1
NEWS January 2010 Fuel Cells Bulletin 7 Technology Exhibition 2008 in Fukuoka [FCB, December 2008]. Further improvements in the stack technol- ogy have now allowed Panasonic to double the average power output to 20 W, while retaining the same volume as the previous prototype. The high-output DMFC is suitable for powering feature-laden laptop computers, which have relatively high power consumption. The new fuel cell system also boasts 5000 h of durability (based on 8 h intermittent use per day). Durability is a major challenge for the commercialization of fuel cells, because power output drops as the electrodes deteriorate. Panasonic has solved the problem by using microporous layers that control the amount of fuel passing through them, which enables the supply of highly concentrated fuel to the elec- trode while suppressing methanol crossover. Panasonic is continuing to work on increas- ing DMFC output, capitalizing on the technol- ogies that have achieved downsizing and high durability. As a next step, it plans to develop a portable generator with an average output of 100 W, which will be much more compact than engine-based generators. Combining the fuel cell generator with its high-capacity lithium- ion battery module, Panasonic aims to bring to market an outdoor power source that integrates energy creation and storage functions. Panasonic Corporation: www.panasonic.net UltraCell mobile fuel cell power for US Army trials C alifornia-based UltraCell Corporation has been selected to provide portable power for electronic devices and recharge military batter- ies during the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) in early 2010. UltraCell is a leading producer of fuel cells for mobile power applica- tions, using its reformed methanol micro fuel cell (RMFC) technology. The AEWE will take place at the Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL) in Fort Benning, Georgia in coordination with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC). The event will conduct experiments over a seven- week period through live and virtual simula- tions to provide a credible and repeatable venue for network-enabled experimentation. UltraCell’s XX25™ fuel cell systems will power military equipment including radios, rugged notebook computers, and long-range thermal video (LRTV) systems. In addition, the XX25 fuel cells will be used to recharge BB-2590 and Li-80/145 military batteries. The XX25 is capable of delivering 72 h of continuous runtime on a single fuel tank, making it an extremely mobile and lightweight source of power. The AEWE program, which began in 2004, is focused on emerging technologies. It supports the US Army’s efforts to shorten materiel devel- opment, and examine future force requirements and constructs through a linked campaign of experimentation. Last summer UltraCell announced that it is building fuel cell systems for the US Army Agile Integration Demo and Experimentation (AIDE) program, as part of the Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) [FCB, September 2009]. The company also received a US Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) contract to build fuel cell systems based on the UltraCell XX55™ RMFC technology. UltraCell Corporation, Livermore, California, USA. Tel: +1 925 455 9400, www.ultracellpower.com Protonex wins US Army contract to advance SOFC systems M assachusetts-based Protonex Technology has received a contract award of up to $1.0 mil- lion, through the University of South Carolina (USC) Research Foundation and WinTec Arrowmaker, to build, test and deliver solid oxide fuel cell power systems to the US Army. Under the terms of this 12-month contract, Protonex will continue to develop a fully inte- grated liquid fuel generator system. As part of the program, Protonex will increase the specific energy of the system through advanced fuel cell and stack development, and will increase the lifetime and reliability through rigorous testing of the completed systems. At the program’s con- clusion, Protonex is expected to deliver multiple liquid-fueled SOFC power systems to the Army for further testing and evaluation. There is growing military and commercial interest in the use of common liquid fuels, including alternative or renewable fuels. SOFCs, with their low emissions and high efficiency, are well suited to generate electricity from these high-energy-density fuel sources. Fuel-flexible generators capable of operating on both traditional and alternative liquid fuels can provide highly efficient electricity genera- tion from both conventional transportation fuels and the new biofuels. Development of these small SOFC systems will provide the military with lightweight, extremely quiet, and fuel-efficient power sys- tems that can be used as auxiliary power units (APUs), portable generators, or field battery chargers. ‘The US military has shown much inter- est in advanced portable power solutions for military applications, with even greater interest in systems that can operate on multiple liquid fuels,’ comments Dr Caine Finnerty, direc- tor of SOFC development for Protonex. ‘This program will allow us to develop further our liquid-fueled systems for military testing, and enable us to accelerate the conversion of our leading-edge SOFC systems for military and commercial markets.’ Protonex Technology Corporation, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com UltraCell wins Air Force funding for 50 W soldier portable system T he US Department of the Air Force has awarded California- based UltraCell Corporation $3 mil- lion towards the firm’s ‘50 W Soldier Portable Fuel Cell System’ program. The project – funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – aims to support the design and development of reliable, efficient portable fuel cells for dis- mounted warfighters deployed in Afghanistan and other arenas across the globe. UltraCell was awarded the contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. Implementation and evaluation of the program will be overseen by the AFRL’s Propulsion Directorate, a principal provider of propulsion technologies, which also conducts leading-edge R&D in aerospace fuels, propel- lants, and power generating systems. In 2007, UltraCell opened a 20 000 ft 2 (1900 m 2 ) man- ufacturing facility in Dayton, which has since expanded to more than 30 000 ft 2 (2800 m 2 ). The program seeks to provide durable and field-tested portable fuel cell systems that offer improved usability and ease-of-use with both new and existing military applications and elec- tronic devices. The solution also aims to deliver

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NEWS

January 2010 Fuel Cells Bulletin7

Technology Exhibition 2008 in Fukuoka [FCB, December 2008].

