Abstract:
A gas-generating apparatus (12) includes a fuel introducing system that has a fuel transporting system that is pressure regulated and indexed. A reaction chamber (18) having a fluid fuel component (22) and an indexing mechanism (24) operatively connected to a solid fuel component are provided. The solid fuel component of the present invention is introduced into the fluid fuel component within the reaction chamber. Further, the indexing mechanism includes a ratcheting mechanism that may be in direct contact with the fluid fuel component. Alternatively, the reaction chamber may be contained within a pod which also contains the reservoir containing the fluid fuel component, a plurality of which are provided. The indexing mechanism advances the pods sequentially so that the fuel components may be introduced. Other indexing mechanisms are provided. A secondary fuel cell (14') may be provided to extract excess production from the reaction chamber.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of a hydrogen generator (10) that measures, transports or stores a single dose of a viscous fuel component from first fuel chamber (12) in storage area (38) when the internal hydrogen pressure (44, 44') of the hydrogen generator is high, and transports this single dose to a metal hydride fuel component in second fuel chamber (14) when the internal pressure is low, so that the viscous liquid and metal hydride fuel components react together to generate more hydrogen and to restart the cycle. The viscous fuel component can be water or alcohol, such as methanol, in liquid or gel form, and the metal hydride fuel component can be sodium borohydride or other metal hydride that chemically reacts with the viscous fuel to produce hydrogen. The metal hydride fuel component can be in solid or viscous form, e.g., aqueous form.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are connecting valves (12, 14) with an interchangeability feature (18, 20) to ensure that the fuel cell fuel matches the fuel cell. Also disclosed are retainer mechanisms (28, 30, 32, 36) capable of releaseably connecting the fuel supply to the fuel cell or to the electronic device equipped with a fuel cell. An improvement to the connecting valves to decrease the amount of residual fuel left in the fuel supply is also provided.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a fuel supply (70) connectable to a fuel cell and comprising at least one fuel-contacting material. The fuel-contacting material comprises a chemical compound comprising at least one of an oxygen scavenger, a carbon dioxide scavenger, a transition metal scavenger, and a desiccant. The fuel-contacting material may form at least a part of an inner fuel container (14), the outer casing (12) or the valve (18).
Abstract:
A fuel supply (10) is attachable to a fuel cell system (12). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector (14) configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves (24, 26) or filler material (23a-d) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube (114) and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.
Abstract:
A fuel supply (10) connectable to a fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel supply comprises an outer casing (12) and a fuel liner (14) and an effective amount of fuel (26) in the space (20) between the outer casing and the fuel liner to control the pressure inside the fuel liner. In one example, the fuel inside the fuel liner is methanol, and the fuel between the outer casing and the fuel liner is methanol or methanol gel.
Abstract:
The present application is directed to a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) used within a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is separated from the reaction solution by passing through a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) having a hydrophobic lattice like member (36) disposed within a hydrogen output composite (32) further enhancing the ability of the hydrogen output composite's ability to separate out hydrogen gas and prolonging its useful life.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a fuel supply (70) connectable to a fuel cell and comprising at least one fuel-contacting material. The fuel-contacting material comprises a chemical compound comprising at least one of an oxygen scavenger, a carbon dioxide scavenger, a transition metal scavenger, and a desiccant. The fuel-contacting material may form at least a part of an inner fuel container (14), the outer casing (12) or the valve (18).
Abstract:
A gas-generating apparatus (10) includes a reaction chamber (18) containing a solid fuel component (24) and a liquid fuel component (22) that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention increases the amount of hydrogen produced or released from reactions between a metal hydride fuel and liquid reactant. The present invention also decreases the volume of a hydrogen generating cartridge by reducing the pH of the liquid reactant.