A New York-based chemical company said that with the release of a portable fuel cell charger that can charge mobile phones and other mobile devices, it will eventually change in 2012. Two recently-published patent applications also show that Apple is investigating similar technologies for its portable computing devices. This may encourage other manufacturers of technology products to use fuel cells for charging. The technology product POWERTREKK portable fuel cell charger will go on sale in 2012 after a long process of manufacturing. Prices for this product have not yet been determined, but Michael Lefenfeld, CEO of SiGNa Chemistry, a company that designs and manufactures hydrogen cartridges for the product, says that fuel cells cost less than four AA batteries. (The manufacturer and distributor of POWERTREKK is a Swedish company called myFC.) POWERTREKK is a hybrid fuel cell system, which means that it can charge the built-in battery of technology products instead of replacing it. It consists of a 5 watt battery pack and a replaceable 3-5 watt fuel pack. Each component should generate enough energy to at least fully charge the iPhone. Reifenfeld said POWERTREKK can also charge other mobile phones, digital cameras, GPS devices and some tablet computers. It connects to technology products via USB or mini-USB connectors. Reifenfeld said that this type of charger has been brewing for many years. Many companies, including Motorola and Duracell, have spent millions of dollars studying fuel cells for technology products, and finally stopped the research program. He said that other companies are also committed to the development of this technology, but they gave up in the middle and late 21st century. The development of POWERTREK itself took almost two years; since the beginning of 2010, SiGNa has been working with myFC to develop this product. The use of fuel cells in machines such as indoor forklifts has replaced propane and gasoline. However, reducing the size of the fuel cell to create a truly portable fuel cell is a challenge because the storage of hydrogen is a very difficult problem. “In the past, all chemical solutions had to store hydrogen,†explains Leffenfeld. “You need a thick steel pressure vessel to hold it.†Signa's solution is to use sodium silicide, which does not store hydrogen, but can react with any kind of water (salt, sea, or even wastewater) to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen is injected into a fuel cell to generate electricity that can be transmitted over wires to technology products. Reifeldfeld said: "If you add some water, you can get hydrogen. When you close [water], there is nothing." The fuel cell system requires a larger volume than an ordinary, battery-operated external charger. Reifenfeld said that despite this, consumers may still choose fuel cell chargers because they are lighter than battery-powered chargers, do not discharge, do not degrade over time, and work efficiently. (Using POWERTREKK, the iPhone will be fully charged in one hour to one and a half hours.) Signa also overcomes the long-standing obstacles of another fuel cell technology, its settings have been certified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and IEC is for electricians. Electronic technology establishes a standard organization. This will allow users to bring POWERTREKK to the plane. As its name suggests, POWERTREKK is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts who need a light backup charger to charge hikers and campers for technology products without power. However, Signa believes that there are many applications that can use this technology. They hope that business travelers, emergency/disaster workers and the military will also use fuel cell chargers in the future. To increase the attractiveness of this technology, Signa is developing high-capacity, portable fuel cells and finding solutions for outdoor power equipment such as lawn mowers and blade blowers. Reifenfeld said that Signa will announce new partnerships in the spring and early summer of 2012. Chain Link Fence,Chain Link Mesh,Galvanized Chain Link Fence Steel Wire Co., Ltd. , http://www.nssteelwire.com
Powertrekk demonstrated the latest fuel cell technology at CES.