Matsushita Battery Develops Micro Fuel Cell
FlashlightNews.org - 01/13/2006
LAS VEGAS, Nv. -- Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), has announced the development of a innovative fuel supply method for fuel cells that may enable a reduction in size by as much as 50% of the current industry level for cells that power portable devices.
A successful demo of the system using the new supply technology was conducted at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Matsushita Battery has developed what it calls an 'optimized on-demand fuel supply method', which combines its new fuel supply process with other proprietary technologies, such as stack technology and high-power lithium ion battery and battery management systems.
The new cell is approximately 24 cubic inches (400cc) in total volume, which is about the size of a common beverage can and is nearly half the size of competing models. With an average output of 13 watts, and a peak output of 20 watts, a typical laptop PC using this fuel cell would be able to achieve up to 20 hours of runtime.
The advanced fuel supply method allows the precise amount of fuel required by the fuel cell stack to be delivered at the optimum time for maximum efficiency. The entire 'Direct Methanol Fuel Cell' system consists of technologies developed by Matsushita Battery so that fuel and oxygen concentration is optimized to enable an efficient reaction.
Previously, methanol fuel cells have been used in applications in which constant power was required. For applications in which power requirements fluctuate, existing systems struggle to supply the power load of the device.
Combining fuel cells and state-of-the-art power storage technologies, Matsushita has integrated a high-output lithium ion battery and matching battery management system into the fuel cell, which has allowed the company to develop a fuel cell system that can deliver efficient power output even when the load changes.
Matsushita intends to accelerate development of the 'Micro Fuel Cell' by continuing to miniaturize the system, improve reliability and reduce unit cost.
Panasonic/Matsushita Battery Industrial Company