A NEW POWER SUPPLY FOR ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS

电动轮椅和踏板车的新型电源

• 批准号: 6210121
• 负责人: ALAN J CISAR
• 金额: $ 9.73万
• 依托单位: LYNNTECH, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-09-01 至 2001-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6210121
• 关键词: assistive device /technology; biomedical device power system; biomedical equipment development; energy source; nickel

There are thousands of people in the U.S. that require the use of powered mobility aids to compensate for their limitations. This number is only going to rise as increasing lifespans lead to an increase in the number of elderly people, especially in the oldest portion of the elderly, where increasing frailty increases the need for mobility aids. These are the same people who have led active lives, and who's efforts to remain active are pushing the limits of the current generation of equipment. The objective of this project is the development of a hybrid power system for electrically powered mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters. The power system will consist of a lightweight proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell and a hydrogen storage device as a primary energy supply and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) secondary battery for load leveling. It will combine the high energy density of the PEM fuel cell system with the high power delivery density of the NiMH battery to produce a source of electrical power that will weigh less than the lead acid batteries currently used, while storing more energy for a longer range and delivering it at a higher rate for more power. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Thousands of people suffer spinal injuries every year and require mechanical assistance, to maintain their level of activity. At the same time, the population is aging, with the proportion of people over the age of 65 increasing annually. This creates a substantial market for mobility aids. The equipment currently available is heavy, and has inadequate power. A device that improves the power supplies for this growing market has vast potential.

在美国有成千上万的人需要使用电动助行器来弥补他们的局限性。随着寿命的延长导致老年人数量增加，这一数字只会增加，尤其是年龄最大的老年人，他们的身体日益虚弱，对行动辅助设备的需求也随之增加。这些人过着积极的生活，他们为保持活跃而付出的努力正在突破当前一代设备的极限。该项目的目标是开发用于电动助行器（例如轮椅和踏板车）的混合动力系统。该电力系统将由作为主要能源供应的轻质质子交换膜（PEM）燃料电池和储氢装置以及用于负载均衡的镍氢（NiMH）二次电池组成。它将 PEM 燃料电池系统的高能量密度与镍氢电池的高功率传输密度相结合，产生比目前使用的铅酸电池更轻的电源，同时存储更多能量以实现更远的续航里程，并以更高的速率提供更多功率。拟议的商业应用：每年有成千上万的人遭受脊柱损伤，需要机械辅助来维持他们的活动水平。与此同时，人口老龄化加剧，65岁以上人口比例逐年增加。这为行动辅助工具创造了一个巨大的市场。目前的设备笨重，动力不足。为这个不断增长的市场改进电源的设备具有巨大的潜力。