FuelCellsWorks

FORT HOOD, Texas, 29 June 2010. U.S. Army test and evaluation experts are surveying industry to find companies qualified to design and build prototype compact, lightweight, rugged military fuel cells able to operate continuously for at least 100 hours for providing power for test and instrumentation equipment on Army ground vehicles.

The Army Test & Evaluation Command (ATEC) at Fort Hood, Texas, released a sources sought notice (W91N5R-0162-3000F) to determine interest and capability in the defense industry to design and manufacturer Lightweight Alternative Power Source (LAPS) fuel cell technology. Army officials caution that this is not a solicitation, and is only for market research.

Still, Army officials are releasing a detailed description of the kinds of LAPS fuel cell power electronics technology they want, and this notice eventually could evolve into a formal request for proposals.

The Army is interested in fuel cells with operating lives of at least three years with a minimum of 10 cycles of refueling and field use per year — or 3,000 hours of operational use — which will operate in harsh military conditions in the field, involving sand and dust, temperature extremes, as well as shock and vibration.

Companies interested should be able to design and build four pre-production fuel cells and 50 low rate initial production (LRIP) fuel cells, which are no larger than 1.6 cubic feet — or 15 inches long by 15 inches high by 12 inches wide — and weigh no more than 57 pounds with fuel or 37 pounds empty. Ultimately the Army wants fuel cells no larger than one cubic foot.

These fuel cells must meet MIL-STD-810G for shock, vibration, and transit drop, and must have air filters to protect from sand, dust, and vehicle exhaust. Army officials expect these fuel cells to operate in temperatures from -10 to 50 degrees Celsius. Furthermore these fuel cells must have shelf lives of at least four years.

For performance, cells must provide at least 100 Watts of power at 28 volts DC, with an efficiency of at least 75 percent. Startup time without batteries should take no longer than 10 minutes without batteries, or 30 seconds if startup batters are provided. Fuel cells also must be quiet — no more than 50 decibels of noise measured eight feet away.

Companies interested should be able to build as many as 1,000 units. Companies able to meet these requirements should introduce themselves to the Army no later than 2 July 2010. To do so, contact the Army’s Tina Guillot by phone at 254-288-1204, by e-mail at tina.a.guillot@us.army.mil, or by post to U.S. Army ATEC Contracting Activity, ATTN: CSTE-CA, P.O. Box Y, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-0770.

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/TECOM/DATM01/W91N5R-0162-3000F/listing.html.

The HYDRA, the world’s first mobile solar hydrogen powered water purification and community energy station system. Photo: Mark Brakeman

By Mark Brakeman
Clean water and reliable energy sources are scarce commodities in many parts of the world, and last week a group of entrepreneurial scientists unveiled their solution to the problem. The three men, who comprise The Essential Element, demonstrated their solar-powered device, which can make brackish water clean enough to drink.

The Hydra uses solar energy to pump water through a very fine filtration system and instantly provide potable water that is 100 percent virus and bacteria free. But the Hydra also creates electricity, using hydrogen derived from water molecules.

The filtration device was created by water system innovators Brad Carlson and David Squires. They combined their breakthrough with those of renewable hydrogen pioneer Mike Strizki to develop the portable life-saving device. Water passes through a state-of-the-art filtration system with pores that are only 0.1 microns in diameter, according to Squires.

A micron is one millionth of a meter, or one thousandth of a millimeter.

Strizki, who has been working with hydrogen power technology for 25 years, said the model of the Hydra on display Tuesday, June 22, is portable, and can be used in any situation. However, he added that it is intended to be used in response to natural and man-made disasters and to be used in areas chronically or seasonally devoid of resources, and in that regard “to make third-world countries into second-world countries.”

The device can be flown anywhere by helicopter and dropped where it is needed, and can be set up in 30 minutes, he said. It can begin producing energy and clean water immediately.

Energy is created by the device when water molecules are split into their constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms and then the atoms are recombined, said Strizki. The energy helps to run the filtration system, excess hydrogen can be stored for future use in appliances adapted for its use, and oxygen can be sold to hospitals as medical-grade oxygen, he added.

Strizki said the Hydra can produce 20,000 gallons of clean drinking water per day and provides electricity to community power plants. With additional solar panels, the power plant can be expanded to generate even more electricity.

A village of 5,000 can be provided with clean water for drinking and cooking at an allowance of four gallons per person per day, he said.

That can make a big difference for many people, he said, explaining that infected water kills five million people a year due to dysentery. With clean water, he added, affected persons can feel better in a week.

None of the dangers of traditional fuels are present with hydrogen, he said. It is safer than any currently used fuel, including propane, diesel, and natural gas. The element presents no risk of explosion because even if a tank of the gas ruptures or develops a leak, the lighter-than-air element would escape too quickly, at a rate of 45 miles per hour, for any sparks or flames to catch it.

Strizki said his own home has been powered by hydrogen for years. He produces the hydrogen himself, using the same technology in the Hydra and 4,000 square feet of solar panels. Behind his house the gas he creates is stored in giant tanks.

As examples of hydrogen’s power, on a table near the Hydra last week, the gas that escaped from a small balloon powered a small fan and a toy car. Full-sized hydrogen-powered cars could be produced easily, but those vehicles would not need as many parts as gasoline-fueled cars, such as fuel lines, cutting out business for manufacturers of those products, so those interests lobby against hydrogen innovations.

He called hydrogen power “disruptive technology because it turns the traditional energy industry on its head.”

Oil and gas companies, he said, make too much money treating the disease, not curing it.

by NICK ROSEN