Suppose you are travelling to a remote location where you won't have access to a supply of electricity for a month (30 days). You will be using your laptop computer, which requires an average of 10 watts, for eight hours a day, every day.

a.Suppose that to keep your laptop going for the whole month you have the option of taking with you a supply of alkaline batteries, or else to take a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and a supply of methanol.

Compare the approximate weight and volume that these two options would impose on your luggage.

You should draw on the information in Block 1 Part 1. You may assume that the DMFC weighs 0.5 kg and has a volume of 0.5 l, and you should make other assumptions where necessary. You may also find it helpful to know that the density of methanol is 0.792 kgl-1.

Be aware that there are several different ways you can do this calculation, and various sets of data you can use from the module text. Depending on which data you use and how you do the calculation, there are different possible answers. With the answer you give, it is important that you describe your calculation.

b.What is meant by 'energy harvesting'?

Suggest an ex of energy that might be used, if the right technology were available, for the situation described in part (a). Suggest some merits and limitations to your suggested method compared to the use of alkaline batteries and fuel cells.