2012年2月7日火曜日

Another magnesium fuel cell, developed anew

A magnesium fuel cell (Mg FC) has been developed additionally.
The Mg FC specifications are: electric capacitor = 60 Ah, and size = 26cm×17cm×10cm. In structure, a negative electrode (active material) = incombustible magnesium, a positive electrode (active material) = oxygen gas, and electrolytic solution = saline solution. The prototype successfully charged 120 mobile phones at 360 W as its output. In use, the saline solution is set to the FC body.
The FC body is normally operable at its rated output power even after it is left for several tens years in a state that the solution not set to the FC body.
The Mg FC is resistant to disasters.
In the case of the hydrogen-based fuel cells currently used, for example, the residential CHP (ENEFARM) reforms city gas to produce hydrogen and uses the produced hydrogen for its fuel. In disaster situation, if the pipe- line feeding city gas is damaged, it is substantially impossible to operate the CHP even in case where the CHP itself is not damaged and could normally operate. On the other hand, the Mg FC is normally operable if the electrolytic solution is available, with its long durability of several tens years.
lytic solution is available and since the durability of the FC is very long, several tens years.
>> More

2012年1月26日木曜日

Next generation solar cell turns the doorknob to real commercialization

“Organic thin-film solar cells” have been known. It is the next (third) generation solar cell. The cell efficiency of the solar cell reached about 10%. This figure indicates a rough standard for its real commercialization. The products based on the organic thin-film solar cells will be launched in this and next years, although those products /sales will be trially done. The writing of the detailed description on this title has been completed and if interested, visit here.

2011年12月22日木曜日

TOSHIBA completes new ENEFARM

* March 2012: will be delivered the products to OSAKA gas (gas dealer)
* Price: around 260 man-yen
* Target number of products in 2012: 6,000 units (double of the number of products sold in 2011)
* Overall efficiency = 94% (city gas for primary fuel, LHV (lower heating value) base)
* Installation space: 22% reduced (compared to the current product)
* ENEFARM = home-use micro-CHP
If any, feel free to contact us.
Source >> here

2011年12月10日土曜日

Magnesium, fuel to metal fuel cell

Magnesium has attracted attention recently in the fuel cell field. It has many attractive features when it is applied as the fuel to the metal fuel cell. The magnesium resource is almost limitless. It is recyclable, relatively high safety, and good storageability.
The problem we have to solve before it is used as the fuel to the metal fuel cell is how to reduce MgO (raw and/or produced after Mg is used). The reducing process currently used is expensive since it needs the burning of a large amount of coal that is done while emitting a great amount of CO2, and further needs the catalyst for the reaction promotion.
Prof. Yabe (Tokyo Institute of Technology) has provided a good solution to the MgO reduction problem. The proprietary solar pumped laser is used for smelting magnesium. A 1 kW solar pumped laser was completed. Another challenger for the MgO-reduction problem solution appeared recently. The challenger is Prof. Kohama (Tohoku University) et al. He uses a solar furnace with a concave mirror. The mirror concentrates the solar rays to a single point to form a super high temperature spot of at least about 1,200 degrees of C.

Prof. Kohama has revealed a prototype of a new Mg fuel cell recently. I wrote an article on this new Mg fuel cell. For details, please visit here, if interested. As well known, Mg is almost limitless as its resources. Mg fuel cell is resistance to disasters. The Mg FC does not need the gas infrastructure which is required for the fuel cells (PEFC, SOFC) currently used. And if the infrastructure is damaged in disasters, the Mg FC is operable.

2011年9月29日木曜日

New electrolytic cell for hydrogen generation, developed by Toshiba

Toshiba has developed a new electrolytic cell for hydrogen generation.
It is used in a high temperature steam atmosphere.
Toshiba has already developed the electrolytic cell for hydrogen generation, which is operable at 900°C in the high temperature steam electrolysis process.
The electrolytic cell developed this time will operate at temperatures below 900°C.
It is a ceramic electrolytic element having a three-layer structure, which consists of a zirconia electrolyte and two electrodes layered on both major sides of the electrolyte. The structure of the electrolytic cell is substantially the same as that of the cell unit of the SOFC.
In operation, the ceramic electrolytic element is placed in a high temperature steam atmosphere, and voltage is applied to between the electrodes. Steam is electrolyzed at one electrode into H2 and oxygen ion (O2-). The O2- immigrates to the other electrode where it is released outside in the form of O2.
To learn mode, visit here.

2011年9月19日月曜日

Great step toward explosion-free lithium ion battery

A new ceramic electrolyte sheet has been developed. The sheet exhibits high ion conductivity at room temperature. Where it is applied to the all-solid state lithium ion battery, an explosion-free lithium ion battery, which is operable at room temperature, is realized. An overall conductivity of the ceramic electrolyte sheet is 1 x 10-3 S/cm at room temperature.
A unique sintering process was developed. It successfully reduced the particle resistance, leading to development of the ceramic electrolyte sheet.
Applications of the sheet are 1) the electrolyte of the all-solid lithium ion battery 2) the electrolyte of the lithium-water battery (since it has waterproof performance), and 3) others.
Where the technology is used, less energy is required to manufacture large-area thin electrolyte sheets.
For the all-solid lithium ion battery and the lithium-water battery, visit here.
Source: AIST

2011年8月6日土曜日

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications (KOKAI)

[Announcement]
“Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications (KOKAI)”:
Provisional English translation of the KOKAI has been presented on my site (A1-KOHO)
The translation is under progress, and the translated KOKAI will be accumulatively added upon completion of its translation.
* Keyword: includes solid oxide fuel cell
* Int.Cl.:
* Searched: from 2011 to
* Gathered from JPO's database
* Contents of Table:
1) Title
2) Int.Cl.
3) Object (to provide)
4) Means to Achieve the Object
5) Related Drawing
You can read the JPO’s formal translation of the same after about 3 months from the date of the publication of the KOKAI.

JPO = Japanese Patent Office