JDELUNA
10 mW
Whose up to the challenge ????!!! It would be nice if a fellow EV'r won !!!! God Bless 
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/07/16/wearable.power.prize/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/07/16/wearable.power.prize/index.html
Win $1 million US Dollars and help our military !!! >>
- Thread starter JDELUNA
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xyster
10 MW
That story caught my eye too.
"The whole prototype must weigh 8.8 pounds (4 kilograms) or less and produce 20 watts average power for 4 days or 96 hours. It has to be wearable, like a vest, and will undergo rigorous testing."
A 1,920 watt-hour pack weighing 4 kilos has an energy density of 480 watt-hours per kilogram -- about 2.5 times the density of the densest chemical cells available commercially. But the power density required is so low that a methanol fuel cell sounds like a possible winner.
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-52.htm
"The Direct Methanol (DMFC) is aimed for portable applications. The system provides a relatively high energy density (up to five times that of lithium-ion); uses liquefied fuel as energy source, is environmentally clean and offers continuous operation through replacements of fuel cartages. Miniature fuel cells are operating at 20% efficiency and running for 3000 hours before a stack replacement is necessary. There are some performance degradations during the service life. "
"The whole prototype must weigh 8.8 pounds (4 kilograms) or less and produce 20 watts average power for 4 days or 96 hours. It has to be wearable, like a vest, and will undergo rigorous testing."
A 1,920 watt-hour pack weighing 4 kilos has an energy density of 480 watt-hours per kilogram -- about 2.5 times the density of the densest chemical cells available commercially. But the power density required is so low that a methanol fuel cell sounds like a possible winner.
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-52.htm
"The Direct Methanol (DMFC) is aimed for portable applications. The system provides a relatively high energy density (up to five times that of lithium-ion); uses liquefied fuel as energy source, is environmentally clean and offers continuous operation through replacements of fuel cartages. Miniature fuel cells are operating at 20% efficiency and running for 3000 hours before a stack replacement is necessary. There are some performance degradations during the service life. "
knightmb
100 kW
It has a second and third place, so even if you can't achieve the "top" then it's still possible to place second or third and still get well over $250,000 just for trying.
I think that with top of line litho cells wired into a solid vest, some simple safety like a small breaker in case of water, short, etc. Maybe even a simple power meter if you want to get real fancy and you could have a really good chance at winning for a small investment.
I think that with top of line litho cells wired into a solid vest, some simple safety like a small breaker in case of water, short, etc. Maybe even a simple power meter if you want to get real fancy and you could have a really good chance at winning for a small investment.
xyster
10 MW
knightmb said:
Doubt it. Do you know of any chemical battery with a gravimetric energy density of 480W-H/Kg or higher? That's fuel-cell range.
Somehow wearing a Lipo vest when people are shooting at you doesn't sound like a good idea. Got Nomex?
I didn't see anywhere that rechargability was a requirement. Some non-rechargeable chemistries come close. Possibly Zinc-air?
An EEstor capacitor might work. It might behave like active armor when hit by a bullet. Bzzzap!
I didn't see anywhere that rechargability was a requirement. Some non-rechargeable chemistries come close. Possibly Zinc-air?
An EEstor capacitor might work. It might behave like active armor when hit by a bullet. Bzzzap!
knightmb
100 kW
Nope, not sure if anyone does. Certainly if no one has a battery that can match, they would just go with the next best thing? No idea really.xyster said:
knightmb
100 kW
Yeah, the vest thing got me. Why can't they wear it in the shoes or something, why the vest? Seems it would save some wear and tear on their back at least.fechter said:
Yeah, was wondering about the recharge thing too. I hope they make the rules more clear next year
xyster
10 MW
fechter said:
If this is correct, the EEstor's energy density is still too low by a factor of almost two.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/18086/page2/
"For example, the company's system claims a specific energy of about 280 watt hours per kilogram, compared with around 120 watt hours per kilogram for lithium-ion and 32 watt hours per kilogram for lead-acid gel batteries. This leads to new possibilities for electric vehicles and other applications, including for the military."
Ypedal
100 TW
All this could bring new developements in battery tech tho.. no better incentive than a million dollars !
Imagine when lithium was first talked about by engineers when SLA was King ! and nicad was " new technology " ...
I want me a Nuclear battery pack !! Muahahahah... could be useful in the field, if you run out of amo.. remove the fuse, short the pack and throw your vest at the enemy.
Imagine when lithium was first talked about by engineers when SLA was King ! and nicad was " new technology " ...
I want me a Nuclear battery pack !! Muahahahah... could be useful in the field, if you run out of amo.. remove the fuse, short the pack and throw your vest at the enemy.
magudaman
10 kW
Awe man I thought I had then I realized it said Kilos not pounds. Yah lithium trionly-Chloride doesn't do it either comes in weighing at 5.4 lbs for that size. Darn.
agent86
10 mW
How about 250 Watt hours of Lithium and make the vest out of flexible solar cells?
CGameProgrammer
10 kW
I don't think all of you realize how difficult this is. When they say "rigorous" testing, believe me, that's exactly what they mean. Here's what I imagine are their requirements or preferences:
The device will probably have to work during a full day of 130-degree (F) heat.
It will have to work for four days during which the temperature can vary between high and low extremes (desert days and nights).
It has to withstand dust storms.
It has to withstand water.
It has to withstand sporadic or partial recharging, and yes, it definitely has to be rechargeable -- they can't keep sending new units to soldiers in the middle of a battlefield every few days.
The wearer must remain safe even if the unit is damaged or ruptured.
This isn't a fun contest -- they're trying to find a battery for use as soon as possible in actual battle conditions.
The device will probably have to work during a full day of 130-degree (F) heat.
It will have to work for four days during which the temperature can vary between high and low extremes (desert days and nights).
It has to withstand dust storms.
It has to withstand water.
It has to withstand sporadic or partial recharging, and yes, it definitely has to be rechargeable -- they can't keep sending new units to soldiers in the middle of a battlefield every few days.
The wearer must remain safe even if the unit is damaged or ruptured.
This isn't a fun contest -- they're trying to find a battery for use as soon as possible in actual battle conditions.
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