Innovatek Receives Army Contract for Portable Power Technolgoy

Richland-based company that creates sustainable power products and engineering solutions, has received a $750,000 contract from the Department of Defense to do research and development of a processor the produces hydrogen from butanol for fuel cells.

InnovaTek, which completed the feasibility study of its technology for the Department of Defense, will partner with Indiana University to develop the catalyst for the process.

Patricia Irving, InnovaTek’s CEO, said the military has increased its use of portable electronic devices like night-vision goggles and GPS systems. But providing sufficient power to operate the devices is a challenge.

Batteries run out quickly and require continuous replacements or take a long-time charging.

In the military, those problems could be life-threatening, she said.

“Fuel cells, which convert chemical energy to electrical power, could significantly improve the confidence in using electronic devices,” Irving said.

They operate efficiently and quietly, and could provide an ideal solution for portable electric power generation for a wide range of military and commercial applications.

For complete story visit Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.