Slashdot Mirror
Samsung Working On Fuel-Cell Powered Cell Phones
An anonymous reader writes "BusinessWeek reports that Samsung plans to build prototype phones that will be powered by Direct Methanol Fuel Cells." From the article: "The deal also marks a huge vote of confidence in a little-known company. MTI Micro, which had sales of $8 million in 2005, is one of a handful of outfits seeking to bring hydrogen-based fuel-cell technology into more common use. Its Mobion fuel cells have already appeared in industrial handhelds from companies like Intermec, a unit of Unova, and have drawn the attention of military contractors developing devices that soldiers will use in the field. Under the deal, which lasts through the end of the second quarter of 2007, the two companies will jointly research the use of methanol-based fuel-cell technologies for use in cell phones. Any patents that come as the result of the research will be assigned to MTI."
I have a solar charger for my mobile phone and it works just fine. I am cheap and like the thought of free energy to power the black hole of money that is my phone. I applaud the expansion of alternative energy technology into our daily lives, but wonder if this is the best application for fuel cells...
Now you can get brain cancer and methanol poisoning at the same time! :)
Seriously, how do you recharge these things, with a can of pressurized methanol? Talk about a fire hazard! Or maybe the fuel cell is disposable and you just slap in a new one? That's not environmentally friendly. Maybe you send them back to the factory and they can refill them? Will there be a grey market in refills such as with Ink Jet/Laser Toner Cartridges? Will those refills be safe? Can you carry them on an airplane since flammable items like this are not allowed today? What do they do with the excess heat from the fuel cell operation? There are a LOT of questions to be answered both from the technology side and the business logistics side before you are going to see these in production for consumers. Meanwhile traditional battery technology is not standing still, we get more power density than ever now For the military which does not have to follow the same precautions it could be a good thing for field use, but I don't see them being comsumer devices ever.
In what way can these ever be "saving energy"?
The fule Cell has to be manufactured, this has to have an energy cost associated with it, hence you are still using energy, your phone is still using energy, the same amount too.
Are fuel cells more efficent than power plants? With the cost of manufacture and distribution added in?
Both Toyota and Honda have made fully-functional fuel cell cars. They said 5 years ago they might have a limited production model in 10 years.
y /fuelcell_hybrid.html
http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/technolog
I wouldn't be shocked if others have made similiar prototypes.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
FTFA:
What Soucy and MTI CEO Peng Lim envision is a world where instead of recharging your phone's battery, you'll buy disposable fuel cells that last longer than the batteries that come with cell phones today and are more eco-friendly.
I'm not sure exactly how this is supposed to be more eco-friendly. A disposable cartridge system rather than a rechargeable battery? OK, maybe fuel cells can get a somewhat higher fuel efficiency than centralized generation and transmission to individual buildings. But then take into account the energy it takes to make the special enclosure for the cartridges, then to pump them full of methanol. This would need to happen for each cartridge. Plus, carbon-based fuels get more expensive and the power companies start relying more on wind/solar technologies, this tech will still need to use 100% carbon fuel to run at all. Just 'cause it says `fuel cell' does not mean it is `eco-friendly.'
I've heard of exploding batteries in mobile devices. I really hate to think about what the result will be if we end up with exploding fuel cells as well some day.
Of course I also wonder if your cell phone will be able to double as your lighter as well now.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
A common misunderstanding of the "hydrogen economy". In the idealized hydrogen economy, hydrogen is produced through thermolysis -- directly from heat, thus bypassing the (inefficient) electricity generation stage altogether. Also, since a fuel cell powered vehicle really is electric, it can readily be enabled to do power regeneration. Engines become lighter, cheaper, more efficient, and are freed from the necessity of running off of liquid hydrocarbon chains into something that can be more easily produced.
Other energy sources in a hydrogen economy include using peak solar power (you have extra energy in bright, sunny days), extra hydroelectric power in rainy times, and direct bacterial generation of hydrogen. In the former two cases, you're not starting with heat energy, so you're not losing energy to carnot cycle losses before you get the electricity for electrolysis (with best available tech, about 85% efficient).
"You see, Government is a system that is based on weapons." -- Timster
Exactly how many gasoline powered lawn tools do you have?
Professional landscapers use such tools for hours a day every day, and as far as I know the safety record of such devices is pretty good.
It's nice to think of things to complain about, and this tech is iffy, but making reasonably safe fuel cells powered by methanol shouldn't be as difficult as you seem to believe.
You have raised an EXCELLENT point!
TFA states that MTI has arrangements with Gillette (who owns Duracell), which "is helping MTI Micro create a retail and distribution business for a market in disposable fuel cells." They also claim the market could demand up to 80 million units annually.
I've heard plenty about fuel cell cartridges while working in the power electronics research industry, but have yet to see any prototypes until your post inspired me to search. DMFCC has a photo on their home page of their prototype fuel cell cartridges, and judging from the style of container they could be fairly interchangeable.
In the end consumers will be at the mercy of decisions made by these large corporations, so one can only hope that standards will fall into place before too long.
"Don't hate the media, become the media." -Jello Biafra