Fuel cell system internal to portable computer

• US 20060008687A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UltraCell Corporation (Bren-Tronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UltraCell Corporation (Bren-Tronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaye, Ian W., Kaschmitter, James L.
• Application Number:
  US11/228,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008687A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/424
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0128 spherical or elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0157 Polygonal
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0166 divided in several chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/018 with bladders
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/019 with pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0195 with bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0636 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0697 comprising nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0341 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/054 by bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/055 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/057 by chips
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/058 by Radio Frequency Identification
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 : Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 : Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0128 : with pumps or compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 : using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/028 : Avoiding unauthorised transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 : Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/056 : Improving fluid characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0763 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/00 : Vessels not under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 : of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 : Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 : Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 : Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 : Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 : of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 : Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 : Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04686 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04776 : at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04917 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 : Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 : Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

Described herein is a portable storage device that stores a hydrogen fuel source. The storage device includes a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source and conforms to the volume of the hydrogen fuel source. A housing provides mechanical protection for the bladder. The storage device also includes a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector. The device may be a portable electronics device such as a laptop computer. Refillable hydrogen fuel source storage devices and systems are also described. Hot swappable fuel storage systems described herein allow a portable hydrogen fuel source storage device to be removed from a fuel processor or electronics device it provides the hydrogen fuel source to, without shutting down the receiving device or without compromising hydrogen fuel source provision.

Claims

1. A laptop computer comprising:

a controller;

a memory that stores instructions for control of a fuel cell;

a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of methanol from a methanol cartridge that includes the mating connector;

a fuel processor that includes i) a reformer configured to receive the methanol, configured to output hydrogen, and including a catalyst that facilitates the production of hydrogen using the methanol, and ii) a burner configured to provide heat to the reformer; and

a fuel cell configured to generate electrical energy using hydrogen output by the fuel processor.

2. The laptop computer of claim 1 wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge memory that stores information relevant to usage of the cartridge and the controller is configured to communicate with the cartridge memory.

3. The laptop computer of claim 1 wherein the fuel controller and fuel cell are disposed in a space provided for a battery pack.

4. The laptop computer of claim 3 wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

5. The laptop computer of claim 4 wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a stack of bi-polar plates, where each plate includes a channel field on an opposite face of the plate.

6. The laptop computer of claim 1 wherein the cartridge couples externally to the portable computer.

7. The laptop computer of claim 6 wherein the connector and mating connector provide sufficient mechanical force to maintain position between the cartridge and electronics device

8. The laptop computer of claim 6 wherein the laptop computer includes an external mounting bracket to couple to the cartridge.

9. The laptop computer of claim 8 wherein the laptop computer includes a mechanical slot that the cartridge slides into.

10. A laptop computer comprising:

a memory that stores instructions for control of a fuel cell;

a connector that interfaces with a mating connector included in a methanol storage device to permit transfer of a hydrogen fuel source from the storage device;

a fuel processor configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source, configured to output hydrogen, and including a catalyst that facilitates the production of hydrogen using the hydrogen fuel source;

a fuel cell configured to generate electrical energy using hydrogen output by the fuel processor; and

a controller that communicates with a memory on the storage device that stores information relevant to usage of the storage device.

11. The laptop computer of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to write the information to the memory.

12. The laptop computer of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to read the information from the memory.

13. The laptop computer of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to estimate a remaining volume in the storage device using on the information read from the memory.

14. The laptop computer of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to compare fuel flow since filling of the storage device against a volume read from the storage device.

15. The laptop computer of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to write the remaining volume into memory.

16. The laptop computer of claim 10 wherein the laptop computer includes a wireless communication device that permits wireless communication with the storage device.

17. The laptop computer of claim 10 further comprising a rechargeable battery and a power management controller configured to determine when to use power generated by the fuel cell and when to use power stored in the rechargeable battery.

18. A laptop computer comprising:

a controller;

a memory that stores instructions for control of a fuel cell;

a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of a hydrogen fuel source from a hydrogen fuel source storage device that includes the mating connector;

a fuel processor disposed in a space in the laptop provided for a battery, the fuel processor configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source, configured to output hydrogen, and including a catalyst that facilitates the production of hydrogen using the hydrogen fuel source; and

a fuel cell disposed in a space in the laptop provided for a battery, the fuel cell configured to generate electrical energy using hydrogen output by the fuel processor.

19. The laptop computer of claim 18 wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

20. The laptop computer of claim 19 wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a stack of bi-polar plates that each include a channel field on opposite faces of a plate.

21. The laptop computer of claim 18 wherein the fuel processor reforms the hydrogen fuel source at about 250°

C.

22. The laptop computer of claim 18 wherein the fuel processor further includes a burner configured to generate heat.

23. The laptop computer of claim 22 wherein the burner catalytically processes the hydrogen fuel source to generate the heat.

24. The laptop computer of claim 18 wherein the storage device couples externally to the portable computer.

25. A method for generating electrical energy in a laptop computer, the method comprising:

transferring a hydrogen fuel source from a hydrogen fuel source storage device coupled to the laptop computer to a fuel processor included in the laptop computer;

reforming the hydrogen fuel source in the fuel processor to produce hydrogen;

transferring the hydrogen from the fuel processor to a fuel cell included in the laptop computer; and

generating electrical energy in the fuel cell using the hydrogen.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the fuel processor and fuel cell are disposed in a space provided for a battery pack.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the laptop computer also includes a rechargeable battery and a power management controller, and the method further comprises determining when to use power generated by the fuel cell and when to use power stored in the rechargeable battery.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising storing the electrical energy in the battery.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising communicating between a controller on the laptop computer and a memory on the storage device that stores information relevant to usage of the storage device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the controller writes the information to the memory.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the controller reads the information from the memory.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising estimating a remaining volume in the storage device using the information read from the memory.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein estimating the remaining volume includes comparing fuel flow since filling of the storage device against a volume read from the memory included with storage device.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising writing the remaining volume into memory.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the communication includes a wireless communication between the laptop computer and the storage device.

36. The method of claim 27 wherein transferring the hydrogen fuel source from the storage device to the fuel processor uses a pump.