INDUSTRY IS LOOKING FOR PORTABLE ENERGY SOURCES
This week, the Canadian government agency Alberta Research Council (ARC) has announced a working prototype of a fuel cell that uses hydrogen, natural gas, butane or propane. And last month, a team of researchers at Cornell University unveiled a device that converts the energy of radioactive isotopes directly into mechanical motion that allows the generation of electricity by means of micromachines. According to project leader professor of electrical engineering and computer science university Amit Lal (Amit Lal), such a battery, which occupies little space, can work for decades. The interest in commercial applications of nuclear batteries exhibit, medical device manufacturers, and mobile phones.
Consumers will be able to see it in commercial products in three to four years.
These developments - the research, all of which are intensive in the academic and corporate laboratories. Consumer electronics industry constantly looks for the replacement of nickel-cadmium batteries, which today feed the majority of electronic devices. Work is under way and on a more efficient solar cells and fuel cells on methane-based. Scientists from the Department of new materials ARC demonstrated the working model from which to operate small motor.
ARC fuel cell is a ceramic tube having a diameter of 2 mm and a length of 20 mm. #39;The process of development is still at a very early stage, but we hope to create an energy source that is easy to manufacture and at small sizes provide a very high energy#39; - said a senior researcher at the ARC Parto Sarkar (Partho Sarkar).
However, the development of the industry of new fuel cells and batteries may prevent security problems. Cornell scientists have to convince people that they will not be subjected to radioactive radiation. Lal said that selects only those isotopes that emit beta particles: their energy is too small to penetrate the skin.
Besides beta-rays, radioactive materials may emit hazardous alpha-and gamma-rays. #39;We are engaged in micro sources - says Lal. - Their radioactivity is so low that just do not worry about anything.
In October, U.S. Department of Transportation has removed one of the obstacles in the way of commercial applications of fuel cells based on methanol, allowing their use on airplanes. The problem was that methanol is readily combustible liquids.
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