Ultracell


UltraCell Corp., a company that develops and manufactures micro fuel cell systems for portable devices, has announced a new fuel cell power source for portable electronic devices that has twice the energy density of lithium batteries.

UltraCell Corp., a company that develops and manufactures micro fuel cell systems for portable devices, has announced a new fuel cell power source for portable electronic devices that has twice the energy density of lithium batteries. The reformed methanol fuel cell (RMFC) technology uses a micro reformer to generate fuel-cell-ready hydrogen from a highly concentrated methanol solution.
It has the power density of a hydrogen fuel cell but uses low cost methanol fuel in a paperback novel-sized package that weighs just 40 ounces, according to the folks at UltraCell. The company has already developed the technology as a prototype for the military. Now a new power source is being developed for commercial use as the UltraCell25 and will be available in 2006 for professional, industrial and mobile computing applications.
UltraCell’s micro reformer technology is designed to work in a package that, with the push of a power button, self starts and feeds power as needed. The system’s spent fuel canisters can be instantly “hot swapped,” as needed, to provide continuous power in any remote situation. This will offer a “nonstop supply for power anywhere, anytime for on-the-go laptop user, mobile executive” and others, accordingto the folks at UltraCell. And the system can even support batteries by serving as a portable recharging power supply.
The complete UltraCell system includes fuel processor, fuel cell stack, control system, balance of plant and replaceable fuel cartridge. Based on proprietary control algorithms, the control system manages a steady flow of power by adjusting pump and compressor settings. The revolutionary micro fuel cell generates no excess water, so doesn’t need a water management system.

Posted: Wed - August 24, 2005 at 10:36 AM          

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