It seems that the fuel cell lift trucks are increasing in number in the North American area. United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) purchased over 100 fuel-cell lift trucks from Plug Power Inc., and those lift trucks are now operating (press release-2). The fuel cell units mounted on the lift trucks are GenDrive™ (TM = trade mark) units manufactured by Plug Power Inc.
The GenDrive uses the fuel cell stack (Fcvelocity™ (TM = trade mark)) manufactured by Ballard Power Systems Inc. Plug Power has exclusively used the fuel cell stacks manufactured by Ballard, and will use the same in the same way. “Power Plug and Ballard have extended their existing supply agreement, effective immediately, through 2014 (press release-1).” The press release-1 immediately follows the press release-2. The combination of Ballard and Plug Power takes a market share of over 85% in the material handling space.
For somewhat more detail, visit here.
press release-1:
“Plug Power And Ballard Extend Supply Agreement Through 2014” (July 15, 2010)
- Plug Power
- Ballard
press release-2:
UNFI Deploys Plug Power Gendrive Fuel Cells To Increase Productivity At Distribution Center (July 13, 2010)
2010年7月17日土曜日
Direct Flame Exposure Type Fuel Cell
The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has recently attracted attention as the next generation fuel cell. Disadvantageously, however, the SOFC operates at high temperature, usually 750 to 1,000 degrees of centigrade. Long time is taken and much electric power is consumed till the operating temperature of the SOFC is reached.
During search of patent documents, I unexpectedly hit a patent gazette entitled “Direct Flame Exposure Type Fuel Cell”. This technology is unique in that the power generating cells (stack) are heated directly by a heat source to reduce the startup time of the SOFC. The applicant of the invention of the technology is “Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd. (SHINKO)”. The company is a leader of semiconductor packaging manufactures in Japan. It seems that in the invention, the anode side of the cell stack is placed in a flame or located near the flame.
The SHINKO’s homepage says: Such an idea as to directly heat the cell stack for the purpose of reducing the startup time of the SOFC has been known.
The cell stack structure is complicated in many aspects. If heat is directly applied to the cell stack, many problems will be created, and those are serious and difficult to cope with. This encouraged almost no one to take approaches to find solutions to the problems. In this situation, SHINKO ventured to develop the technology of the “direct flame exposure type fuel cell” by making full use of the ceramic technology having been cultivated through the production of ceramic packages.
No other information than above on this technology could be found in the homepage, but the patent database presented many patent applications of the technology (inventions).
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
For somewhat more detail, visit here.
During search of patent documents, I unexpectedly hit a patent gazette entitled “Direct Flame Exposure Type Fuel Cell”. This technology is unique in that the power generating cells (stack) are heated directly by a heat source to reduce the startup time of the SOFC. The applicant of the invention of the technology is “Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd. (SHINKO)”. The company is a leader of semiconductor packaging manufactures in Japan. It seems that in the invention, the anode side of the cell stack is placed in a flame or located near the flame.
The SHINKO’s homepage says: Such an idea as to directly heat the cell stack for the purpose of reducing the startup time of the SOFC has been known.
The cell stack structure is complicated in many aspects. If heat is directly applied to the cell stack, many problems will be created, and those are serious and difficult to cope with. This encouraged almost no one to take approaches to find solutions to the problems. In this situation, SHINKO ventured to develop the technology of the “direct flame exposure type fuel cell” by making full use of the ceramic technology having been cultivated through the production of ceramic packages.
No other information than above on this technology could be found in the homepage, but the patent database presented many patent applications of the technology (inventions).
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
For somewhat more detail, visit here.
2010年7月13日火曜日
New Outdoor Radio Clock Using Electric Double Layer Condenser for Electric Storage
CITIZEN T.I.C. CO., LTD. (the consolidated subsidiary company of Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.) started the sale of a new solar cell-driven outdoor radio clock (on June 6, 2010). The outdoor radio clock uses the electric double layer condenser for electricity storage. The Ni-Cd battery has been used for the same purpose. The primary power source of the clock is a solar cell.
Advantageous features:
1) The battery replacement period is significantly long, about 15 years, while that of the Ni-Cd battery is about 5 years (since the battery performance is less deteriorated through the charging/discharging operation.)
