Toshiba Field Testing Fuel Cells in Portable Devices

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.physorg.com/news6542.html' target='_blank'>http://www.physorg.com/news6542.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"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. 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."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-sept05-fuelcell.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />I haven't kept myself up to date with the developments in the alternative sources of power for our mobile devices. The direct methanol fuel cells sounds promising but I like the convenience of plugging my cell phone into the USB cradle for sync and having it charged at the same time. What I would like to see is batteries that charge quickly and can deliver more power. It seems like the DMFC battery packs need to be replaced or refilled with more fuel. Doesn't that sound like too much hassle? :?

[Mike Temporale]

Hrm, I'm kind of diggin' the idea of a charging your battery by filling it up. Just think of how fast that would be. 8)

[bbbenz]

Hrm, I'm kind of diggin' the idea of a charging your battery by filling it up. Just think of how fast that would be. 8)

My initial thought is -what an excellent idea especially for some of the newer phones that only get 2-3 hours of talk/internet time.

Second thought is once we're using them, how are we all going to be allowed on airplanes with our little bottles of fuel? Will they be confiscating my cell phone and mp3 player as I get on the plane? Business and personal trips would be a little difficult.

[James Sonne]

Well, this is just methanol. Airlines serve drinks that are more volatile than methanol. Also, regular AA batteries are so acidic that if you cracked one open you could have a hell of a time if you're into that sort of thing.

Because methanol can be broken down to form energy, energy can also be used to create methanol. One could easily create a device that plugs into an electrical outlet in your house that could produce methanol if cheap constituent components were added to it. In fact, a battery pack itself could probably just reuse constituent elements upon discharging and recharging, as long as it grabbed some hydrogen gas from the atmosphere. So basically it's feasible that one can plug a methanol powered battery into a wall outlet and use that power to "recharge" a methanol battery, just like the alternator in your car recharges your car battery.

Anyway, it feasible that one could be given the option of recharging electrically or by pouring in new methanol. It's a flexible technology.

[bbbenz]

Ok, I'll try not to sound stupid (thinking it was a more explosive product). Based on your description, that would be excellent. After my previous post, I was even thinking that they could create two identically shaped batteries for the devise, one that could be refilled and one traditional battery. Your explanation would be an excellent source for phones and other portable devises.

[Kris Kumar]

Because methanol can be broken down to form energy, energy can also be used to create methanol. One could easily create a device that plugs into an electrical outlet in your house that could produce methanol if cheap constituent components were added to it. In fact, a battery pack itself could probably just reuse constituent elements upon discharging and recharging, as long as it grabbed some hydrogen gas from the atmosphere. So basically it's feasible that one can plug a methanol powered battery into a wall outlet and use that power to "recharge" a methanol battery, just like the alternator in your car recharges your car battery.

Anyway, it feasible that one could be given the option of recharging electrically or by pouring in new methanol. It's a flexible technology.

Very informative. I think I am more receptive to this technology.

At first I was worried that I am a clumsy person. :oops: Liquids in bottle..I cannot drink water without spilling some. ;-) The benefits of the new technology seems to far exceed the disadvantages.

[Jerry Raia]

My understanding is the FAA has no initial problems with these. The actual act of refueling them in flight might be another matter though.