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Toshiba Develops World's Smallest Fuel Cells

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the anti-freeze-power dept.

An anonymous reader writes "When you think of Toshiba, you might think of notebooks, but fuel cells? Never. Well, at least not until up to now. Toshiba claims to have made the world's smallest fuel cell to date. The direct methanol fuel cell can fit inside of the smallest of gadgets, ranging from MP3 Players to portal DVD Players. Most fuel cells require a pump that can mix the methanol and water, and a fan to help cool the pump. This makes installing fuel cells in smaller items out of the question. However, Toshiba's new fuel cell does not require a fan or a pump to operate, which means it's much smaller in size, and can be installed in almost any small device."

13 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Up next: the fuel cell powered vibrator by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hours of runtime, and portable, which makes it better than a shower massage. Carpe technology...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. What we really need... by NIK282000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Is a fule cell that produces 2 things, electricity for our gear and as a byproduct of the energy it makes some form of caffienated beverage.

    --
    Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all
  3. Re:Also of note by iacyclone · · Score: 4, Funny

    But I am sure it would only be a small explosion. ;)

  4. If you feel comfortable ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 4, Funny
    putting a methanol powered device in that vicinity (especially without a cooling fan), more power to you.

    Or is that an entendre?

    1. Re:If you feel comfortable ... by Grant29 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, any word on the safety of something like this? I'd hate to have an explosion in my pants.

      --
      12 Gmail invitations availiable

    2. Re:If you feel comfortable ... by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Now we're cooking with gas!"

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:If you feel comfortable ... by Bob+McCown · · Score: 5, Funny
      I'd hate to have an explosion in my pants.

      This guy can help with that.

    4. Re:If you feel comfortable ... by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Funny

      If you'd hate to have an explosion in your pants, perhaps you should take them off before using a vibrator.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    5. Re:If you feel comfortable ... by iabervon · · Score: 4, Funny

      What I want is a fuel cell system that runs on those little bottles. Sure, they're not as cheap as methanol, but they come conveniently packaged in manageable sizes and can be bought on airplanes.

  5. Portal DVD player? by Armarius · · Score: 4, Funny

    From the post:

    "ranging from MP3 Players to portal DVD Players"

    What's a portal DVD player? Is that like a Stargate? :-)

  6. Portable Methane by platypibri · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you want true portable methane power, find a way to harness the awesome effects of my award winning Split Pea Soup! A small hose could be ran from the "back end" of the methane converter to a meriad of electronic devices. My wife can vouch for the consistent power output.

    --
    Yeah, I guess I'm funny like that.
  7. Re:do they smell by stienman · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can't smell CO2, which is why it's so deadly in concentration. CO is a poison - it's not just the lack of oxygen that will kill you.

    Of course, pretty soon every laptop will also contain a micro-bonsai tree to cleanse the CO2.

    And my micro bonsai will be overclocked.

    -Adam

  8. Re:What About Refills? by Jtheletter · · Score: 5, Funny
    Sure, I may get an extra five hours of my iPod, but if I have to go though the trouble of refilling the damn thing instead of just plugging it in, then I don't see the point.

    Ok, here's how you get the point. Both of us go camping in Maine with our iPods. We each rock out to our very hip playlists for a day or two until the batteries die. I will reach into my backpack and take out a 2 oz bottle of methanol that will last me for a week, while you attempt to plug your iPod into a tree.

    It may seem like outlets are ubiquitous, but they're not. The idea is that you can take a number of "recharges" with you and it takes up minimal space. Refilling the cell is also not going to be like pouring oil in your car with a funnel, it's more like refilling a butane lighter by pressing the spout of the fuel can up to the fuel port for a few seconds.

    OTOH though, I work with Methanol at my job, and it is some nasty shit. I'm not so sure how consumer friendly this particular fuel cell will be, in general it's a bad idea to be carrying around any amount of methanol. I'll wait for the cells that run off plain old alcohol so my iPod can booze up with me at the bar.

    "Bartender! Another round for me, and one for my little friend here!"

    --
    -- I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. It's not my fault that life sucks so much. --