Fuel cell power and management system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same
First Claim
1. A hydrogen-based fuel cell management system comprising:
- a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge to store hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge including;
a fuel vessel adapted to store hydrogen-based fuel;
memory to store data which is representative of at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge; and
control circuitry; and
a power unit, coupled to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, the power unit including;
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, adapted to receive the hydrogen-based fuel and generate electrical power therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable fuel cell power and management system (for example, hydrogen and/or methanol based systems), components and/or elements thereof, as well as techniques for controlling and/or operating such systems. The fuel cell power management system (and method of controlling and/or operating same) actively monitors, manages and/or controls one or more operating parameter(s) of the fuel cell system. For example, the system monitors, manages and/or controls the consumption and/or the rate of consumption of fuel by the system, and in response thereto, may provide and/or alert the user to amount of fuel remaining, consumed, the rate of consumption and/or the time (or estimation thereof remaining until all of the fuel is spent. In this way, the user may schedule or plan accordingly.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A hydrogen-based fuel cell management system comprising:
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a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge to store hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge including;
a fuel vessel adapted to store hydrogen-based fuel;
memory to store data which is representative of at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge; and
control circuitry; and
a power unit, coupled to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, the power unit including;
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, adapted to receive the hydrogen-based fuel and generate electrical power therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A hydrogen-based fuel cell management system comprising:
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a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge to store hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge including;
a fuel vessel adapted to store hydrogen-based fuel;
memory to store data which is representative of at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge; and
control circuitry;
a power unit, coupled to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, the power unit including;
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, adapted to receive the hydrogen-based fuel and to generate electrical power therefrom; and
a refill unit, adapted to connect with the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, to provide fuel to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge for storage in the fuel vessel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A hydrogen-based fuel cell management system comprising:
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a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge to store hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge including;
a fuel vessel adapted to store hydrogen-based fuel;
a cartridge interface including a mechanical interface;
a cartridge valve assembly;
control circuitry; and
memory to store data which is representative of a plurality of operating parameters of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge; and
a power unit, coupled to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, the power unit including;
a power unit interface including a mechanical interface to mechanically connect to the mechanical interface of the cartridge interface;
a power unit valve assembly to engage the cartridge valve assembly and to enable hydrogen-based fuel to flow from the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge to the power unit; and
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, coupled to the power unit valve assembly to receive the hydrogen-based fuel from the fuel cartridge and to generate electrical power therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification