FuelCellsWorks

TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502), a world leader in the development of fuel-cell technology for handheld electronic equipment, today announced the launch of its first direct methanol fuel-cell product: Dynario™, an external power source that delivers power to mobile digital consumer products. Dynario™, together with a dedicated fuel cartridge for refueling on the go, will be launched in Japan,  in a limited edition of 3,000 units only, and will be exclusively available at Shop1048 (http://shop1048.jp/), Toshiba’s direct-order web site for digital consumer products in the Japanese market. Orders will be accepted from October 22, and shipping will start on October 29.

The power consumption of mobile electronic devices, including mobile phones, has greatly increased with added functionality, including TV reception and Internet connectivity. As a result, battery exhaustion has become a major concern. Dynario™’s DMFC delivers almost instant refueling that untethers electrical equipment from AC adapters and power outlets. It runs on mix of methanol and ambient oxygen, and the chemical reaction between the two in the fuel cell produces electricity.

Toshiba recognizes the DMFC as a high potential solution for portable equipment and is promoting intensive technology and product development, including improved practical use and downsizing.

The palm-sized Dynario™ is Toshiba’s first DMFC product. Once fueled with an injection of methanol solution from its dedicated cartridge, Dynario™ starts to generate electricity that is delivered to a digital consumer product—a mobile phone or a digital media player—via a USB cable. On a single refill of methanol which can be made in an instant period (around 20 seconds), Dynario™ can generate enough power to charge two typical mobile phones.

Dynario™ integrates Toshiba’s state-of-the-art fuel cell technology, allowing it to operate with only a small volume of concentrated methanol solution, reducing the size and weight of the fuel tank and the overall product. An ingenious fuel feed structure realizes uniform methanol delivery, and stable output to any attached device is fine-tuned by a built-in microcomputer. Performance is also optimized by Dynario™’s hybrid structure, which uses a lithium-ion battery charged by the fuel cell to store electricity. The dedicated fuel cartridge was co-developed with Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd., one of Japan’s leading packaging container companies.

Dynario™ and its fuel cartridge fully comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission’s safety standards (provisional edition).

Toshiba will gauge customer reaction and opinion from the Japanese release of Dynario™ and reflect them in the development of future DMFC products.

BOTHELL, Wash.– Neah Power Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:NPWZ ), www.neahpower.com, the Company developing fuel cell-based renewable energy solutions, revealed today that its fuel cell has been in continuous operation for more than 500 hours without any mechanical or electrical failure or significant degradation in performance. Additionally, Neah has completed other extensive materials compatibility testing to successfully qualify cell components for long-term use. All materials have surpassed in excess of six months of exposure, with some materials in excess of two years of demonstrated compatibility.

“This represents a huge milestone for our disruptive fuel cell technology in our view. Our unique, IP protected, silicon based fuel cell technology has progressed from conception, to proof of concept, to prototype in a short period of time, as compared to the incumbent PEM technology. Our silicon based fuel cell has demonstrated higher power density than PEM technology, can operate with and without air, uses traditional chip manufacturing technology, and in volume production is expected to provide a very cost-effective solution. We are proud to use this disruptive technology to build products for Hobie Cat and EKO Vehicles, and other potential customers,” said Dr. Chris D’Couto, President and CEO.

Fuel cell technology can deliver clean, efficient and abundant energy for Europe whilst creating economic growth and local employment, at the speed of funding for SET Plan.

Brussels–Larger demonstration and deployment projects will need to be funded in view of achieving the necessary economies of scale that will bring the technology to market price conditions.

While stakeholders are gathering today in Stockholm to discuss and review the roadmap of the SET Plan at the second European Energy Technology Summit, FuelCellEurope would like to congratulate the Commission for its Communication on financing low-carbon technologies, released on 07th October 2009, and strongly support the Commission’s call for a shift of money towards supporting the transition to a low carbon economy in the next EU budget of about 50€bn over the coming decade.

In particular, FuelCellEurope, the association that represents the interest of fuel cells in Europe agrees with the statement by the Commission that “additional public and private funding needed for fuel cells and hydrogen technologies is currently estimated as 5€bn for the period 2013-2020.” In fact the Commission’s estimate matches the requirements made by the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform in 2007 in its then formulated Deployment Strategy.

Jean-Marc Tixhon, Chairman of FuelCellEurope and EMEA Manager for DuPont says : “Fuel cell technologies are clean, efficient and can be zero emission energy conversion devices, they have the potential to contribute to EU energy policy and are part of the solution to tackle climate change and boost the economic growth of a competitive Europe.” As such “the €5bn proposed budget for fuel cell and hydrogen energy projects represents a needed investment, that will help these low carbon technologies reach the market entry targets”, Tixhon continues.

The fuel cell industry agrees with the Commission that “the Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) on fuel cells and hydrogen has the minimum critical mass needed to develop and validate efficient and cost competitive technologies […] However, meeting the market entry targets set by industry will require substantial additional effort”.

The technology is ready for the market. A major milestone has recently been achieved in Germany, where leading automotive manufacturers and industrial partners expressed their commitment to the deployment of fuel cells vehicles in Germany, along with the appropriate hydrogen Infrastructure, foreseeing a mass market rollout of fuel cells vehicles by 2015 in Germany and Scandinavia. This superb initiative from industry is made possible by national public funds and the determination of the national governments to get to more sustainable solutions in transport and mobility. For more information about this and other success stories please contact FuelCellEurope.

The technology is there, yet more investments are needed for larger scale demonstration projects and pre-commercial deployment activities to build up a competitive fuel cell chain and deliver economies of scale.

In conclusion, FuelCellEurope strongly supports this proposal and calls on national leaders, the EU institutions and JTI stakeholders to back the Commission’s approach and make the necessary changes to implement these budget indications into concrete funding proposals for the allocation of funds.

About FuelCellEurope

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FuelCellEurope is the European association serving the interest of the fuel cells in Europe. We are committed to accelerate the development and market uptake of fuel cell technology, a key solution for a sustainable energy system in Europe and an important source of economic growth and sustainable European jobs.

FuelCellEurope has a strong European position because it has a very broad membership base which covers global equipment manufacturers, European universities and research institutes, energy, automotive and services companies, as well as end users in public and private sectors.

About fuel cells

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Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that, by combining hydrogen and oxygen, produce electricity and heat with only pure water and air as by-products. Fuel cells offer a unique combination of advantages that can address the European energy challenge

Energy efficiency: Fuel cells are the most efficient energy conversion devices: they are considerably more efficient than conventional engines
Wide range of applications
they can range from very large to very small
there are different types of fuel cells suitable for different applications
they can be used for stationary, transport and portable applications.
they can be used solely or in hybridised systems

Reduced or zero Emissions of Greenhouse Gas and Toxic Pollutants: Fuel cells can help reduce tremendously greenhouse gas emissions, reduce urban pollution and improve air quality. In combination with hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources, fuel cells provide an emission free energy solution.
Energy Security: Fuel cells and hydrogen can support the development of decentralised energy infrastructures building upon regionally available primary energy sources. This can reduce the dependency on oil or gas imports.

New thermoset resin systems from Huntsman Advanced Materials (Basel, Switzerland) meet the most stringent requirements for graphite-based composite bipolar plates used in fuel cells for automotive and stationary power applications.

For the automotive sector, Huntsman has developed a benzoxazine resin suitable for high temperature PEM fuel cells. The resin, which operates at a continuous temperature of 120ºC, has a phenolic-like backbone that gives it very good flame-retardant properties together with excellent glass-transition temperatures and mechanical properties. In particular, there is a very high modulus, low water absorption, and near-zero shrinkage, as well as good electrical properties.

For stationary power and back-up power applications, a bismaleimide resin has been developed for fuel cells operating at temperatures of up to 180ºC in concentrated phosphoric acid. The resin is flame resistant and provides the fuel cells with excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, a low ionic content, and can be applied in continuous high-volume manufacturing processes using conventional prepregging techniques.

The resins have been developed in conjunction with GrafTech International (Parma, OH) as part of a U.S. Dept. of Energy-sponsored program. The cells have already undergone extensive testing and are expected to be available commercially soon.

Also from Huntsman: Thermoset resins are normally considered rigid, but an epoxy offering from this firm relegates this assumption to the annals with its elastomeric attributes.

Araldite HFC has similar material characteristics to elastomers—excellent impact, abrasion, and tear resistance with good elongation and tensile resistance—but it is very different in terms of material and production time costs.

Only a few consumable materials are required, according to the supplier—resin and fiber—and, most important, just a single shell mold is required for component production. As opposed to elastomers, where it is difficult to incorporate fabric reinforcement, and the processing is complex and expensive, the processing of low-viscosity Araldite Highly Flexible Composite is reportedly simple.

“Traditional systems are very hard and rigid, but our new system imparts high flexibility and impact strength,” says the Asia Pacific advanced materials technology director at Huntsman. “This new concept will bring new opportunities in areas such as furniture, automotive, and ski boots.”