已經(jīng)推廣了超過十年的氫燃料電池被視為取之不盡的能源，但這項(xiàng)技術(shù)似乎總是過度承諾，而且并沒有全面開始供應(yīng)；盡管如此，為了實(shí)現(xiàn)“燃料電池黃金時(shí)代”的美夢，其擁護(hù)者不斷檢視產(chǎn)業(yè)現(xiàn)況、改變業(yè)務(wù)策略，也堅(jiān)持繼續(xù)研發(fā)，可惜該市場仍面臨產(chǎn)品延遲上市以及需求有限的窘境。
在數(shù)家專注于可攜式燃料電池市場的廠商中，日本業(yè)者 Rohm 最近的動(dòng)作引人矚目，該公司并非拋棄了該業(yè)務(wù)，而是決定改變焦點(diǎn)。Rohm同時(shí)也是半導(dǎo)體與被動(dòng)組件制造廠，專長于碳化硅(SiC)功率組件，在燃料電池市場其實(shí)不出名，但該公司與一家日本新創(chuàng)公司Aquafairy還有京都大學(xué)(Kyoto University)聯(lián)手，開發(fā)出固態(tài)的氫燃料電池。
Rohm最近接受EETimes美國版編輯專訪，透露了該公司在不到一年的時(shí)間內(nèi)，決定將燃料電池技術(shù)焦點(diǎn)轉(zhuǎn)向智能手機(jī)應(yīng)用的移動(dòng)電源。
其他如新加坡Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies、瑞典myFC以及美商Lilliputian Systems等仍堅(jiān)守可攜式燃料電池設(shè)備領(lǐng)域的供貨商，一直面臨價(jià)格更便宜、普及率更高的傳統(tǒng)電池之威脅。其中Lilliputian在今年稍早推出了 Nectar品牌的燃料電池產(chǎn)品，鎖定智能手機(jī)充電應(yīng)用，售價(jià)299．99美元、燃料補(bǔ)充罐售價(jià)9.99美元，價(jià)格不菲。
市場研究機(jī)構(gòu) Fuel Cell Today 在9月底發(fā)布的一份燃料電池產(chǎn)業(yè)報(bào)告，將2012全年度可攜式燃料電池出貨量，由原先估計(jì)的3萬個(gè)向下修正至1萬8,900個(gè)，主要原因就是產(chǎn)品延遲上市，以及明顯低于預(yù)期的市場接受度。
Rohm 燃料電池業(yè)務(wù)部門總監(jiān)神澤公(Akira Kamisawa)坦承，該公司嚴(yán)重低估了將燃料電池產(chǎn)品投放至消費(fèi)性市場供應(yīng)鏈所需付出的精力，那與過去Rohm鎖定的B2B供應(yīng)鏈通路完全不同；不過 他也表示，這是將該公司燃料電池推向最大目標(biāo)市場的第一步──也就是緊急備援電力，以及可為關(guān)鍵基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施提供不斷電電源的離網(wǎng)電力系統(tǒng)。
Rohm以燃料電池打造智能手機(jī)充電應(yīng)用的移動(dòng)電源
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相關(guān)閱讀：
• 突破市場困局，電源模塊釋放創(chuàng)新活力
• 燃料電池車國際標(biāo)準(zhǔn)將采用日本方案
• 燃料電池車卷土重來，全仗政府法規(guī)nvLesmc
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在被問到Rohm為何涉足燃料電池技術(shù)領(lǐng)域時(shí)，神澤表示，在2009年首度舉辦的一個(gè)年度先進(jìn)電子技術(shù)研討會(huì)(Advanced Electronics Symposium)上，該公司對(duì)一家新創(chuàng)廠商Aquafairy所介紹的技術(shù)產(chǎn)生興趣──也就是讓燃料電池能在無AC插座的情境下提供“便利”的電源。
于是Rohm與Aquafairy還有京都大學(xué)合作，開發(fā)出固態(tài)的氫燃料電池，可為智能手機(jī)與其它便攜式裝置充電；他們聲稱新開發(fā)的燃料電池與干電池、鋰離子電池或是直接甲醇燃料電池(direct methanol fuel cell)相較，尺寸更小、重量更輕、效率也更高。
而且根據(jù)Rohm表示，因?yàn)樵摴虘B(tài)燃料電池只要加水就能產(chǎn)生氫氣、然后透過水合成(hydro-synthesis)發(fā)電，因此該種技術(shù)具備環(huán)保優(yōu)勢，不會(huì)產(chǎn)生二氧化碳或是揮發(fā)性有機(jī)化合物等有害物質(zhì)，電池本身也能做為一般廢棄物丟棄。
Rohm的燃料電池移動(dòng)電源可激活緊急LED照明
nvLesmc
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• 突破市場困局，電源模塊釋放創(chuàng)新活力
• 燃料電池車國際標(biāo)準(zhǔn)將采用日本方案
• 燃料電池車卷土重來，全仗政府法規(guī)nvLesmc
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更具體的說，Aquafairy與Rohm藉由專有技術(shù)成功將氫化鈣(calcium hydride)由粉末狀固化成片狀；該研究團(tuán)隊(duì)聲稱，他們現(xiàn)在能從體積不到3cc、如一片口香糖般的固態(tài)燃料電池中，產(chǎn)生約4.5公升(liters)的氫，提供5Whr的電力輸出。
如一片口香糖大小的固態(tài)燃料電池芯
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不同于干電池或鋰離子的電力會(huì)隨著時(shí)間推移而減低，Rohm新一代氫燃料電池采用鋁箔外殼避免劣化，號(hào)稱可維持20年電力不損失。而Rohm在控制電路方面的知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)也對(duì)燃料電池技術(shù)有所貢獻(xiàn)，神澤表示，該公司能在不需要制動(dòng)器(actuator)、幫浦或馬達(dá)的前提下，控制氫燃料的量與調(diào)節(jié)化學(xué)反應(yīng)。
