AFPW AlumiFuel Power Submits Specs on New Portable Balloon Inflation System (PBIS)-200 to Air Force Customer
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Alumifuel Pwr Corp. (OTCBB:AFPW)
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Today : Tuesday 29 May 2012
Early production stage hydrogen generation company AlumiFuel Power Corporation (OTCBB: AFPW) (the "Company") through its operating subsidiaries, announced today that it has submitted detailed specifications on a new PBIS-200 system to its U.S. Air Force Special Operations customer at their request. The new system can be easily transported and rapidly deployed for launching 30g pilot balloons in remote locations around the world.
The PBIS-200 is a scaled down version of the PBIS-2000, which was designed and engineered to provide lift gas for 200g weather balloons, and which was delivered to the Air Force Special Operations Command in April 2012. The PBIS-200 generates 200 liters of hydrogen in less than 15 minutes using only one 32oz. AlumiFuel cartridge. As with the PBIS-2000, it operates at ambient pressure and low temperatures, and is housed in a ruggedized Hardigg case, but with the reduced size of the unit, the new system would weigh only about 50 pounds.
The current weather balloon lift gas market is pegged at $200 million per year, and encompasses military and meteorological users worldwide. Traditionally, helium has been used as the primary lift gas for weather balloons, but with the increasing scarcity and cost of helium, users are rapidly switching to hydrogen, and the Company's PBIS family is far more mobile, safe, and cost effective than other on-site hydrogen generation systems. After purchasing any PBIS unit, typical customers would continue to purchase replacement cartridges to launch up to 700 balloons per unit each year.
Pilot balloons are the most common weather balloon size for upper air meteorological soundings in the world. The new PBIS-200 system will meet the requirements of global meteorological services, especially those operating in remote areas or in developing nations, including a number of African countries. The greatest inhibitor to launching weather balloons in remote locations is the cost and difficulty of transporting the source of hydrogen lift gas. The PBIS-200 will drastically reduce the cost and difficulty of launching weather balloons in these locations, and enable launches in previously inaccessible areas.
With the customer's go-ahead, the company would submit a formal quote. Upon approval, development of the system and delivery of the first unit could be completed in three months. The Company anticipates that following successful customer field trials, multiple operational units could be ordered.
The Company's Chief Technology Officer, Mr. John Boyle, said, "We are confident that the new PBIS-200 will meet the unique needs of our Air Force customer as well as those of meteorological users worldwide."
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