Abstract:
An apparatus and method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen in a hydrogen storage vessel (300) of a hydrogen fuel cell using the Pressure, Composition, Temperature (PCT) relationship (350) of the storage media is disclosed. The method of measuring the quantity of hydrogen (360) involves, measuring the temperature (310) of the hydrogen storage media at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel (300), measuring the mechanical strain (320) at one or more points on walls of the hydrogen storage vessel, computing the pressure (330) inside the vessel based on the strain measurements, referring to a look-up table (340) with PCT graph/operating curve data (350) or an equation using Van't Hoff parameters for representing the discharge PCT curve for the particular concentration at the measured pressure. The changes in temperature and pressure during hydrogen absorption-desorption which are characteristic of hydride composition is used to measure the concentration ratio of hydrogen to metal hydride as a concentration ratio of hydrogen to metal.
Abstract:
A fuel cell power source (100) for use in electronic systems includes a fuel cell system (130) and a control means (150). The control means (150) computes net power requirements of a load device from one or more power functional information sources; and determines an operating point of the fuel cell system (130) by matching the net power requirements with the power characteristics of the fuel cell system (130).
Abstract:
Oxides of carbon and other impurities are removed from a hydrogen fuel supply stream (12) for a fuel cell (30). A getter element (20) sufficient for chemisorbing the oxides of carbon from the hydrogen is removably connected to the fuel cell anode side. The fuel stream is passed through the getter element so as to chemisorb the oxides of carbon onto the getter, thereby providing a purified stream of hydrogen (26) to the fuel cell anode. The getter is removed from the fuel cell when the getter when spent and replaced with a fresh getter.
Abstract:
A method for humidifying a fuel stream for a direct methanol fuel cell. An ultrasonic transducer (122) is used to create a vapor of methanol without heating. Water is also vaporized with an ultrasonic transducer (132) to create a vapor of water without heating. The water vapor and the methanol vapor are combined (240) in a certain ratio to form a humidified fuel vapor which is presented to an anode (112) of the direct methanol fuel cell (110). The ratio of water to methanol can be adjusted automatically by a sensor (180) that monitors the current drawn by the load (170) on the fuel cell.
Abstract:
A housing 12 for use in a portable electronic device 10 includes an outer visible surface 14. The outer visible surface 14 is composed of an appearance changing substance responsive to an environmental stimulus.
Abstract:
An improved hydrogen storage medium in the form of a fabric (124, 504, 704) comprises a yarn (300, 400) that includes carbon nanofibers or carbon nanotubes (302, 404) and elastomeric fibers (304, 402). The fabric (124, 504, 704) is a volume efficient arrangement of the carbon nanofibers or carbon nanotubes (302, 404) and is consequently characterized as a high density energy storage medium. According to a preferred embodiment a hydrogen storage device (100) comprises a flexible container (104) that includes the fabric (124). The flexibility of the container (104) in combination with the flexibility of the fabric (124) allows the hydrogen storage device 100 to be accommodated in irregularly shaped spaces. According to an embodiment of the invention a battery (700) uses the fabric (704) as a hydrogen storing anode.
Abstract:
Rewritable signs ( 100, 1300 ) that include bistable cholesteric liquid crystal layers ( 102, 1402, 1404, 1406 ) are provided. According to one embodiment a rewritable sign ( 100 ) is devoid of circuitry for establishing electric fields in localize regions for writing information to the rewritable sign ( 100 ), and is consequently inexpensive. In the latter embodiment, a separate information writer ( 400 ) that includes an array of pixel electrodes ( 404 ) that is driven by an active matrix ( 602 ) is used to write information on the rewritable sign. According to another embodiment a rewritable sign ( 1300 ) includes three cholesteric liquid layers ( 1402, 1404, 1406 ) each of which reflects a different primary color. The three cholesteric liquid crystal layers ( 1402, 1404, 1406 ) are interleaved with sets of conductive lines ( 1316, 1320, 1322, 1324 ) that are used to apply signals to the cholesteric liquid crystal layers ( 1402, 1404, 1406 ) for the purpose of writing information.
Abstract:
A housing (12) for use in a portable electronic device (10) includes an outer visible surface (14). The outer visible surface (14) is composed of an appearance changing substance responsive to an environmental stimulus.
Abstract:
Oxides of carbon and other impurities are removed from a hydrogen fuel suppl y stream (12) for a fuel cell (30). A getter element (20) sufficient for chemisorbing the oxides of carbon from the hydrogen is removably connected t o the fuel cell anode side. The fuel stream is passed through the getter eleme nt so as to chemisorb the oxides of carbon onto the getter, thereby providing a purified stream of hydrogen (26) to the fuel cell anode. The getter is remov ed from the fuel cell when the getter when spent and replaced with a fresh gett er.
Abstract:
A membrane electrode assembly consists of a polymer electrolyte membrane (100) with an electrode on each side. The polymer electrolyte membrane has an integral sensor (115) disposed on the surface. The sensor monitors the physical, thermal, chemical or electrical state of the membrane electrode assembly. Information obtained from the sensor is used to identify a defective membrane electrode assembly, and the operation of the fuel cell is altered based on the identified defective membrane electrode assembly.