// features

Features of the Mesodyne LightCell:

Takes Any Fuel

01

The unit efficiently converts any liquid or gaseous conventional fuel (e.g., hydrogen, propane, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and more) to electricity.

Reliable & Long-Lasting

02

The unit has no moving parts, requires minimal maintenance, and can be used anywhere, even in the most extreme environments.

Powerful

03

One unit is capable of quickly charging all of your critical communications systems, including Starlink systems, computers, cell phones, and more. Each LightCell provides 100-200 watts per unit, with a user selectable DC electrical output.

Silent & Low Signature

04

Units are noiseless, vibration-free, odorless, and maintain a low heat signature, ideal for covert operation.

Portable, Scalable & Modular

05

One unit is roughly the size of a 2L water bottle and weighs less than 10 lbs, allowing it to be easily transported for varying travel modes. Units can also be combined into modules to increase power, and disassembled quickly as needed.

Safe

06

Units are safe to use in enclosed spaces; there is no risk of fire and no toxins in the exhaust due to the high-temperature combustion process.

// use cases

Applications for the Mesodyne LightCell:

UASs

The LightCell would enable a fixed wing UAS to fly more than 24 hours without refueling. This increased endurance is particularly useful when the UAS needs to fly to a remote and/or inaccessible site, perform its mission, and return. Additionally, LightCells are noiseless, vibration-free, and have a low-signature ensuring covert operation.

The dismounted warfighter

Using a LightCell with fuel instead of the hundreds of batteries dismounted warfighters currently carry on extended missions could reduce their load by 75% and free up space and manpower for necessities such as additional water and supplies, while integrating with existing fuel and resource supply logistics.

Remote instrumentation

Use of a LightCell offers increased reliability and uptime for remote industrial instrumentation or scientific stations that might be impractical to power via solar (which could be impacted by high latitudes or a lack of space, for example). LightCells would also be lighter and easier to transport to remote sites.

Unmanned surface vessels

The LightCell could increase the endurance of unmanned surface vessels and the remote sensors they carry by 4-8 times compared to batteries (depending on vessel and payload). Use of the LightCell would also enable vessels to operate more reliably as they pursue their mission, while ensuring the safety of our oceans.

// How it works

How the Mesodyne LightCell Works:

The LightCell by Mesodyne was developed based on breakthrough technology from MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies. It has demonstrably outperformed any other commercially-available solutions.

It is a new class of power generator, a power cell, that converts any fuel into electricity via light. It can use any liquid or gaseous conventional fuel (e.g., hydrogen, propane, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and more) to power the microcombustor, which heats a specialized material that is designed to emit light at specific wavelengths. Solar-like cells in the unit then use this light to generate portable electricity with record-breaking efficiency.

01
Any fuel in
02
Micro Combuster
03
Photonic Crystal
04
Photovoltaic Cells
05
Electricity out

LightCell Specifications Under Development:

LightCell Overview

  • Continuous Max Power

    100-300W

  • Fuel Compatibility

    Any liquid or gaseous fuel
    (JP-8, diesel, gasoline, propane, hydrogen & more)

  • Fuel Consumption

    Propane: 120 grams/hour
    JP-8: 170 mL/hour

Physical Specifications

  • Dimensions

    15 x 6 x 6 in (38 x 15 x 15 cm)

  • Dry Weight

    Less than 10 lbs (4.5 kg)

Environmental Requirements

  • Operating Temperature

    Estimated
    -60°C to +60°C

Maintenance Requirements

  • Lifespan

    Estimated 10,000 hours based on component testing modular design allows quick replacement of key components

LightCell Battery Front Panel
LightCell Battery Button Panel
LightCell Battery Side View

Frequently Asked Questions

The LightCell is a new class of portable power generator that converts any fuel into electricity via light. It was developed by Drs. Veronika Stelmakh and Walker Chan based on their PhD work at MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies. It can be used anywhere, at any time, in the most extreme climates – and requires no routine maintenance.

One unit is capable of quickly charging all of your critical communications systems, including Starlink systems, computers, cell phones and more. Each LightCell provides 100-200 watts per unit, with a DC electrical output of 12, 24 or 28 volts (user selectable).

The LightCell is lightweight, silent, odorless, and produces a very low heat signature, making it ideal for tactical environments and long-range missions. One unit is roughly the size of a 2L water bottle and weighs approximately 8-10 lbs, allowing it to be easily transported for varying travel modes, including via dismounted warfighters or UAVs.

One LightCell unit can efficiently convert any liquid or gaseous conventional fuel (e.g., hydrogen, propane, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and more) to electricity, and can be used in an enclosed space in the same way as a gas stove can be used indoors. It can be used anywhere, at any time, day or night, even in the most extreme climates – making it ideal for powering remote instrumentation or enabling cheaper and more reliable data collection, for example.

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