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Toshiba to exhibit MP3 players with methanol fuel cell unit
Posted on 19/09/05 09:43 by Dennis
During the Ceatec Japan 2005 Toshiba will exhibit two mobile audio player prototypes; one flash-memory based player and one hard disk based player. What's special about these mobile audio players is their power source. Toshiba has equipped them with a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) which considerably increases the player's running time; 35 hours for the flash-player and 60 hours for the HDD-player:
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Both prototype players include components related to the testing and are W35mm x L110mm x D20mm (flash memory) and W65mm x L125mm x D27mm (HDD) with the fuel cell units. These sizes can be reduced substantially by removing the extra components and applying optimal design for commercial products. Toshiba's DMFC features a passive fuel supply system that is suited to smaller fuel cells and use with a highly concentrated methanol solution. Fuel cells usually mix methane with water in a concentration of less than 30%, a dilution that supports generating efficiency but which requires a fuel tank that is much too big for portable equipment. |
According to the Toshiba press release they expect that commercial products will appear in and after 2007. The press release does not mention how the methanol fuel cells can be recharged.
Source: Toshiba
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Even though 60 hours a charge is really nice paying for the fuel every time you need to charge your mp3 player is not going to float well with most mp3 lovers.
hmmm. how flammable is that stuf, if at all?
If so, you would have a few probs taking this on an airplane.
I believe if you look at the bottom of the player there is a black thing if there would be an exaust i bet that would be it. Although maybe the back of the player is a big vent?
Also your allowed lighters on airplanes I do believe and i am sure it's probably a descent amount more portable then that. But I am sure you wont have a security guard ask you to dispense the fuel in your mp3 player. So as long as someone dosn't blow up an airplane with an mp3 player we should all be fine. Also i am sure they put in a secure case around the fuel compartment to allow it not to be safe when dropped.
Also I think this device is just bs I don't see how anyone could think this would be a good product.
I like it. If it only consumes spirit as fuel then it is much more environmentally friendly than conventional batteries. Besides, you can add some of the "highly concentrated solution" in your drink. The big question is how loud it "exhausts".
Cheers.
FidelCThe exhaust from a fuel cells is 99.9999% pure water With a fuel load of only 3.5 mil 'if I remember conversion correctly" 3.5 Mil is less then 1/8th a teaspoon this thing would exhaust less then 1/8 teaspoon of water over a 35 hour period.
Once again If my math is correct 1oz or 2 TBS or 30 cc of fuel would power this unit for about 300 hours. So if you listened to your MP3 player 8 hours a day, 30cc of fuel would last over 37 days. One major benefit I see is almost zero recharge time. Unlike having to plug into an ac adapter for 8 hours to charge batteries all you do with this unit is refill it like refilling a butane lighter.
What we really need is a fuel cell powered laptop. Imagine being able to recharge your laptop in less then a minute and no need for an AC outlet to do it.
Wait and see, it will be printed on the box as some fool will drink it 
About as flammable as 151 proof rum, hairspray, or rubbing alcohol, Since they serve alcoholic drinks aboard commercial airline’s, I cant see much of a problem bringing aboard 30cc of Methanol
Well at 180 hours of play time per oz or 30cc of fuel and with almost instant recharging (No waiting 4 to 12 and in some case’s 24 hours for the batteries to charge) and no need for an AC outlet to charge. I think it’s about time manufactures started employing Fuel cells in there designs.
Besides how much could they possibly charge for methanol? And if they do charge too much ITS ONLY METHANOL you can make it at home for next to nothing.
I’m sure if enough products utilize this technology we will see a boom of aftermarket support, maybe even plug and play Methanol generators for home use.
We are not talking about having to make or purchase 10’s of gallons of methanol shezz this thing runs for 180 hours on 30cc. that’s only 1 OZ.
If my math is correct this unit will run 23,040 hours on a gallon of Methanol. So if you played your MP3 player 8 hours a day everyday of the year, a Gallon of fuel would last 7.89 years! Sounds almost too good to be true.
Even if they charged $100 a gallon for fuel it would only cost $0.004 per hour to operate
I personally can’t wait for (DFCP) Fuel cell powered laptops.
