The Tech giant is searching the new ways to lengthen the battery life is own devices, and checking the renewable energy sources. Just few days ago the iPhone maker filled a patent application described as “cost effective fuel cell system for a portable computing devices” So the famous Apple MacBooks and iPads may one day be powered by hydrogen fuel cells!
On September 29, 2020, Apple filled a patent application for what it described as the “design of a portable and cost-effective fuel cell system for a portable computing device.” The description also goes onto mention “proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells” which use H2, indicating specifically hydrogen fuel cells as a power source.\
The patent description suggests that both compressed hydrogen gas or liquid H2 are under consideration as the pure fuel which would be produced by a method called the thermolysis technique. The patent mentions both liquid and gas forms of H2 for the hydrogen fuel cells.
Following the process included in the Apple’s patent application: “The hydrogen may be catalytically split into protons and electrons at the anode of each PEM fuel cell.”“The protons may pass through an electrically insulating membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to the cathode of the PEM fuel cell, while the electrons may travel through a load to the cathode. The protons and electrons may then react with oxygen atoms at the cathode to form water molecules as a waste product.”
The patent explanation contains the Apple reason to believe: “Our country’s continuing reliance on fossil fuels has forced our government to maintain complicated political and military relationships with unstable governments in the Middle East, and Hydrogen fuel cells – Apple MacBook and iPadhas also exposed our coastlines and our citizens to the associated hazards of offshore drilling. These problems have led to an increasing awareness and desire on the part of consumers to promote and use renewable energy sources.” We are keeeping the fingers crossed for the research!
Source: TechDaily
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Chris