Date: 29/12/2009

Direct methanol fuel cell system from Panasonic with high power output and durability

Panasonic has developed a direct methanol fuel cell system that can deliver an average power output of 20 W by increasing the output per cubic centimeter twice that of its previous prototype.

Direct methanol fuel cell is developed by using a methanol aqueous solution as fuel, which is directly fed into the generating part. At the air electrode, the hydrogen ion that has moved from the fuel electrode reacts with oxygen to generate electrical energy and water.
Fuel electrode: CH3OH + H2O ? CO2 + 6H+ + 6e-
Air electrode: 3/2O2 + 6H+ + 6e- ? 3H2O
Overall: CH3OH + 3/2O2 ? CO2 + 2H2O

By improving the stack technology, Panasonic has successfully doubled the average power output to 20 W while retaining the same volume with the preceding prototype. The high output methanol fuel cell allows for powering feature-laden laptop computers, which have relatively high power consumption.

The new fuel cell system also boasts 5,000 hours of durability (based on eight-hour intermittent use per day).

Panasonic says, it plans to develop a portable generator with an average output of 100 W that will be more compact than engine-generators. Combining the fuel cell generator with its high-capacity lithium-ion battery module, Panasonic aims to bring to market an outdoor power source that integrates energy-creation and energy-storage functions.

For more details visit www.panasonic.net