Portable power plants
4 April 2003 - 4 April 2003
Germany
Running a laptop or other electrical equipment causes a problem when there is no access to a mains supply: If the battery runs out, where can you recharge it? This is a particularly thorny issue if, for example, your work takes you out on the road or involves spending lots of time on construction sites. In the long run spare batteries do not provide an economic answer. But the Mobile Power Box will - when it is introduced on the market in the coming year.
This membrane fuel cell system, supplying mains-free energy in the medium power range, was developed by research engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE working in cooperation with the firm of Masterflex. It is almost ready for series production. With a very high degree of reliability the unit produces electricity from hydrogen released by replaceable metal-hydride tanks of various sizes. The Power Box has a higher power density than any of the prototypes presented so far, emphasizes engineer and ISE project manager Marco Zobel. With the 300 watt-hour hydrogen storage a laptop can be run for up to ten hours, which is five times longer than with a conventional battery. At its present stage of development the unit is already achieving a continuous power of over 50 watts and can handle peaks of over 100 W. A higher power is planned so that devices such as printers and beamers can be supplied with power for prolonged periods. This will open up a market for Power Box which goes beyond the scope of batteries.
Also on show at the Hanover Fair, in Hall 13 on Stand G 72, is the prototype of a fuel cell system for professional film and TV cameras. At present, camera-work carried out on location has to be continually interrupted in order to change the camera batteries. The new compact and easy-to-handle system will put an end to this: Coupled to the camera it will supply a continuous output of 40 W. The hydrogen accumulators have been designed so that the camera can run for an entire eight-hour day of filming. This device is being developed by Fraunhofer engineers in cooperation with industrial partner Ambient Recording in Munich. Throughout the development process we are aware of the need for future cost-effective series production, which will enable our system to compete with batteries, explains Ulf Groos, who is responsible at the ISE for marketing the mobile power packs. In addition to the external units, fully integrated tailor-made fuel cell systems will in future become increasingly established. We are already working on them!,Contact:,Ulf Groos,Phone +49 7 61 / 45 88-52 02,Fax +49 7 61 / 45 88-92 02,E-mail: Ulf.Groos@ise.fraunhofer.de<br>Fraunhofer-Institut fur Solare Energiesysteme ISE(opens in new window),Heidenhofstrasse 2,79110 Freiburg, Germany<br>
This membrane fuel cell system, supplying mains-free energy in the medium power range, was developed by research engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE working in cooperation with the firm of Masterflex. It is almost ready for series production. With a very high degree of reliability the unit produces electricity from hydrogen released by replaceable metal-hydride tanks of various sizes. The Power Box has a higher power density than any of the prototypes presented so far, emphasizes engineer and ISE project manager Marco Zobel. With the 300 watt-hour hydrogen storage a laptop can be run for up to ten hours, which is five times longer than with a conventional battery. At its present stage of development the unit is already achieving a continuous power of over 50 watts and can handle peaks of over 100 W. A higher power is planned so that devices such as printers and beamers can be supplied with power for prolonged periods. This will open up a market for Power Box which goes beyond the scope of batteries.
Also on show at the Hanover Fair, in Hall 13 on Stand G 72, is the prototype of a fuel cell system for professional film and TV cameras. At present, camera-work carried out on location has to be continually interrupted in order to change the camera batteries. The new compact and easy-to-handle system will put an end to this: Coupled to the camera it will supply a continuous output of 40 W. The hydrogen accumulators have been designed so that the camera can run for an entire eight-hour day of filming. This device is being developed by Fraunhofer engineers in cooperation with industrial partner Ambient Recording in Munich. Throughout the development process we are aware of the need for future cost-effective series production, which will enable our system to compete with batteries, explains Ulf Groos, who is responsible at the ISE for marketing the mobile power packs. In addition to the external units, fully integrated tailor-made fuel cell systems will in future become increasingly established. We are already working on them!,Contact:,Ulf Groos,Phone +49 7 61 / 45 88-52 02,Fax +49 7 61 / 45 88-92 02,E-mail: Ulf.Groos@ise.fraunhofer.de<br>Fraunhofer-Institut fur Solare Energiesysteme ISE(opens in new window),Heidenhofstrasse 2,79110 Freiburg, Germany<br>