Gerald Halpert
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
What is a fuel cell? How does it differ from a battery? How does it work? What are the types, advantages and applications for this technology? These subjects will be covered during this presentation on the status and potential of this exciting technology. Several different types of fuel cells are in various stages of development, engineering and manufacture. Some types have been in use for a number of years. Others are being considered for transportation and other consumer and commercial applications. They are the prime power source for NASA's manned missions. They have been used to provide power for buildings, and are being considered for a number of consumer and military applications.
I will compare existing fuel cell systems, and give special attention to the latest development in fuel cells, the Direct Methanol, Liquid-Feed Fuel Cell. This new type has a broad range of consumer, defense and commercial applications because of its simplicity and size. Its fuel is aqueous methanol, which eliminates the storage and humidification required of the more common hydrogen systems.
Dr. Halpert is the JPL Program Manager for Fuel Cells and Batteries and is on the staff of the Device Research and Applications Section, with more than 40 years of experience in electrochemical technology. He manages programs on the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell technology development and is responsible for power system program development at JPL, which includes battery and fuel cell programs for NASA, military and commerce.