction in the fuel cell.
The 300mW unit is W60mm x L75mm x D10mm and delivers enough power to keep an
HDD-based audio player running for approximately 60 hours on a single 10ml
charge.
Both prototype players include components related to the testing and are
W35mm x L110mm x D20mm (flash memory) and W65mm x L125mm x D27mm (HDD) with
the fuel cell units. These sizes can be reduced substantially by removing
the extra components and applying optimal design for commercial products.
The design of the fuel cell units reflects current moves toward
international standardization of micro fuel cells and meets the
International Electrotechnical Commission's draft safety standards now under
review.
Toshiba's DMFC features a passive fuel supply system that is suited to
smaller fuel cells and use with a highly concentrated methanol solution.
Fuel cells usually mix methane with water in a concentration of less than
30%, a dilution that supports generating efficiency but which requires a
fuel tank that is much too big for portable equipment. Through durability
and reliability tests with the new units, Toshiba will accelerate technology
enhancements, including development of production technology, to support
integration of DMFC into commercial products expected to appear in and after
2007.
The two prototype players and their methanol cartridges will be exhibited at
the CEATEC JAPAN 2005 which will be held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba
Prefecture, from October 4 to 8, 2005.
http://www.physorg.com/news6542.html
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