目 前Rohm的燃料電池部門是由公司研發(fā)總部所管轄，神澤形容是一項(xiàng)“spin-in”業(yè)務(wù)：”我們執(zhí)行市場行銷與銷售，也參與研發(fā)活動(dòng)。”雖然目前該部門規(guī)模不大，但他認(rèn)為很快就能對(duì)公司營收有所貢獻(xiàn)，而且該部門的研發(fā)方向符合Rohm創(chuàng)辦人佐藤研一郎(Kenichiro Sato)的長期愿景──他期望員工放遠(yuǎn)眼光，尋找能在接下來10到30年成為公司支柱的技術(shù)。
Rohm對(duì)碳化硅技術(shù)的早期投資就是一個(gè)最佳案例；目前該公司是碳化硅功率組件與模塊的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)供貨商，該類組件的應(yīng)用范圍包括太陽能、風(fēng)力發(fā)電與電動(dòng)/混合動(dòng)力車輛DC/AC轉(zhuǎn)換器所使用的高效率逆變器，以及工業(yè)設(shè)備、空調(diào)使用的功率逆變器。
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• 突破市場困局，電源模塊釋放創(chuàng)新活力
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大輸出功率的燃料電池
除了移動(dòng)電源應(yīng)用的小型化燃料電池(2.5W)，Rohm也能提供高功率輸出(200W)的混合式電源設(shè)備，采用固態(tài)氫能源儲(chǔ)存罐，可做為緊急備援電力或是戶外休閑應(yīng)用；此外還有一款長使用時(shí)間的產(chǎn)品(3W)，能安裝在偏遠(yuǎn)區(qū)域做為地震/火山監(jiān)測儀的電源。
由固態(tài)氫燃料電池罐組成的高功率輸出設(shè)備
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Rohm于去年發(fā)表第一款燃料電池之后，讓神澤與他的團(tuán)隊(duì)驚訝的是，第一個(gè)對(duì)該產(chǎn)品的詢問居然來自非洲的辛巴威，后來還有更多來自遙遠(yuǎn)國家的詢問電話，包括奈及利亞以及摩洛哥。而最大的拉力則來自日本的各個(gè)城市，它們都在尋找能在地震與海嘯災(zāi)難發(fā)生時(shí)的備援電力解決方案。
市場研究Pike Research預(yù)期，固定式的燃料電池市場主要成長動(dòng)力，來自日本對(duì)住宅用暖氣以及電力系統(tǒng)的龐大需求，特別是在日本福島第一核電廠停擺之后。
燃料電池市場分成三個(gè)不同類別，一是可攜式，一是固定式，另一個(gè)則是交通運(yùn)輸應(yīng)用；每個(gè)類別市場對(duì)技術(shù)的需求都不同，成長商機(jī)與技術(shù)周期也不同。在這三者之中，快速成長的智能手機(jī)市場──而且?guī)缀趺刻於夹枰潆姪ぉ?duì)燃料電池開發(fā)商來說是可攜式方案很不錯(cuò)的目標(biāo)。
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本文下一頁：成長最快速的燃料電池領(lǐng)域是哪？
相關(guān)閱讀：
• 突破市場困局，電源模塊釋放創(chuàng)新活力
• 燃料電池車國際標(biāo)準(zhǔn)將采用日本方案
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至 于交通運(yùn)輸用的燃料電池則在群眾之間引起一些討論，特別是自7月底美國車廠通用(GM)以及日本車廠本田(Honda)宣布成立燃料電池聯(lián)盟之后；另一家 日本車廠豐田(Toyota)在這方面也有新聞，該公司將于本月稍晚舉行的東京車展(Tokyo Motor Show)，發(fā)表一款預(yù)定2015年上市的氫燃料電池新車。
但實(shí)際上，成長最快速的燃料電池領(lǐng)域既非可稀釋也非交通用，是固定式方案；根據(jù)Fuel Cell Today的報(bào)告，固定式燃料電池已經(jīng)進(jìn)駐了各種規(guī)模的應(yīng)用，包括住宅用的小型連網(wǎng)暖氣與供電設(shè)施、離網(wǎng)備援電力系統(tǒng)，以及關(guān)鍵基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施用的不斷電設(shè)備， 還有大樓用的主電力設(shè)施，甚至可做為連網(wǎng)電力站使用的mW 等級(jí)電力設(shè)備。
固定式燃料電池市場成長快速
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而Rohm快速?zèng)Q定改變?nèi)剂想姵禺a(chǎn)品策略、轉(zhuǎn)向緊急備援電力的舉措看似明智，但考量到該公司為了教育大眾用燃料電池幫智能手機(jī)充電的環(huán)保優(yōu)勢，還得花費(fèi)的資源，恐怕并不是那么容易？
編譯:Judith Cheng
本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載
參考英文原文：Will Rohm's Fuel Cell Gambit Pay Off?，by Junko Yoshida
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• 燃料電池車國際標(biāo)準(zhǔn)將采用日本方案
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Will Rohm's Fuel Cell Gambit Pay Off?
