Re: Powertrekk, taking hydrogen fuel cells on tour a potential game changer?

On 2/14/2011 8:27 PM, mmeiser wrote:

>
> Bottom line, put in water, get power.
>
>> From what I've read on it elsewhere it's not there, I see absolutely
> no specifications anywhere on how much power you can get out of the
> "disposable fuel cell packs".  Apparently it only puts out about 2.5
> watts from hydrogen power, but this is supplemented by the lithium ion
> battery which once charged can put out 5 watts of power which should
> be well capable of charging a USB device. Inversely the internal
> battery can also be charged off USB as well.
>
> The idea is a potential game changer if not now in the near future.
> To be able to take devices with proprietary batteries like the
> majority of cell phones, mp3 players, GPS, and digital cameras into
> the backcountry would change the game considerably.  For example I
> could get a nice DSLR like a cannon Mark IV and take it on remote
> trips, say a trip around the world, without having to worry about how
> I'm going to charge it.
>
> All that said... it's so futuristic the realities of such a technology
> might never materialize, at least not in the form one might take on a
> biking trip.

I have thought for a while that fuel cells for small devices 
could be a good idea, but I don't really like this 
implementation.

If you dig around on the manufacturer's site you can find 
that the "powerpukk" fuel pack delivers 4 Wh, using a sodium 
silicide reactant to generate H2 gas.

I think I still would prefer a liquid-fueled cell, such as a 
methanol cell.

Mike

-- 
The Tour of Gondwana
May 5, 02005-August 22, 02008
http://www.terminalia.org/tour