Since it burns about 3.5cc of fuel over a 35 hour time period it would produce about 3.5cc of (99.999% pure) water vapor as exhaust spread out over a 35 hour time period. I doubt you have to worry about water stains on your shirt pocket though as human breath produces substantially more water vapor
[edited by Blaze1024 on 20.09.2005 07:35]
[edited by Blaze1024 on 20.09.2005 07:35]
ok toshiba we dont care about methanol powered mp3 players i want a laptop or a laptop battery (that fits in my existing laptop) powered this way instead of a stupid mp3 player stop charging me $70 for a battery that only gets 70 charges and give me some methanol powered laptop batteries
Prototype Fuel Cell Laptop from IBM
http://news.com.com/IBM+pours+a+sh...2616.html
Shortened the link!
[edited by G@M3FR3@K on 20.09.2005 16:38]
[edited by G@M3FR3@K on 20.09.2005 16:38]
Good point. I am not kinda anxious to see what kind of change this brings.
Good point. I am not kinda anxious to see what kind of change this brings.
Toshiba, ROCK ON!!!
Just keep pushing the edge of that technology envelop we're watching. 
I think that some body else in the industry should be getting the the international slacker award for not showing the better side of INTELligence in research & development spending. 
I think that some body else in the industry should be getting the the international slacker award for not showing the better side of INTELligence in research & development spending. Just think, people will now be able to modify the exhausts on their mp3 players for extra performance :P I can almost smell the fumes just thinking about it!
Fuel cell energy is the power source for the future. Its Clean its super efficient, and can use multiple source's of fuel, Methanol, Hydrogen, Gasoline, Borax and even plain water.
I don't understand how we claim to be at the fore front of technology when we hold on to old technology for so long. For one the Gasoline powered automobile has been in use way to long.
Here we have a technology (Fuel Cells) that has been around for decades and yet even the people at the fore front of technology are resisting its advancement. Fuel cells can easily replace most types of batteries in consumer electronics. Yet it seems like many would prefer to stick with 100 year old dirty technology (Chemical storage cells) then advance to a clean and much more efficient power source. For me the greatest benefit is almost instant recharging, I am sick of waiting hours for NiCad's or NMH cells to charge.
I wonder if you can recharge/refuel while the unit is on. Not so important in an mp3 player since it would be done so quickly, but in other devices you may not want to turn them off to recharge.
That’s a good question? I would imagine that most devices could be refueled without turning them off. But since the fuel is flammable the manufactures might install some sort of interlock to prevent refueling while the unit is powered. Most likely for strictly liability reasons. Then there is the problem of spilling fuel, Methanol is not the greatest thing to spill on certain types of plastic. I’m sure as industry starts moving to small fuel cells we will see a wide range of different fuels. They could use plain water but since Methanol has such a higher power density the Fuel Cell can be physically much smaller. Liquid Hydrogen would be even better but would probably require some sort of pre charged cylinder eliminating some of the convenience and make obtaining fuel a bit more difficult.
I don't think it's ordinary methanol, it would probably be a special formula which they'll charge at rediculous price.
Just look at inkjet printer's ink. Third party inks just don't compare to originals. But originals costs a bomb for no reason![edited by Truman on 21.09.2005 12:25]
A Fuel Cell is a Fuel Cell and Methanol is nothing more then Methanol You can make it at home, Are you suggesting that instead of 100% pure Methanol they are using 120% pure Methanol
Most Methanol powered fuel cells utilize a diluted methanol solution of about 30% methanol and 70% water. Toshiba in an effort to keep the fuel cell and fuel tank small have opted to use a higher concentration of methanol. But like I said before even if they charged $100 a gallon for fuel you could listen to your MP3 player 8 hours a day for 7.9 years on that Gallon and it would only cost about $0.004 an hour.
Most Methanol powered fuel cells utilize a diluted methanol solution of about 30% methanol and 70% water. Toshiba in an effort to keep the fuel cell and fuel tank small have opted to use a higher concentration of methanol. But like I said before even if they charged $100 a gallon for fuel you could listen to your MP3 player 8 hours a day for 7.9 years on that Gallon and it would only cost about $0.004 an hour.Top news
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