DC/DC Converter Assisted Miniaturization of Fuel Cell for Portable Electronic Devices

Abstract

Fuel cell application for mobile electronic devices such as portable computer and cellular phone requires miniaturization of the cell system, not to mention the price reduction. While electronic devices in general are driven by a small electric current, a single fuel cell generates electric power of comparatively high electric current density at the voltage lower than 1 V. Boosting its output voltage with a dc/dc converter can therefore reduce the size of fuel cell power supply system. We have conducted a design study to assess the effectiveness of this scheme in reducing the size and cost of the fuel cell power source for a cellular phone. It was shown that 5 cells were required for the fuel cell to provide duty power of a cellular phone, and that an equivalent power was available with the fuel cell consisted of 2 cells and dc/dc voltage booster reducing the size by 36%, the cost by 35%, and increasing the energy efficiency by 20%.