2) Environment friendly and safe (since toxic heavy metals (e.g., cadmium or lead) are not used.)
3) Even on cloudy and rainy days, the capacitor battery can secure the electric power consumed during the day through the charging operation, with good charging efficiency.
4) No time correction work, no electric wiring work, and no electric fee
Price: 320,250 yen to 1,176,000 yen (before taxes)
Electric storage: electric double layer condenser (1300 F) x 2
The product details are here.
Note:
The capacitor technology has reached such a level as to allow the capacitor to be used in place of the battery. In the Citizen’s outdoor clock, the Ni-Cd battery is replaced with the capacitor. It seems that the defects of the clock, which result from use of the Ni-Cd battery, have been removed. The capacitor functions to store electric energy while receiving weak current from the solar cell when it is cloudy and rainy. This feature of the capacitor is also important. The capacitor caught my eyes since I have just introduced the new capacitor using single-layer carbon nanotube electrodes, developed by AIST, and the capacitor still remains in my brain.
Advantageous features:
1) The battery replacement period is significantly long, about 15 years, while that of the Ni-Cd battery is about 5 years (since the battery performance is less deteriorated through the charging/discharging operation.)
2) Environment friendly and safe (since toxic heavy metals (e.g., cadmium or lead) are not used.)
3) Even on cloudy and rainy days, the capacitor battery can secure the electric power consumed during the day through the charging operation, with good charging efficiency.
4) No time correction work, no electric wiring work, and no electric fee
Price: 320,250 yen to 1,176,000 yen (before taxes)
Electric storage: electric double layer condenser (1300 F) x 2
The product details are here.
Note:
The capacitor technology has reached such a level as to allow the capacitor to be used in place of the battery. In the Citizen’s outdoor clock, the Ni-Cd battery is replaced with the capacitor. It seems that the defects of the clock, which result from use of the Ni-Cd battery, have been removed. The capacitor functions to store electric energy while receiving weak current from the solar cell when it is cloudy and rainy. This feature of the capacitor is also important. The capacitor caught my eyes since I have just introduced the new capacitor using single-layer carbon nanotube electrodes, developed by AIST, and the capacitor still remains in my brain.
2010年7月8日木曜日
Single-layer Carbon Nanotube Electrode Capacitor Not Using Current Collectors
Developed by:
Advanced Industrial Science And Technology (AIST)
http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html
イザディナジャファバディ アリ（Maijo University）
The capacitor is increasing its applications because of its many advantageous features such as rapid charging/discharging functions, high power density, long service life, and low internal resistance.
In this circumstance, a new capacitor having single-layer carbon nanotube (high purity) electrodes and elimination of current collectors has been developed. Its performances were evaluated. The result showed that the new capacitor stably operated with application of higher voltage than the capacitor using activated carbon.
Disadvantages of activated carbon: Conductive bonding agent is needed to mold powdered activated carbon into an electrode. Impurities and functional groups, which are on the surface of the bonding agent and the activated carbon, promote deterioration of the electrode. The result is that voltage that is allowed to be applied to the capacitor is at most 3 V or lower, and that the service life of the capacitor is short.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
To learn more, visit here.
Advanced Industrial Science And Technology (AIST)
http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html
イザディナジャファバディ アリ（Maijo University）
The capacitor is increasing its applications because of its many advantageous features such as rapid charging/discharging functions, high power density, long service life, and low internal resistance.
In this circumstance, a new capacitor having single-layer carbon nanotube (high purity) electrodes and elimination of current collectors has been developed. Its performances were evaluated. The result showed that the new capacitor stably operated with application of higher voltage than the capacitor using activated carbon.
Disadvantages of activated carbon: Conductive bonding agent is needed to mold powdered activated carbon into an electrode. Impurities and functional groups, which are on the surface of the bonding agent and the activated carbon, promote deterioration of the electrode. The result is that voltage that is allowed to be applied to the capacitor is at most 3 V or lower, and that the service life of the capacitor is short.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
To learn more, visit here.
2010年7月6日火曜日
Great Solution to “Hydrogen Embrittlement Problem”, - Open the flood gates of fuel cell real commercialization ? -
Please read ""Hydrogen Embrittlement", this tough nut is cracked at last" above.
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