Abstract:
A system and method for controlling or otherwise effectively managing fuel mixing and/or transport in a fuel cell device comprises inter alia a fuel mixing chamber (100), a pure fuel inlet line (110), a bubbling line (120) and a dilute fuel outlet line (130). Disclosed features and specifications may be variously adapted or optionally modified to control or otherwise optimize the rate and/or uniformity of fuel mixing in any fuel cell system. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be readily integrated with other existing fuel cell technologies for the improvement of device package form factors, weights and other manufacturing and/or device performance metrics.
Abstract:
A plate member for a fuel cell or fuel cell stack can include conductive elements mounted in a polymeric or crystalline thermoplastic material for use in the relatively higher temperature hydrogen/air-type fuel cells. Additionally, the plate can include additives to increase the thermal conductivity thereof. For example, the fuel cell plate can include carbon fiber and/or carbon particles to increase the thermal conductivity of the plastic used. Additionally, conductive elements mounted to the plates can be preformed with connector members so as to enhance the speed of a manufacturing process.
Abstract:
A method of improving the operating efficiency of a fuel cell (120) in a portable device such as a laptop or tablet PC (200). The efficiency is improved by using the heat produced by the CPU or other components in the PC to heat the liquid methanol for use in the anode part (121) of the fuel cell. Liquid methanol can be heated when it is conveyed from a replenishing unit (110) to the fuel cell via a conduit (134). The conduit can be embedded in a heat exchanger (130) placed in the proximity of a CPU heat-sink (210), or placed near the heat-sink for heating liquid mehtanol therein by radiation and convection. Additionally, a fan is used to direct hot air around the heat sink to heat liquid methanol in the conduit and to provide heated air to the cathode part (122) of the fuel cell.
Abstract:
Methods of providing for refueling of direct oxidation fuel cells. An electrical appliance which is powered by a fuel cell includes a fitting which provides sealed access to a fuel reservoir. A canister which contains fuel is engaged with the fitting in order to transfer fuel to the reservoir. The canisters are preferably distributed to users through conventional retail and/or on-line distribution channels. Alternatively, the fuel reservoir within the appliance is made in the form of a removable cartridge. When the cartridge is spent, a user may remove it and replace it with a new one. The fitting, canister and cartridge are preferably based on a standardized specification which en hances market adoption, user convenience and ease of use.
Abstract:
A refueling system for an electronic device, comprising a fuel reservoir its a fuel supply device; a fuel cell having a refillable fuel store in a mobile electronic device; a first fuel interface to the fuel supply device for releasable connection with a second fuel interface to the mobile electronic device; and a transfer mechanism for transferring fuel from the fuel reservoir across the first and second fuel interfaces, when connected, into the refillable fuel store.
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 passive fluid management component (200, 300, 620) for a direct oxidation fuel cell (600) is provided. It enables the introduction of highly concentrated methanol solutions, including neat methanol, directly into the anode (608), eliminating the need of mechanical modes of dosing and/or mixing a methanol/water solution to control the local concentration at the anode. The fluid management device of the present invention can be based on pores (204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214) formed in the component (200) of a specific size and spacing to allow anode reactants to flow through the component towards the anode face of the membrane electrolyte of the fuel cell at a controlled rate. The pore size can be adjusted to allow the highest concentrations possible of methanol, including neat methanol, to be introduced in direct contact with the outer face of the component. The pore walls can be made to be hydrophilic to facilitate the flow of water or methanol based fluids. The component of the present invention may also include channels (302, 304, 306) formed therein which will direct the flow of carbon dioxide away from the anode of the fuel cell and to a venting or collection site.
Abstract:
Fuel cell system (100) in accordance with present inventions include reactant distribution systems (118, 118', 118") and/or byproduct removal systems (142, 142', 142").