Fuel cell powered bicycle tested

Fuel cell powered bicycle tested

NEWS Fuel cell powered bicycle tested Manhattan Scientifics has completed initial development and testing of its "Hydrocycle", a fuel cell powered pr...

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NEWS

Fuel cell powered bicycle tested Manhattan Scientifics has completed initial development and testing of its "Hydrocycle", a fuel cell powered prototype bicycle that uses the company's unique and proprietary mid• range power technology developed by its NovArs unit in Passau, Germany. The company also said that it had opened discussions with industry leaders in the powered bicycle and scooter segments about possible applications, especially in Asia. The unique design of the NovArs mid-range PEM fuel cell technology is based on the use of advanced composite materials anel sealing technology to minimise size and weight. This makes it potentially ideal as a power source for portable electronic equipment or lightweight, personal trans• portation applications. The cylindrical-shaped fuel cell stack which powers the Hydrocycle weighs only 780 g, and delivers 670 W of power to a hub motor. The hydrogen fuel is contained in a 2 I carbon-fibre reinforced pressure vessel, and provides a driving range of 70-100 km at a top speed of

30 km/h. For more information, contact: Manhattan Scientifics l(lc, Olympic Tower, 641 Fifth Avenue, Suite 36F, New York, NY 10022, USA. Tel: +1212752 0505, Fax: +1 212 752 0077.

Low-temperature SOFe developed A Japanese research group has reported a solid oxide fuel cell operating at temperatures as low as 350°C, using samarium-doped ceria as the electrolyte. This is considerably lower than previously reported cells running on natural gas, and offers a

In the 16 June issue of Science, Takashi Hibino of the National Industrial Research Institute of Nagoya and colleagues at Nagoya University describe a unique SOFC design in which the hydrocarbons and air are pumped into a single chamber, where they surround the electrodes and an electrolyte membrane wafer made from cerium oxide tinged with samarium. Ethane, methane and propane were all tested and worked efficiently, and the team claims that liquid petroleum gas or butane would work just as well. Hibino's team found that their fuel cell works well at around 500°e. In addition to deterring hydrocarbon build-up on the anode, the samarium-doped cerium oxide membrane at such temperatures is a far better oxygen-ion conductor than the standard yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) membrane. The lower operating temperature also reduces heat Stress on the apparatus itself, which means engineers should be able to use steel rather than expensive, heat-resistant alloys. For more information, contact: Dr Takashi Hibino, Material Structure Design Laboratory, Structural Formation Process Department, National Industrial Research Institute of Nagoya, 1-1 Hirate-cho, Kita-ku, Nagoya 462-8510, Japan. Tel: +81 52911 2111, Fax: +81 52 916 2802, Email: [email protected]

Teledyne, Humboldt State link up The Energy Systems unit of Teledyne Technologies has completed a strategic agreement with Humboldt State University in California to produce, use and sell fuel cell systems based on technology developed at the university's renowned Schatz Energy Research Center. "This agreement is the result of a long and mutually beneficial relationship we have enjoyed with

significant opportunity for cheaper SOFC systems, which do not need external reformers but

[director] Dr Lehman and his team at the Schatz Energy Research

can still run on hydrocarbon fuels.

Center,"

said

Bamdad

Bahar,

general manager of Teledyne Energy Systems. "This proven fuel cell technology has thousands of hours of documented real-life performance in the field." Teledyne Energy Systems provides commercial power system solutions within the micro• generation power range for on-site, continuous-duty, prime-power applications. The agreement should allow Teledyne Energy Systems to greatly expand its business base by driving down the cost for remote prime-power systems. The Humboldt State research laboratory recently designed and produced a fuel cell generator that helps bring reliable telephone service to remote Yurok tribal lands, by powering a telecommunications station on a rugged mountaintop in Redwood National Park. For more information, contact: Teledyne Energy Systems, 10707 Gilroy Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21031-1325, USA.Tel:+14107718600, Fax:+1410 771 8620. Or contact: Schatz Energy Research Center, Humboldt State University. Arcata, CA 95521-8299, USA. Tel: +1 7078264345, Fax: +1 7078264347.

Power management module order Calgary-based Sustainable Energy Technologies has received a purchase order from IdaTech Corporation of Bend, Oregon formerly Northwest Power Systems for a power management module which will condition and distribute power for IdaTech's stationary fuel cell power generation system. The companies have been collaborating for several months to develop a fully integrated power management system that will meet the requirements ofIdaTech's fuel cell and fuel reformer. Delivery of the power management module for alpha testing with the IdaTech system was scheduled for the end ofJuly.

For more information, contact: Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd, Suite 850, 1520 4th Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R OY4, Canada. Tel: + 1 403 508 7176, Fax: +1 403 205 2509. Or contact: IdaTech, 924 SE Wilson Avenue, Suite F. Bend, OR 97702, USA. Tel: +15413833390,Fax:+15413833439.

TexasA&M licenses Reliant Energy The Texas A&M University System has granted Houston• based Reliant Energy exclusive rights to develop and market important improvements in PEM fuel cell technology. This new technology was developed by the Center for Electrochemical Systems & The Hydrogen Research. agreement grants Reliant Energy the exc1 usive right to assess and develop the technology's commercial potential for a variety of applications including distributed generation, pOrtable power and transportation. The fuel cell developed by the CESHR has several unique features that may provide a cost advantage by allowing it to be mass-produced. The cell, invented by centre director Dr A. John Appleby, is designed to use common and previously overlooked materials in the manufacturing process, and to operate at low temperatures and pressures. The design will allow units to range in size from 7.5 kW - the power requirement for the average Houston home - to 150 k\v, which would power light commercial and industrial customers. For more information, contact: Center for Electrochemical Systems & Hydrogen Research, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, 238 Wisenbaker Engineering Research Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3402, USA. Tel: +1 409 845 8281, Fax: +14098459287. Or contact: Reliant Energy, 1111 Louisiana, Houston, TX 77002, USA. Tel: +1 713 207 3000, Fax: +1 713 207 3169.

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