Junko Yoshida
KYOTO, Japan – Fuel cells -- those magic bullets filled with hydrogen that have been promoted for decade as a source of infinite energy -- is a technology too often over-promised and almost totally under-delivered.
The long, tortuous history of fuel cells -- always billed as ready for prime time next year -- has put the pursuers of the elusive dream under constant scrutiny, often forcing them to review the market landscape, alter their business strategy, and punt, while they continue their R&D projects. The result is a fuel-cell market chronically plagued with product delays and precious little demand.
Among a handful of promising companies whose hearts were set on the portable fuel-cell market, Japan's Rohm has recently become the first to blink. Although not ditching its nascent fuel-cell business, Rohm decided to change focus.
Rohm, a Kyoto-based manufacturer of semiconductor and passives, also a leader in silicon carbide (SiC) power devices, isn't a big name in the fuel-cell market -- just yet. But the company has been working with Aquafairy Corp., a Kyoto-based startup, and Kyoto University to develop solid fuel-type hydrogen fuel cells.
In an interview with EE Times, Rohm discussed the company's shift from its original goal of promoting fuel cells to charge smartphones to developing them for emergency backup power. The company made the decision less than a year after it demonstrated at various trade shows the company's first fuel-cell technology and prototypes.
While other fuel-cell suppliers including Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies (Singapore), myFC (Sweden), and Mass.-based Lilliputian Systems are sticking to their guns in pursuing the portable fuel-cell segment, they face stiff competition from conventional batteries that are much cheaper and broadly available.
After all, Lilliputian, earlier this year, announced its "Nectar" brand fuel cells (designed for recharging smartphones) at $299.99 with refill cartridges selling for $9.99. If you do the math, the headwind is clear.
In its Fuel Cell Industry Review 2013 published late September, the market research firm Fuel Cell Today acknowledged that they had to revise their final full-year 2012 figure for portable fuel-cell shipments down by around 30,000 units to 18,900 units due to product delays and a significantly lower-than-expected adoption rate.
Talking to EE Times, Akira Kamisawa, director of Rohm's fuel-cell business unit, acknowledged that the company had grossly underestimated the effort it would take to put products into the supply chain for the consumer market, compared to the business-to-business distribution channels Rohm is accustomed to.
Rohm originally envisioned its fuel cells as a smartphone charger.
Rohm, however, sees the alteration of its fuel-cell strategy neither as a technology defeat nor a vision failure. Rather, Kamisawa explained, this is the necessary first step to push Rohm fuel cells into where they're most needed today: emergency backup power, and off-grid power systems providing uninterruptible power supplies to critical infrastructure.
Kyoto-heritage
The story of Rohm tackling the nascent fuel-cell market illustrates the complexity of the market today. But the story also reveals more about Rohm's heritage, its legendary founder and the leading role the company has played in the interplay of academia and high-tech companies (including Kyocera, Omron, and Murata among others) in Japan's Kyoto region.
Unlike other Japanese chip companies, such as Renesas, Toshiba, and Fujitsu, many of which are a part of vertically integrated behemoths, Rohm remains small, focused on its specialties, and nimble in decision making.
Asked why Rohm got involved in fuel cells, Kamisawa talked of the Advanced Electronics Symposium founded in 2009 as an annual interdisciplinary event among Kyoto-based high-tech companies, start-ups, and academia. Rohm got interested when Aquafairy, a startup founded in Kyoto's Venture Plaza, presented its project at the forum.
