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03 Mar 2006
This year's CeBIT computer trade show will see the unveiling of the world's first mass production fuel cell for laptop computers.
Antig Technology and AVC Corporation claim to have developed a fully functioning fuel cell that can fit into the DVD drive bay of a standard laptop.
Taiwanese manufacturers, which produce the majority of the world's laptops, will start production later this year.
The device runs on disposable capsules of methanol and uses a chemical reaction to produce an electrical charge. The companies claim that one methanol capsule will provide 45w of power, enough for eight hours of normal laptop use.
Being free from a power point comes at a price, however: the power generation unit weighs around 1.7kg, which would double the weight of some laptops. No pricing information has yet been released.
Fuel cells have had a rocky road in the IT industry. Many companies have experimented with the technology for laptops, and Toshiba is developing a system for media players. Olympus signed up with British researchers at QinetiQ last year to develop fuel cell technology for its camera range.
Antig and AVC have declined to reveal which laptops will get the fuel cells first, but Lenovo and Dell both source their laptops from Taiwan.
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Do you agree?
FC density isn't that high!
The Antig fuel cell cartridge contains energy for 8 hours. If you multiply 8 hours times the maximum power (45W) you'll get the maximum of energy containing ,namely 360Wh. This is very high. The power-use of a general purpose laptop computer is approx 10W doing nothing and 30 W peak. So multiplying 10W to 8 hours you only get a energy of 80Wh. This all weighs 1,7kg, making a energy density of 47-211Wh/kg. Current lithium ion batteries for laptop computers have a energy density of 130-170Wh/kg, but weighing only 400grams. So this fuel cell is a fair competitor with current lithium ion batteries if the total system weren't that heavy. Problem with fuel cells is not its fuel, with a energy density of 1200Wh/kg at an efficiency of 25%, but the very low power density of the fuel cell itself (20-40W/kg). So higher power outputs mean a weighty and bulky fuel cell at a cost of weight and volume. 45W means a fuel cell of about 1 to 2kg. This is one of the largest bottlenecks to be overcome by the fuel cell industry.
Posted by: bas flipsen 27 Jun 2006
Samsung?
Whilst I was at FC EXPO 2006 (http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/article_default_view.fcm?articleid=11611&subsite=9958) in Tokyo, January, I heard a rumour from someone who really should know that it would be Samsung to release the first fc-powered laptop. They also have a battery manufacturer over in Taiwan, in fact I believe there's a couple of big battery houses over there who supply many of the leading laptop-makers. Remember with all these pros and cons of fuel cells, that fuel cells are not a bigger, heavier, longer run-time battery. They're fundamentally different, and the excitement should be about the new ways of working and powering our electronics, and how these will affect our day-to-day lives. Wireless working, for extended periods (i.e. weeks and months) will now be nearly as easy as sitting at your desk! No recharging, no waiting! Just refuel and continue! Long live the Centrino beach lifestyle ;)
Posted by: David Lockie 07 Mar 2006
Watts vs Watt-hours
"The companies claim that one methanol capsule will provide 45w of power, enough for eight hours of normal laptop use." 45W does not give any information on how long it will last. You need the number of watt-hours for that info. If it will last 8 hours, then the fuel cell would presumably be able to deliver 360 watt-hours at 45W without refilling. Impressive!
Posted by: george 03 Mar 2006