Micro Fuel Cell Technology From Tekion Increases Typical Battery Life
One key component of the power pack is a miniaturized coupling from Colder Products Company (St. Paul, MN). The coupling connects the micro fuel cell's liquid cartridge to the power pack. When the liquid fuel is consumed, the user quickly inserts a new fuel cartridge while the device remains operating. The Colder connection product enables the cartridge to be snapped in and out of the device with one motion.
"Colder immediately took an active role in the development process and produced a custom-designed coupling prototype that not only addresses our size requirements, but also provides operational and safety benefits," says Malcolm Man, director of programs and strategic planning at Tekion. "To meet required safety standards for the applications we are pursuing, we need to ensure that our liquid fuel systems are virtually leak free. Colder's connections offer this critical fluid-control safeguard."
While Colder's engineering expertise has been critical to the functionality of the power pack, it is Tekion's use of fuel cells that is driving this innovation, points out Peter Wootton, regional sales manager at Colder. "Utilizing its unique fuel cell technology, Tekion has created a power alternative for electronics manufacturers that will eliminate a user's reliance on a power grid," says Wootton.
A traditional fuel cell acts as an energy conversion device that, through a series of chemical reactions, converts energy stored in a fuel cell into electricity. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does not need recharging as long as there is a supply of fuel to the system.
Liquid fuels, such as formic acid or methanol, can be used directly on one side of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) and oxygen from the air is used on the other side. The Formira Fuel Cell however, has a power density that is significantly higher than that of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). In addition, it performs at a lower operating temperature, uses lower cost catalysts, and, due to its chemistry, requires fewer balance-of-plant components.
"Formira Fuel Cell technology is one big step into the future and toward meeting personal power requirements for small electronics devices," says Man. "Motorola Ventures' recent decision to invest in Tekion further illustrates the belief that we have devised an enhanced power delivery solution for mobile products."
According to Man, the technology will be integrated into new portable electronics devices targeted to launch in early 2007. It will be ideal for products in the milliwatts to 50-watt power range and the 10- to 100-watt-hours energy range. Potential applications include satellite and mobile phones, PDAs and notebook PCs.
SOURCE: Tekion, Inc.