AROUND THE INDUSTRY

NASCAR Encases Fuel Cells with Cymat SmartMetal

The National Association for Stock Car Racing is using Cymat SmartMetal™, an aluminum foam from Cymat Corp. of Toronto, Canada, to encase the fuel cells of race cars used in its superspeedway races.

Racing teams will use two sizable blocks of Cymat SmartMetal on either side of the fuel cell within the existing steel enclosure. The aluminum foam will act as an energy absorber in case of collision to constrain the fuel cell within its enclosure. Fifty NASCAR teams are outfitting two cars each with Cymat SmartMetal.

The versatile process to produce SmartMetal combines alloyed aluminum with a metal matrix composite to create strong, lightweight panels and shapes or to fill cavities. The result is a revolutionary material with a wide array of benefits, including a high strength-to-weight ratio, mechanical energy absorption, thermal and acoustic insulation, recyclability, and relatively low production cost.

Cymat’s research and development group is collaborating with a number of partners spanning the automotive, transportation, mining, marine, and defense industries to develop applications for Cymat SmartMetal.

Visit www.cymat.com.

MTI’s Direct Methanol Micro Fuel Cell Prototype

MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. of Albany, New York, has unveiled a simple direct methanol micro fuel cell prototype system that can be scaled to applications ranging from chargers to battery replacements for many portable devices.

“Our simple system design eliminates the need for multiple pumps and water collection external to the cell, making it easier and cheaper to manufacture, while still allowing the use of more concentrated fuel,” says Dr. William Acker, MTI president and CEO.
The prototype demonstrated 0.24 watt-hours per cubic centimeter of fuel consumed and is projected to yield up to five watt-hours of energy content. It includes a replaceable methanol fuel cartridge, requires no pumps, and works in any orientation, even upside down.

A completely integrated system combines the fuel cell, a DC-DC converter, a replaceable fuel cartridge, and controls for the charging process and the fuel feed rate. The MTI-designed converter is less than 1.5cc and exceeds 90% efficiency. Because it was designed to function as an auxiliary charger or battery extension pack, this prototype does not contain a small hybridizing battery (5cc), which was included in past prototypes.
The company plans to commercialize direct methanol micro fuel cells in 2004, providing an alternative power source for cell phones, laptops, PDAs, and other handheld electronic devices.

Visit www.mtimicrofuelcells.com.