Maxell introduces Fuel Cell using Water and Aluminum
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.24.06
Maxell announced a new kind of water and aluminum fuel cell today that generates 10 watts and has 5 times the energy density of a methanol fuel cell. Designed for notebook computers, the prototype is pretty big but they expect to make it 70% smaller. Google Autotranslation below the fold; Read more ::autotranslation here and the ::original here via ::Akihabara News
The Hitachi マクセル corporation (President execution part: The Tsunoda justice person), the hydrogen occurrence system by the reaction with the water and the aluminum was established, the fuel cell which designates this system as hydrogen occurrence source was developed. Furthermore 10 watts which use this fuel cell (W) it succeeded in the development of class Mobile power source, it was possible to operate the note PC.
Recently, small-sized light weight conversion * improvement of the Mobile equipment advances, efficiency improvement of the electric battery which is main power source is required. In addition, the expectation for the fuel cell which is the next generation power source as a clean energy for effective utilization and environmental preservation of the resource, has increased. The methanol is designated as the fuel, presently, as the fuel cell where development is advanced, " directly the methanol shape fuel cell (the DMFC)" and, hydrogen such as high pressure cylinder is designated as the fuel, " the solid high-molecular shape fuel cell (the PEFC)" and so on it is. But, with DMFC lowness and methanol crossover *1 of output With the theme which is said, with the PEFC such as reformer and a theme complicated equipment and the hight cost of production by the high pressure cylinder is.
As for the fuel cell which this time was developed, it is the PEFC which utilizes the hydrogen occurrence system by the reaction with the water and the aluminum. The hydrogen occurrence system by the reaction with the water and the aluminum has sent the edge to the research of Professor Masao Muroran Institute of Technology Watanabe national university corporate body, but the マクセル succeeded in the development of individual aluminum particulate conversion process technology including further examination. The mass hydrogen occurrence which because of this, at room temperature 1.3 liters is said from the aluminum of 1 gram became possible. In addition, the aluminum being cheap, is the kind material in environment. E.g., in the future it will recycle will utilize the aluminum scrap wood, you can expect also the effective use of the resource. In addition, the membrane which is the key component of the fuel cell - the electrode zygote (the MEA) the マクセル developed individually. The core technology " dispersed is cultivated with the magnetic tape * application technology " which was utilized, output density of worldwide highest level was achieved at room temperature as a 280mW/cm2 and a MEA. 5 times that the DMFC (this corporation ratio) with output, the area of the MEA it can designate this, as 1/5.
With these developments, presently it could succeed in actual mobility, being able to point, Mobile power source of 10W class the note PC according to the design could operate.
The fuel cell which this time was developed is advancing the examination of use as a power source of 10 - 100W class. Advancing further development in the future, destined for utilization, it is defeated.
Main merit
1. Mobile power source of the 10W class which designates the water and the aluminum as hydrogen occurrence source development
* The hydrogen occurrence system by the reaction with the water and the aluminum was established, the solid high-molecular shape fuel cell which designates this system as hydrogen occurrence source was developed. This time, making use of this electric battery, we proved the Mobile power source of 10W class. The note PC and emergency power et cetera long time can be worked by the fact that the aluminum cartridge and the water cartridge are exchanged.
2. With the aluminum particulate of individual manufacturing method, the mass hydrogen which is close to the theoretical limit at room temperature occurrence
* It succeeded in the development of aluminum particulate conversion process technology of individual manufacturing method. At room temperature 1.3 liters the mass hydrogen occurrence which is close to the theoretical limit which is said became possible from the aluminum of 1 gram by adding the water to this aluminum particulate.
3. The output 280mW/cm2 and, directly 5 times that of the methanol shape fuel cell (this corporation ratio) the achievement
* It is core technology of the マクセル, output density of the 280mW/cm2 and worldwide highest level was obtained at room temperature with the application of " dispersed * application technology ". This output becomes 5 times that of the methanol shape fuel cell (this corporation ratio) with directly.
I was kind of in a rush and I didn't understand this article at all. Is it a Japanese translation? DOes this mean they generate power by the reaction of water to some aluminum conductor (like the waterclocks you've featured here before?
LA: that what it seems to me, an aluminum/water reaction. The autotranslation is awful.
I've often wondered why that water battery technology isn't used in other appliances
Actually, I think they're using the reaction between the water and the aluminum to produce hydrogen, which is then used by the fuel cell to generate a current/voltage (i.e. electricity)
They also point out that Aluminium is a fairly common everyday material ("Aluminium scrap wood"!) so finding some to put in your fuel cell wouldn't be as tricky as some of the more exotic metals used in other fuel cells.