Zinc-air fuel cells, advantes/disadvantages?

[Pengwuino]

So my uncle approaches me today with some investor guide dealy. It takes albout some Power Airtech company and how it is going to introduce some zinc-air fuel cell that they developed with LLNL. Can someone explain the advantages and disadvantages of such a system. They made it out to be greater then fusion power so the article wasn't much help.

 

[Astronuc]

Apparently Zinc-Air fuel cells are a mature technology.

http://www.powerzinc.com/en/index.asp

http://www.electric-fuel.com/evtech/index.shtml

http://www.fctec.com/fctec_types_zafc.asp

http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Secondaries/zn-air-fc.htm

http://www.fuelcells.org/basics/types.html - general overview of fuel cells.

But I would caution one before investing. One must research the company and the principal people involved. One might also try contacting LLNL or browsing their website to find out how they are involved with the company in question.

Zinc-air technology moves toward commercialization
http://www.llnl.gov/str/News1297.html

http://www.navc.org/whomakes.html - some companies making fuel cell buses.

 

[sir-pinski]

Zinc-air fuel cells have been gaining attention as a potential alternative to traditional fuel cells. These types of fuel cells use zinc as the anode and oxygen from the air as the cathode, with water as the only byproduct. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of this technology:

Advantages:
1. High energy density: Zinc-air fuel cells have a high energy density, meaning they can store a large amount of energy in a small space. This makes them ideal for portable electronic devices and electric vehicles.
2. Low cost: Zinc is a relatively inexpensive and abundant metal, making zinc-air fuel cells more cost-effective compared to other fuel cell technologies.
3. Long shelf life: Unlike traditional batteries, zinc-air fuel cells have a long shelf life and can be stored for extended periods of time without losing their charge.
4. Environmentally friendly: Since these fuel cells only produce water as a byproduct, they are considered to be environmentally friendly and have no harmful emissions.
5. Fast refueling: Zinc-air fuel cells can be refueled quickly, making them a convenient option for vehicles and other applications.

Disadvantages:
1. Limited lifespan: Zinc-air fuel cells have a limited lifespan due to the gradual corrosion of the zinc anode. This means they need to be replaced after a certain number of cycles, making them less suitable for long-term energy storage.
2. Low power density: While zinc-air fuel cells have a high energy density, they have a low power density, meaning they cannot produce large amounts of power at once.
3. Sensitivity to moisture: These fuel cells are sensitive to moisture in the air, which can affect their performance and efficiency.
4. Limited temperature range: Zinc-air fuel cells operate best at moderate temperatures, making them less suitable for extreme weather conditions.
5. Lack of infrastructure: Unlike traditional fuels, there is currently limited infrastructure for refueling zinc-air fuel cells, making it difficult to implement on a large scale.

In summary, zinc-air fuel cells have several advantages such as high energy density and low cost, but they also have some limitations such as limited lifespan and sensitivity to moisture. While this technology shows promise, further research and development are needed to overcome these challenges and make it a viable alternative to traditional fuel cells and other energy sources.