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Samsung Unveils Prototype Fuel Cell Laptop

zekrahminator

zekrahminator

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While recent recalls suggest that the current type of laptop batteries are dangerous, an alternative power source seems to be screaming "you ain't seen nothing yet": The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell. Samsung recently showed off a prototype of their Q35 laptop powered solely by a fuel cell. Samsung claims that the laptop can run eight hours a day for a month (about 240 hours) without needing a recharge. The most recent prototype of the Q35 even solved some noise problems previously associated with fuel cell powered laptops. Samsung is currently putting the Q35 through some strict safety testing, and it might even be available by the end of this year. A retail price is yet to be confirmed.



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I thought they were supposed to be Hydrogen Fuel Cells?
 
Soon. Very soon. Toshiba shall steal the patent. And then they'll rust.
 
I wonder if they'll come up with an adapter for current laptops.....
 
:twitch:

Wow. I never knew that.

Technology keeps racing ahead.... sioon they'll be offering CPU implants into our brains :laugh:
 
there are many types of fuel cells. DMFC technology still has a ways to go. Sure, it's pretty efficient, but methanol is toxic, not to mention CO, a formed intermediate is a poison to the electrocatalysts. I'm impressed if Samsung makes this a reality. I wonder what the lifetime of the cell is, in our tests, the catalyst loses a lot of it's activity over short periods of time.
 
ryboto said:
there are many types of fuel cells. DMFC technology still has a ways to go. Sure, it's pretty efficient, but methanol is toxic, not to mention CO, a formed intermediate is a poison to the electrocatalysts. I'm impressed if Samsung makes this a reality. I wonder what the lifetime of the cell is, in our tests, the catalyst loses a lot of it's activity over short periods of time.
Click to expand...

So basically they're saying you can use it for 8hrs a day for a month or . . . 1hr a day for a month, either way you'll have to recharge it every month. How long would something like that last? With the price of the component I'd hope it lasts 2 years at least.
 
so this is the fuel cell that was reported on here a few months back? Very nice indeed.

Methane gas is gaining alot of momentum as an energy source. ITs a great thing.

My only question, if the battery was to bust by some means, would it smell like sewage still?
 
i hope thats a docking station and not the fuel cell :wtf:
 
Oh, Methane.... easiest free way to rechage it:

1. Get a gas mask.
2. Open the cover.
3. Fart in there, then quickly put the cover back on.

Tada.
 
Ben Clarke said:
Oh, Methane.... easiest free way to rechage it:

1. Get a gas mask.
2. Open the cover.
3. Fart in there, then quickly put the cover back on.

Tada.
Click to expand...

it's not methane, it's methanol. Methanol is a liquid, it evaporates at 60C, has a low vapor pressure, and will easily evaporate if the cell is not sealed. Methanol isn't going to be fed as a gas however, in this cell it's a liquid. Very high power density compared to a Li-ion battery.
 
I still like the idea of a fart-powered laptop, I'd never have to worry about power issues again :D.
 
Darkrealms said:
So basically they're saying you can use it for 8hrs a day for a month or . . . 1hr a day for a month, either way you'll have to recharge it every month. How long would something like that last? With the price of the component I'd hope it lasts 2 years at least.
Click to expand...


What I'm saying is that the methanol oxidation will poison the catalyst, and over time it will cause the power from the battery to be reduced. After some amount of time it just wont provide enough voltage. I'm not sure how long Samsung has been able to get their cells to last, but 2 years of excessive use might be pushing it.
 
exploding laptops round 2
 
ryboto said:
What I'm saying is that the methanol oxidation will poison the catalyst, and over time it will cause the power from the battery to be reduced. After some amount of time it just wont provide enough voltage. I'm not sure how long Samsung has been able to get their cells to last, but 2 years of excessive use might be pushing it.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was figuring they used the month example as that was how long they could get the cell to last as you were saying. My second part had to do with rechargeability, how many times/how long before the cell must be thrown out. I'm assuming it will be expensive and as such hopefully the cell will last at least two years.

TY for the update on info.
 
zekrahminator said:
I still like the idea of a fart-powered laptop, I'd never have to worry about power issues again :D.
Click to expand...

Yeah....just pop open a can of beans and wait for them to do their magic.
 
lol at people thinking methane is methanol.
Isnt methanol a form of racing fuel?

Reminds me of that guy that was lit on fire with it, noone knew he was on fire because methanol burns with an invisible flame. Im pretty sure it was methanol, or some other form of ethanol. Cool stuff :D
 
ex_reven said:
lol at people thinking methane is methanol.
Isnt methanol a form of racing fuel?

Reminds me of that guy that was lit on fire with it, noone knew he was on fire because methanol burns with an invisible flame. Im pretty sure it was methanol, or some other form of ethanol. Cool stuff :D
Click to expand...

it's not invisible, it's light blue, but I'm not even sure that's methanol, I thought that was hydrogen.
 
ryboto said:
What I'm saying is that the methanol oxidation will poison the catalyst, and over time it will cause the power from the battery to be reduced. After some amount of time it just wont provide enough voltage. I'm not sure how long Samsung has been able to get their cells to last, but 2 years of excessive use might be pushing it.
Click to expand...
...compared to regular laptop batteries today, this is still better.
 
I wonder if the 240 hours is including the port extender that its currently pictured with. They could have placed batteries in it too to inflate the numbers.
 
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