ITM Power plc (UK), a developer of fuel cell technologies for the hydrogen economy, announced that it has successfully demonstrated an alkaline solid polymer fuel cell using its alkaline membrane technology operating by using two liquids - a liquid fuel and a liquid oxidant. The device was built to demonstrate the application of ITM’s technology to a micro fuel cell, a size that could be compatible with use, in a hand-held, portable electronic device.
The fuel cell has the potential to be operated at high energy density at room temperature using a safe fuel/oxidant combination of sodium boro-hydride and hydrogen peroxide. Using two liquids enables the device to operate at high altitudes, such as in an aircraft; in polluted environments (including the presence of carbon monoxide in atmospheric air), and underwater.
Additionally, ITM has developed and filed a UK patent on a new early warning system, which indicates when the liquid-fueled fuel cell is in need of refueling. The system consists of a color indicator that allows the color of the fuel (or the oxidant) to change as the material is exhausted, giving an early warning of the need to recharge the device. Previously, the rapid drop in performance was the only means of detecting that the fuel needed recharging. The UK patent applications include the early warning refueling color indicator and a sealed refueling cassette designed specifically to enable the rapid refueling of fuel cells using one (or two) liquids.
