Fuel Cells

[FatBear]

Has anybody tried one of these MaxPower fuel cells? Just curious how well they work and how they last. Quiet is good.

[FatBear]

Has anybody tried one of these MaxPower fuel cells?  Just curious how well they work and how they last.  Quiet is good.

23447[/snapback]

 

Well isn't THAT embarrassing? I somehow ended up with two postings. Sorry! I'll see if I can figure out how to delete this one...

[dor]

I have seen reports on them.

 

Firstly what do they mean by "Weighing a mere 7kg, the MFC can deliver 100 A per day of clean 12 V dc power. "?

 

It does not provide 12 volts at 100 amps all day that is for sure. From what I can recall, they are very expensive to run and don't give a lot of power.

 

I think their marine use is aimed at sailing boats (whose owners appear to have even more money to spend than canal boat owners, going by prices for things), who want to have a source of power without running an engine.

 

Can't really see the use for it on a narrowboat.

 

 

EDIT:

 

just found a bit more info:

 

"But 100A per day isn't 2kw !!

Your right is not, it's 50 W, but your 2 kW genset is only running for 2h per 24h at the most.

 

So that's already only 166w in 24h terms.

 

Then add to that the 220v to 12v battery charger efficiency ( about 50%)

 

Reduces that to 83w in 12v fuel cell terms. Then you have the charge efficiency to include in your calculation."

 

Just about enough to keep your mobile phone topped up!

 

MORE EDIT:

 

And it costs £3,000!, not to mention the fuel cost.

Edited June 17, 2005 by dor

[FatBear]

just found a bit more info:

 

"But 100A per day isn't 2kw !!

Your right is not, it's 50 W, but your 2 kW genset is only running for 2h per 24h at the most.

So that's already only 166w in 24h terms.

Then add to that the 220v to 12v battery charger efficiency ( about 50%)

Reduces that to 83w in 12v fuel cell terms. Then you have the charge efficiency to include in your calculation."

Just about enough to keep your mobile phone topped up!

I think those calculations were referring to the generator, implying that it doesn't really store as much into the batteries as you might think.

 

But still, there is obfuscation and that suggests that someone is trying to paint a rosy picture.

[DHutch]

There was a thread on this a long while back, i'll try find it.

- The general conclution was that although they might be good for a yacht, there not really viable for a narrowboat.

 

Also, there not hydrogen fuel cells, they run off methanol.

 

 

Daniel

[DHutch]

"Weighing a mere 7kg, the MFC can deliver 100 A per day of clean 12 V dc power. "

I beleave that is a typeo an should read 100Ah a day.

 

also, thanks for the link Amicus (below)

 

 

daneil

Edited June 18, 2005 by dhutch

[Amicus]

There was a thread on this a long while back, i'll try find it.

snip

Daniel

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http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...219entry14219