Categories
Companies by Category
Company Index
Green Funds
Investing Basics
Stock Tips
Biofuel
Clean Power
Emissions Trading
Energy Efficiency
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal
Green Building
Green Living
Lighting
Recycling
Solar Energy
Vehicles
Water
Wave/Tidal Power
Wind Power
Australia
Canada
China
Germany
Japan
USA
|
Military Orders The new series of novels from Martin Roth In the Middle Ages, military orders like the Templars defended Christians and fought for justice. Now, in Martin Roth's latest series of novels, a church has established a clandestine new military order, to fight for today's persecuted Christians.... |
 |
Fuel Cells - Power for the Military
The military needs lighter portable power generation equipment. Fuel cells should be the answer.
I have already written about how cogeneration systems could provide a big impetus for fuel cell development. Another stimulus should come from the military. Already extensive research efforts are under way.
A key attraction is portability. At present, soldiers on maneuver often have to bring heavy and bulky power generation systems with them, sometimes in trailers or special vehicles. New fuel cells under development could make it possible for individual soldiers to carry their own fuel supply systems. It may become possible for a single fuel cell to provide power to both vehicles and equipment.
In addition to portability, other attractions of fuel cells include silent operation and zero emissions.
Here are four companies whose fuel cell research has military applications:
Mechanical Technology, through its subsidiary MTI MicroFuel Cells, is involved in the development of small fuel cells for use in portable electronic devices. It is developing three product categories - a stand-alone external power charger that can be used to recharge handheld mobile devices; a snap-on or attached power source for portable electronic devices such as cameras or GPS equipment; and embedded power source products for devices such as cell phones.
In 2007, sales to the US Air Force - mainly of jet engine balancing systems, not fuel cells - accounted for more than a quarter of total product revenue.
Medis Technologies has developed the Medis 24-7 Power Pack, a portable power system for handheld electronic devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and video games. The company has started initial commercial production and has been working to publicize the product, including to the military. It also hopes to develop a 20-watt refuelable fuel cell for the US military, in partnership with General Dynamics.
Millennium Cell has specifically targeted the military as the initial market for its fuel cells. It is working with Protonex Technology to develop a fuel cell to provide propulsion power for small unmanned aerial systems. Also with Protonex it is developing a portable power system for soldiers. It says it hopes to use the military as a springboard to enter the medical and industrial markets, followed by the high-volume consumer market.
Neah Power Systems has developed fuel cells which it says dramatically reduce the weight load that a solider must carry for portable power generation. It claims that its system of one fuel cell plus nine fuel cartridges would provide the same power as the current technology of 12 BA-5590 military standard batteries, but with a weight reduction from 27 pounds to just eight pounds. A further advantage is that batteries do not need to be recharged, but simply require the insertion of a new fuel cell.
April 1st, 2008