Eco-business / Social Venture

April 16, 2003

 

Toshiba Develops Small Methanol Fuel Cell for Portable PCs

Keywords: Eco-business / Social Venture Manufacturing industry Renewable Energy 

Toshiba Corporation has developed a small direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for portable personal computers. It is the world's first prototype fuel cell to be connected directly to a PC as an alternative to the commonly-used lithium-ion battery. The company aims to commercialize the product in 2004.

The DMFC supplies methanol directly to a fuel cell to generate electricity through a chemical reaction. The prototype can produce an average output of 12 watts and maximum of 20 watts. It can operate for approximately ten hours with a single 100 cc cartridge of methanol fuel and five hours with a 50 cc cartridge. By replacing the methanol cartridge, users will be able to operate with a continuous supply power, unlike the conventional lithium-ion batteries that need recharging.

As many countries tranform into information-based societies, the use of notebook PCs, cellular phones, PDAs and other portable devices has spread rapidly. Recent portable computers models require more power as they offer hardware advantages including faster CPUs, high-quality image displays and wireless connectivity. To meet this demand, the electronics manufactures have been working to develop and miniaturize new power sources that can supply more energy than the existing lithium-ion batteries.

Toshiba succeeded in miniaturizing a fuel cell by downsizing a fuel tank to less than one-tenth the size of a regular tank, using a dilution cycle technology that allows highly efficient electricity generation with a high-concentration methanol. The product is 275 x 75 x 40mm and weighs 900 grams.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2003_03/pr0501.htm

Posted: 2003/04/16 09:34:28 AM
Japanese version

 

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