Extended portable power through innovative integration of energy technologies
| Partnering
Organization: |
MTI Microfuel Cells, Inc.,
Albany , NY
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| Project
Duration and Cost: |
- 2001-2004
- ATP
funding amount: $4.6M
- MTI Microfuel Cells, Inc. cost-share amount: $4.9M
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| Project
Brief: |
00-00-4409 |
| Status
Report of the Completed Project: |
None |
The
Challenge
Today's economy is increasingly dependant on power sources that are not connected to the electric grid. In addition, the growth of wireless electronics, communications devices, and computing devices requires some source of reliable, efficient portable power technology. However, power technology simply has not kept up with the need, affecting a broad array of industries and consumers. MTI Microfuel Cells and their joint venture partners at DuPont, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Albany proposed a project to increase power densities with high conversion efficiencies by integrating fuel cell technology, microfluidics, and electrochemical capacitor technology. ATP support enabled this diverse team to collaborate on an innovative and high-technical risk approach to addressing a problem that would have broad benefits that would extend well beyond the joint venture. |
Technical
and Economic Impacts
The research performed by the team under the ATP project has been incorporated into MTI Micro's Mobion® technology platform, which provides many advantages compared to the incumbent technology:
- Increased energy efficiency—it runs 2-5 times longer on a single charge.
- Better environmental profile—eliminates presence of heavy metals in waste.
- Easier and safer use.
- MTI became the first company to obtain micro fuel cell safety compliance certifications from Underwriter´s Laboratory (UL) and CSA International (CSA).
- MTI Micro also received United Nations (UN) packaging certification and was deemed compliant by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for worldwide cargo shipment of its methanol fuel cartridges.
In sum, the Mobion technology provides a unique combination of power, miniaturization, and safety.
The economic impact of this technology has created many benefits for users across many types of industries. For example:
- The United States Special Forces, whose goal is to reduce the size and weight of power sources by 50%, is evaluating Mobion ® -powered technology in prototypes developed by MTI.
- Industrial users are applying this Mobion ® -powered technology to power products used for communication devices, wireless scanners, and handheld inventory control devices.
- During the fourth quarter of 2004, MTI Micro received a purchase order for 50 Systems and in December 2004, MTI Micro delivered 25 low volume production Mobion fuel cell systems to a customer for integration into a hand held RFID tag reader. These fuel cell systems are expected to extend the operating time of the current battery in the RFID tag reader by two to three times, depending on usage patterns between refueling. Such fuel cells may also be instantly refueled. 1
- Over the next couple years, consumers will benefit from handheld electronics with enhanced performance from the Mobion ® technology.
- In addition, the ATP has helped MTI grow from 20 to 60 employees.
The knowledge gained from this project has been incorporated into:
- Five issued patents.
- Over 20 publications.
- A follow-on $6.1M Department of Energy program to develop a fuel cell for consumer electronic devices.
- A multi-million dollar project with a Fortune 100 company to develop fuel cartridges and a fuel cartridge supply chain for consumer products.
- Fuel cell component and system manufacturing capabilities at a broad range of companies, including DuPont, Tessy Plastics, Donaldson, Haviland and Flextronics.
- The first consumer product standard from Underwritters Laboratory, UL2265A, developed specifically for fuel cells.
These technical achievements gained through ATP have been well recognized by the scientific and business community. Among the awards MTI Microfuel Cells has won are:
- 2004 Frost and Sullivan Technology Innovation Award for the Mobion® technology.
- 2004 Scientific American 50 Award—for the magazine's list recognizing outstanding acts of leadership in science and technology.
- 2004 "Best of What's New" Award for the Mobion® technology.
- 2005 Fuel Cell Entrepreneurial Company of the year by Frost and Sullivan.
1. http://www.mechtech.com/investorrelations/pdf/final10k_2004.pdf page 2.
Date created: December 21, 2005
Last updated:
August 21, 2006
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