05-24-2005, 03:00 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Direct Methanol Fuel Cells in Mobile Devices?
"High-performance handheld electronic devices such as smart phones, video/music players, multi-functional PDAs and RFID tag readers require longer usage times than power sources currently provide. Traditional battery technologies are not keeping pace with these demands. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) offer several advantages over lithium-ion batteries. Methanol, otherwise known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a colorless liquid commonly used in antifreeze for windshield washer fluid. It is lighter than water and weighs far less than a lithium-ion, making it a better option for portable electronics. A DMFC provides longer usage between charges, increasing run time between charges by two to 10 times over the status quo of current battery technologies. And when a charge is needed, a DMFC fuel refill can be easily swapped into place without interruption of power. Moreover, methanol is inexpensive and widely available. A gallon of methanol, enough to power a cell phone for about 10 years, costs only US$10. A DMFC converts chemical energy into electricity via oxidation of methanol."
So if the recently-announced nuclear battery or blood battery wasn't your cup of tea, then maybe the new DFMC will tickle your fancy, especially since it's a lot more feasible in this day and age. Having one of these for your Pocket PC would be really neat, and as they say, "with a better power pack and a spare fuel refill or two, there are no more AC cubes to pack and carry, no more international adapters to pack and carry, no more car chargers, no more searching for an electrical outlet and no more waiting for a charge." Really? Sweet! :mrgreen:
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05-24-2005, 03:52 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 43
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Interesting...
Not sure how I feel about "refilling" my phone, though. Or "gassing up" my laptop.
Unless there's a way to make the cradle do it 
__________________
In pocket:* Sprint PPC-6700In car:** iPaq hx4700
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05-24-2005, 04:48 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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Couldn't take it on an airplane.
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Sometimes you are the anteater, sometimes you are the ant.
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05-24-2005, 05:22 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 142
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Hi,
This is very interesting! What sets off the oxidation reaction? How do you dispose of the waiste products - probably water and carbon dioxide? I am sure the manufacturers will do a good job at answering this lingering questions. Is there any being developed at the moment?
Kay.
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05-24-2005, 06:42 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 117
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Condensation
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Originally Posted by Kadegboye
Hi,
This is very interesting! What sets off the oxidation reaction? How do you dispose of the waiste products - probably water and carbon dioxide? I am sure the manufacturers will do a good job at answering this lingering questions. Is there any being developed at the moment?
Kay.
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From what I have heard, it is recommended that you always carry a hankerchief (with your favourite PocketPC logo embroidered on it, of course) to wipe off the condensation that will form on your PDA, laptop, cellphone, etc... :wink:
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05-24-2005, 08:12 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 31
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Everything being equal, I sure wouldn't mind spending $10 for the power to run my ipaq for 10 years! It gives a whole new meaning to never running "out of juice." Granted, that if it were safe enough for airline travel, you wouldn't have to worry about the battery dying part way through a movie! They'll definitely have to develop easy, safe ways of refilling and disposing of the fluids.
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05-24-2005, 11:07 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 147
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I'm waiting for the laptop, PDA or phone that runs on sweat and tears.
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05-24-2005, 11:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 117
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Brilliant
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Originally Posted by caubeck
I'm waiting for the laptop, PDA or phone that runs on sweat and tears.
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That would be brilliant! As we all know, Windows-based laptops, PDAs, and smartphones have produced almost nothing except "sweat and tears" (oh, and let's not forget "blood"), so one could then create an almost endless cycle...if we could produce a lossless system, which we could do if only we could improve the efficiency with which Windows produces "sweat and tears"...hmmm...aha!!...maybe MS could make Windows *more* bug-ridden and crash-prone.
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05-25-2005, 06:05 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 43
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Re: Brilliant
Quote:
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Originally Posted by LarDude
Quote:
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Originally Posted by caubeck
I'm waiting for the laptop, PDA or phone that runs on sweat and tears.
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That would be brilliant! As we all know, Windows-based laptops, PDAs, and smartphones have produced almost nothing except "sweat and tears" (oh, and let's not forget "blood"), so one could then create an almost endless cycle...if we could produce a lossless system, which we could do if only we could improve the efficiency with which Windows produces "sweat and tears"...hmmm...aha!!...maybe MS could make Windows *more* bug-ridden and crash-prone. |
They've already figured out the "blood" part :P
__________________
In pocket:* Sprint PPC-6700In car:** iPaq hx4700
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05-25-2005, 06:09 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 147
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A device powered by bugs would be popular, too.
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