The TV and video industry converges with other industrial sectors that investigate new energy alternatives. Manufacturers of consumer mobile devices (cell phones and PDAs) seek greater autonomy for users while the automotive industry requires energy sources free of polluting emissions. And everything seems to indicate that the search leads them to the same technology: fuel cells.
Fuel cells produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction. The collateral products of this reaction are minimal amounts of heat and water vapor. There are several types of energy cells. PowerTek, for example, uses Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) capabilities. The process by which electricity is produced is as follows: The hydrogen gas enters the cell through the anode where a catalyst facilitates the dissociation of the gas into electrons and protons (hydrogen ions). Protons pass freely through the membrane (hence the name Proton Exchange Membrane) while electrons do so through an external circuit thus creating usable electricity. After passing through the membrane, the hydrogen protons, with the help of the catalyst, recombine with the electrons and with oxygen resulting in water vapor.
Unlike batteries, a fuel cell does not run out or require recharging while it is fueled. Theoretically, these cells can use the hydrogen contained in any hydrocarbon (natural gas, methanol or gasoline). However, power generation does not depend on the combustion of hydrocarbon but on its chemical decomposition. Therefore, emissions are much lower (as we said earlier, only heat and water are generated).
PowerTek's CPS system has a number of benefits over conventional battery systems. Unlike these, CPS does not store energy, but produces it. It is a fuel cell-based power system that uses metal hydride cartridges. This provides 300% longer duration for uninterrupted continuous flow. The batteries are taken four times to recharge than what it takes for these cartridges to be filled with hydrogen.