Further improvements in the stack technol-ogy have now allowed Panasonic to double the average power output to 20 W, while retaining the same volume as the previous prototype. The high-output DMFC is suitable for powering feature-laden laptop computers, which have relatively high power consumption.

The new fuel cell system also boasts 5000 h of durability (based on 8 h intermittent use per day). Durability is a major challenge for the commercialization of fuel cells, because power output drops as the electrodes deteriorate. Panasonic has solved the problem by using microporous layers that control the amount of fuel passing through them, which enables the supply of highly concentrated fuel to the elec-trode while suppressing methanol crossover.

Panasonic is continuing to work on increas-ing DMFC output, capitalizing on the technol-ogies that have achieved downsizing and high durability. As a next step, it plans to develop a portable generator with an average output of 100 W, which will be much more compact than engine-based generators. Combining the fuel cell generator with its high-capacity lithium-ion battery module, Panasonic aims to bring to market an outdoor power source that integrates energy creation and storage functions.

Panasonic Corporation: www.panasonic.net

UltraCell mobile fuel cell power for US Army trials

California-based UltraCell Corporation has been selected to

provide portable power for electronic devices and recharge military batter-ies during the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) in early 2010. UltraCell is a leading producer of fuel cells for mobile power applica-tions, using its reformed methanol micro fuel cell (RMFC) technology.

The AEWE will take place at the Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL) in Fort Benning, Georgia in coordination with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC). The event will conduct experiments over a seven-week period through live and virtual simula-tions to provide a credible and repeatable venue for network-enabled experimentation.

UltraCell’s XX25™ fuel cell systems will power military equipment including radios, rugged notebook computers, and long-range

thermal video (LRTV) systems. In addition, the XX25 fuel cells will be used to recharge BB-2590 and Li-80/145 military batteries. The XX25 is capable of delivering 72 h of continuous runtime on a single fuel tank, making it an extremely mobile and lightweight source of power.

The AEWE program, which began in 2004, is focused on emerging technologies. It supports the US Army’s efforts to shorten materiel devel-opment, and examine future force requirements and constructs through a linked campaign of experimentation.

Last summer UltraCell announced that it is building fuel cell systems for the US Army Agile Integration Demo and Experimentation (AIDE) program, as part of the Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) [FCB, September 2009]. The company also received a US Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) contract to build fuel cell systems based on the UltraCell XX55™ RMFC technology.

UltraCell Corporation, Livermore, California, USA. Tel: +1 925 455 9400, www.ultracellpower.com

Protonex wins US Army contract to advance SOFC systems

Massachusetts-based Protonex Technology has received a

contract award of up to $1.0 mil-lion, through the University of South Carolina (USC) Research Foundation and WinTec Arrowmaker, to build, test and deliver solid oxide fuel cell power systems to the US Army.

Under the terms of this 12-month contract, Protonex will continue to develop a fully inte-grated liquid fuel generator system. As part of the program, Protonex will increase the specific energy of the system through advanced fuel cell and stack development, and will increase the lifetime and reliability through rigorous testing of the completed systems. At the program’s con-clusion, Protonex is expected to deliver multiple liquid-fueled SOFC power systems to the Army for further testing and evaluation.

There is growing military and commercial interest in the use of common liquid fuels, including alternative or renewable fuels. SOFCs, with their low emissions and high efficiency, are well suited to generate electricity from these high-energy-density fuel sources.

Fuel-flexible generators capable of operating on both traditional and alternative liquid fuels

can provide highly efficient electricity genera-tion from both conventional transportation fuels and the new biofuels.

Development of these small SOFC systems will provide the military with lightweight, extremely quiet, and fuel-efficient power sys-tems that can be used as auxiliary power units (APUs), portable generators, or field battery chargers.

‘The US military has shown much inter-est in advanced portable power solutions for military applications, with even greater interest in systems that can operate on multiple liquid fuels,’ comments Dr Caine Finnerty, direc-tor of SOFC development for Protonex. ‘This program will allow us to develop further our liquid-fueled systems for military testing, and enable us to accelerate the conversion of our leading-edge SOFC systems for military and commercial markets.’

Protonex Technology Corporation, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com

UltraCell wins Air Force funding for 50 W soldier portable system

The US Department of the Air Force has awarded California-

based UltraCell Corporation $3 mil-lion towards the firm’s ‘50 W Soldier Portable Fuel Cell System’ program. The project – funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – aims to support the design and development of reliable, efficient portable fuel cells for dis-mounted warfighters deployed in Afghanistan and other arenas across the globe.

UltraCell was awarded the contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. Implementation and evaluation of the program will be overseen by the AFRL’s Propulsion Directorate, a principal provider of propulsion technologies, which also conducts leading-edge R&D in aerospace fuels, propel-lants, and power generating systems. In 2007, UltraCell opened a 20 000 ft2 (1900 m2) man-ufacturing facility in Dayton, which has since expanded to more than 30 000 ft2 (2800 m2).

The program seeks to provide durable and field-tested portable fuel cell systems that offer improved usability and ease-of-use with both new and existing military applications and elec-tronic devices. The solution also aims to deliver