A fuel cell's ability to provide "convenient" power where no sockets for AC power are available struck Rohm as an attractive value proposition.
Rohm, together with Aquafairy and Kyoto Univ., developed solid fuel-type hydrogen fuel cells to recharge smartphones and other portable devices. They claim their cells are "smaller, lighter, and more efficient compared to dry cells, lithium-ion cells and direct methanol fuel cells." They said their fuel cells have the advantage of being ecologically friendly, because this series of hydrogen fuel cells uses a solid that creates hydrogen by adding water, thus generating power through hydro-synthesis. The result is power "with no harmful by-products such as carbon dioxide or volatile organic compounds," according to Rohm. These fuel cells can be disposed of as general waste.
Rohm's mobile fuel cells can light up LED lights in emergency.
More specifically, both Aquafairy and Rohm, by leveraging proprietary technologies, succeeded in solidifying calcium hydride in a sheet configuration, a distinct departure from using calcium hydride in a powder form. The team claims they can now generate about 4.5 liters of hydrogen from a sheet less than 3cc in volume – the thickness of a stick of chewing gum -- to provide a power output of 5Whr.
Rohm's hydrogen generating sheet. Less than 3cc fuel sheet can charge a regular (5Whr) Smartphone.
Unlike dry and lithium-ion cells whose producible electricity declines over time, Rohm's new series of hydrogen fuel cells, which uses laminated aluminum to prevent degradation, can be stored for as long as 20 years without losing energy, the company claimed.
Rohm's particular contribution to fuel-cell technology includes the company's IP used in control circuits. Rohm was able to control the amount of hydrogen and regulate chemical reactions without using actuator, pump, or motor, said Kamisawa.
Rohm's fuel-cell business today operates under the company's R&D headquarters. Calling this business "a spin-in," Kamisawa said, "We do both marketing and sales while engaged in R&D activities." Although the fuel-cell unit is unlikely to become big enough, any time soon, to contribute to the company's bottom line, he explained that the project fits into the long-term vision of Rohm's founder, Kenichiro Sato. Sato has taught Rohm employees that they always need to look for what will become the company's "next pillar" in 10, 20, even 30 years.
A case in point is Rohm's early investment in silicon carbide. The company is now the industry's leader in SiC power devices and modules. Their applications range from high-efficiency inverters in DC/AC converters for solar and wind power supplies and electric/hybrid vehicles to power inverters for industrial equipment and air conditioners. Last September, the company rolled out two new 1200 SiC MOSFETs. Rohm described them as critical to "higher efficiency, power density, and lower system bill of materials for next-generation power conversion systems."
Fuel-cell push
Beyond its compact fuel-cell model (2.5W) designed for recharging all types of mobile devices, Rohm today offers a hybrid high-output model (200W) with solid hydrogen-source canister for emergency power backup or outdoor leisure uses, and a long-life model (3W) designed for installation in remote areas as a power supply for earthquake/volcano seismometers.
After Rohm announced its first fuel-cell products last year, the first inquiry -- to the surprise of Kamisawa and his team -- came from Zimbabwe. More calls came from other far-flung places, including Nigeria and Morocco, he noted.
Rohm's hybrid high-output model with solid hydrogen-source canister
But the biggest pull was from cities throughout Japan looking for emergency power back-up in case of earthquakes and tsunami.
As Pike Research pointed out, the stationary sector of fuel cells has been primarily driven by the surge of interest in residential heat and power systems in Japan following the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The fuel-cell market consists of three distinctly different segments that include portable, stationary, and transport. For each segment, the industry has seen different technology requirements, growth opportunities and varying hype cycles.
Of the three, the rapid growth of smartphones -- which tend run out of power almost daily -- has made "portable" a popular target for fuel-cell developers.
Fuel cells for transport are also back in the public debate, since a fuel-cell alliance between GM and Honda was announced last July. Toyota got a lot of publicity last week, just by announcing that it will be showing at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month a new hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle scheduled for launch in 2015.
But in reality, the fastest growing fuel-cell segment is neither portable nor transport. "The stationary sector is by far the stand-out performer for fuel cell technology," according to the fuel-cell industry review 2013 published by Fuel Cell Today in late September.
The fastest growing fuel-cell segment today is the stationary sector.
The report said the stationary sector has found "application across all scales: from small-scale grid-connected micro combined heat and power units for residential use, to off-grid backup power systems providing uninterruptible power supplies to critical infrastructure, to prime power for buildings and even to megawatt-scale installations designed as grid-connected power stations."
Rohm's quick decision to shift its fuel cell strategy to emergency power back-up is looking smarter, especially considering the resources the company would have had to spend to educate the masses on the ecological advantages of fuel cells over batteries in recharging smartphones.
責(zé)編：Quentin
