10-06-2005, 11:00 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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BBC Discusses Barriers to Fuel Cell Technology
"...Fuel Cell Industry Survey this week also revealed that many in the industry were continuing to see poor returns, despite pumping millions into research and development. This is blamed on delays in the take-up of fuel-cell technologies. Toshiba, for example, has developed a fuel-cell laptop, digital music player, and a mobile phone - but regulations are a barrier to their introduction. There is no confirmed date for the launch of any products because international flight regulations prohibit taking methanol, the fuel used in the cells, on board aircraft."
If any of you are interested in the current state of fuel cell technology, this article may be worth a read. The scope of the article is focused on a much grander scale than just consumer electronics; however, the article does suggest that consumer electronics will be the first market to reap the benefits. It appears that various government and/or regulation bodies are mostly to blame for its lack of growth, as evidenced by Toshiba's struggle to time the release of its fuel cell-enabled devices. Folks, I'd be interested in hearing what your thoughts are on fuel cell technology.
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10-07-2005, 02:32 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 46
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insert generic libertarian condemnation of government here :devilboy:
Now I'm off searching on "propane fuel cell" - building a house with propane heat, lets see what else it can do!
I'd love to see a fuel cell for the HTC Universal.
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10-07-2005, 03:48 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 359
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I read this and all I can think of is a terrorist pulling along a a big barrel of methanol saying... "but its only for my PDA."
Seriously though.... they just banned lighters on flights within the last half a year or so. I don't think methanol is going to make its way allowed onto the flights anytime soon.
Personally I love the idea of fuel cell I just don't think it will fly... Sorry for the bad pun.
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10-07-2005, 06:40 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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Maybe if most flights were equipped with power at each seat we wouldn't need fuel cells on a flight. Just a thought.
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10-07-2005, 01:26 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 87
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This could work if the devices were dual powered (batteries OR methanol could be used) and the power portion could be swapped out like batteries are today. Thus, before you fly, snap in your huge battery... else, fuel is your option.
It might make fuel cell devices somewhat larger though to compartmentalize the fuel cell power stuff and the battery stuff... but if it could be done, it could very well solve this problem.
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10-07-2005, 02:06 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 459
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I had no idea that fuel cell technology had been miniaturised to the point where it was feasible to use as a power supply for 'consumer devices.' Taking as a starting assumption the fact that the fuel-cell 'battery' would have to take up no more room than an existing stored charge battery on a PDA, would anyone care to hazard a guess as to how long the PDA would operate on one 'charge' of methanol? If it is as long, or longer, than we can get out of current battery technologies, then I want one!
Reading between the lines though, these things must be phenomenally expensive. Why else would not being able to fly with them be a total market killer unless they are so expensive that the only early-adopters who can afford them will be the ones that can also afford to spend a significant amount of time in aeroplanes?
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10-07-2005, 02:50 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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With the way a lot of regulations are written, you probably can't fly a device that has ever had methanol in it, or could have had methanol in it, so dual powered likely wouldn't work either. If you buy a zippo lighter at the airport gift shop brand new and don't fill it, it can go home with you, but it isn't getting on the plane. (OK, so they probably don't sell lighters anymore)
Sure am glad the gov is protecting me from those molotov MP3 players.
Ditto the insert generic libertarian condemnation of government here
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Sometimes you are the anteater, sometimes you are the ant.
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10-07-2005, 08:18 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 455
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I too think it would be nice for the airlines to provide power outlets... no methanol worries, then, right?
Barring that... we should not forget that there are other ways to provide power for devices. Maybe more work should be put into considering human powered power sources, like hand-turned or air-pumped generators. Not everything has to be powered by outside sources, while there's still good old-fashioned muscle power available.
A shame we can't put human-powered methane to good use... 
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Steven Lyle Jordan: Original SF so good, Fox would never put in on the air. |
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10-07-2005, 09:03 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 359
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Quote:
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I had no idea that fuel cell technology had been miniaturised to the point where it was feasible to use as a power supply for 'consumer devices.' Taking as a starting assumption the fact that the fuel-cell 'battery' would have to take up no more room than an existing stored charge battery on a PDA, would anyone care to hazard a guess as to how long the PDA would operate on one 'charge' of methanol? If it is as long, or longer, than we can get out of current battery technologies, then I want one!
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Oh they are small enough to fit in a handheld mp3 player -
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09...l_mp3_players/
The two cells essentially differ in capacity: 3.5ml for the 100mW unit and 10ml for the 300mW cell. The 100mW cell can generate sufficient current for 35 hours of playback time, while the larger unit can operate the HDD-based device for 60 hours. �
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10-08-2005, 12:52 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,124
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I suspect the problem with the aircraft ban is more of a problem for distributing the devices then just because people won't be able to take their devices on planes.
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