batteriesshop

Notebook computer users on business travel, the computer will not forget the rechargeable battery fully charged, and then removed the CD-ROM drive, in this installation on a second battery, the last in the briefcase, then put on the third batteries. Many users need in the long flying hours for work, not only this, they also want to use high energy-consuming features, such as wireless networks. Faster and stronger demand in the notebook computer batteries can provide the necessary system and between the power of a huge gap.

While notebook computers continue to benefit from Moore’s Law, batteries are not so lucky. The future of the computer has had to rely on the centuries-long, slow progress in the electrochemical technology. This does not mean that the computer did not improve the performance of the battery, if today’s batteries will be placed on five years ago in the production of computers, eight hours of battery life or more than sufficient. The problem is that laptops need for greater power.

Optional battery life notebook PCs have become the most important one of the three indicators. Manufacturers pursuit of higher performance, faster wireless connectivity, the system should be more light, which further reduced the cell space. Intel’s Centrino mobile chip is reduced power consumption, working hours will be from 2 to 3 hours to five hours, but users still can not meet the aspirations of the eight hours of work. Eight hours of work needed at least 100 wh (W) power, and in the best battery technology (Li-ion battery) of output power less than 60 wh (see Figure 1).

Recently, the suppliers have gradually realized that the end of the levy. Over the years, battery technology research and development funds relative to that is not enough. Not so, government departments and private industry will amount to R & D investment in fuel cells, and batteries into the basic design of the funds are extremely scarce. As fuel cell applications in 7-8 years after the expected practical use. Investment from the direction of the end of the current power shortage situation.

Fully tap the potential of batteries

Since the lithium-ion batteries in the last century since the advent of the early 1990s, manufacturers have it carried out a major performance improvement. In the past five years, lithium-ion batteries in the mobile computer equipment has replaced the NiMH and NiCd technology. Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density per unit volume; does not exist NiCd battery will shorten the life of the memory effect, but also from environmental considerations, is a harmful metal cadmium, will pollute the environment, lithium-ion battery than the NiCd battery to be much safer .

Chemical nickel-based batteries have reached the limit of its capacity, lithium-ion batteries are small but the total harvest. In recent years, its capacity has been an annual 10 percent increase in the rate. The cost of an annual 10 percent to 20 percent reduction. On the other hand, although the lithium-ion batteries have not yet reached its theoretical limits, but the industry agreed that the results can be expected is not enough to make up for the power gap. This conclusion has stimulated a new round of battery on the upsurge.

Electrovaya using lithium-ion polymer technology, the use of gel electrolyte. Despite the early realization of the commitments, the technology than the cost of lithium-ion battery high energy density is also a breakthrough progress. But it does have a prominent advantages, polymer-based batteries can be processed into small equipment for the installation of a flat shape, and lithium-ion battery company limited show cylindrical design. Japan Pionie companies have demonstrated a cell sample, its energy density up to 600 wh / l. At present, most lithium-ion battery in the 200 wh ~ 250wh / 1 between. Apart from the polymer, but also to other providers are based on lithium-sulfur and lithium phosphorus in a class of materials design.

Even the traditional alkaline batteries also like to return to the stage of history. Zinc-based alkaline battery charge and discharge cycles of only about 10 times. Some companies use polymer-based formula to replace the traditional electrolyte alkaline batteries, in order to increase the number of charge and discharge cycles, access to hundreds of times a cycle of gratifying results, the energy density of up to 600 wh / 1. 2006 is expected to produce notebook computer batteries.

A variety of portable battery options are shown in Table 1.

Fuel cells a long way to go

For a long time, the vast majority of providers will pin their hopes on the fuel cell. Government departments and private enterprises invest huge amounts of money spent fuel cell research, there are more than 60 companies are engaged in the design of power electronics. Fuel cells or methanol to hydrogen and oxygen combined to form of a chemical reaction. The most popular design is a direct methanol fuel cell, the use of methyl alcohol or methanol / water mixture of fuel. Fuel cells is expected to provide high energy density. Replacement of the fuel tank of its working methods to ensure that power is almost endless. 1 CC small to produce fuel for the power 1 Wh. Enough phone work two hours. However, the technology is also facing many challenges. First, the fuel cell is very complex, requiring an engine into the reactor; micro-pumps, sensors and related electronic circuits; ventilation devices, and fuel tank (see Figure I). The battery to be compressed to the size of laptop computers can use the size, and the sale price may be a reasonable and reliable to work on the project is the main obstacle.

Secondly, the fuel cell efficiency is not high, about 70 percent of the energy conversion of unwanted calories, only 10 percent into battery power, to the notebook computer designers out a problem, they must face the challenge of heat. The ventilation system should be set up devices to emit a small amount of carbon dioxide and water vapour.

Fuel-cell response is slow, unable to respond quickly to sudden increase in power requirements. Therefore, the early design, such as Intermec Technologies Corporation of IP3 RFIC read out for the prototype, with its fuel-cell lithium-ion batteries used with the. IP3 RFID for the fuel cell-powered directly read out at the same time, but also to the battery charging for. 55CC en material can be continuously for 30 hours, while conventional batteries only 10 hours. Suppliers are also super capacitor test, which is a solid device, to provide short-term peak load the supplementary power.

Toshiba Corp. is the largest en-expected battery investors. It has displayed a “replacement module” design of the prototype, “the replacement module” as an external component attached to the computer. Of course, the relevant standard is not formally tabled before a useful products. Standard fuel tank and fuel mixtures designed to be widely accepted by the public, their safety and use of the laws and regulations need the approval of relevant departments. Especially on the plane, and want to pass a law to allow civilian aircraft carrying flammable methanol cans, is not an easy task.

Experts pointed out that in the past period, en-expected battery producers have taken a good step to narrow the battery size by 50 percent, the test unit over the energy density lithium-ion battery. Is expected this year and next year there will be a small number of early fuel cell supply, 2007 to gradually increase to several thousand products, and 2010 will be the vigorous development of fuel cells, 2001.