Fuel Cell cartridge duration?

[alavarre]

Hello all. Inspired by advert in Jan issue for Max Fuel Cell, went to their website, learned a lot.

Except: how long does a fuel cartridge last, and what do they cost...

Yes, the first depends on how often you use it, but let's say continuously for sake of argument.

The web site goes through a lot of maths to argue through gensets and batteries to conclude that cost per watt are comparable, so I won' t go there, but curious how often you have to refuel.

Fair Winds, Andy

 

[davel]

I'm sure the web site gives this info, but I seem to recall the cartridges were about £40 a pop

 

[davel]

See here for prices

 

[Barr Avel]

From their website:

[ QUOTE ]

How often will I need to change the fuel cartridge ?
One 4.4 kg fuel cartridge will last over 3 days on full power, or will produce 340 Ah of 12 V dc power over a much longer period if running intermittently.


[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.max-power.com/fuelcell/faqs.htm#13

The cartridges are a total rip-off and any chemistry student should be able to get the solution prepared for under £5...

Marc.

 

[DaveS]

So putting the numbers together, and using their figures for intermittant running, £54.59 (inc delivery) buys you 4.08 kWh.

That's £13.38 per kWh, i.e. more than 100 times the cost of mains electricity, and maybe 20 - 30 times the cost of running a small genny. How attractive!

 

[alavarre]

Thanks for doing the maths!

Sort of what I suspected. If it's too good to be true it probably isn't true...

Cheers, Andy /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[DaveS]

Thinking about it afterwords, it's so poor that it's hard to credit. One or more of their numbers must be wrong. Surely?

 

[davel]

No, I think your maths are right. This site confirms them.

It also claims "Three M5 fuel cartridges (these are the 5 litres each) provide 13.5 kWh of reserve power. No other source offers so much capacity for so little weight, regardless of the weather. Clean, quiet and extremely easy on the environment." Which is stretching it a bit really!!! There are a number of very misleading (IMHO) statements on the site.

I'm keen on the technology and believe it will begin to be economically viable in about 5-10 years time, but it isn't at present.

 

[Evadne]

.. and the next question answers what to use, it is a methanol fuel cell, so the fuel is pure methanol ....

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

.........and whatever you do ... don't buy methanol off them at that price. I've been running racing cars on it for years - it costs a fraction of what they're asking. Best to wait for 20 years for a sensibly priced fuel cell - and the Voller option probably longer...in other words - don't go near either of them!