Hydrogen fuel source refiller

• US 20060014070A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• 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:
  US11/228,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/410
• 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 system for providing a refillable hydrogen fuel source storage device, the system comprising:

a hydrogen fuel source storage device including a) a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source, b) a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder, and c) a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the hydrogen fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector; and

a hydrogen fuel source refiller including the mating connector and configured to provide hydrogen fuel source to the bladder when the connector is coupled to the mating connector.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device further includes a memory that indicates the number of refills for the storage device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the memory comprises a mechanical memory that changes with each refill.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device includes a memory that permits a controller on the hydrogen fuel source refiller to read information from and write information to the memory.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen fuel source refiller further includes multiple bays that each include a mating connector and plumbing to refill a storage device that interfaces with each mating connector.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device comprises a filter configured to be in fluidic communication with hydrogen output by a fuel processor that the storage device provides the fuel source to when the storage device couples to a device that includes the fuel processor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the filter removes one of carbon monoxide, methanol vapor or hydrogen sulfide from the hydrogen.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the hydrogen fuel source refiller rejuvenates the filter when refilling the storage device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hydrogen fuel source refiner rejuvenates the filter using hydrogen.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the bladder includes a maximum volume between about 20 milliliters and about 400 milliliters.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises keyed dimensions that prevent a non-keyed connector that does not include the keyed dimensions from receiving the hydrogen fuel source from the refiller.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the keyed dimensions are unique to a particular hydrogen fuel source.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the hydrogen fuel source is methanol.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen fuel source refiner further includes a fuel source reserve that stores the hydrogen fuel source.

15. A system for providing a refillable hydrogen fuel source storage device, the system comprising:

a hydrogen fuel source storage device including a) a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the hydrogen fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector, and b) a memory; and

a hydrogen fuel source refiner including i) the mating connector and configured to provide hydrogen fuel source to the storage device when the connector is coupled to the mating connector, and including ii) a controller configured to read information from the memory and write information to the memory.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein, using the memory, the controller is configured to confirm identification of the storage device before refilling the storage device.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the bladder includes a maximum volume between about 20 milliliters and about 400 milliliters.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the connector wirelessly communicates with the memory.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to read a usage history stored in the memory.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to check the status of a sensor included with the storage device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the status is stored in the memory.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to write, to the memory, one of:

an updated number of refills provided to the storage device, hydrogen fuel mixture information, a refill date, a refilling service provider, and a volume for the storage device.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the storage device further includes c) a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source, and d) a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder.

24. A method for refilling a hydrogen fuel source storage device, the method comprising:

connecting the hydrogen fuel source storage device to a hydrogen fuel source refiller;

reading information from a memory that is included with the storage device and configured to store information relevant to usage of the storage device; and

transferring the hydrogen fuel source from the hydrogen fuel source refiner to the hydrogen fuel source storage device.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising reading, from the memory, one of:

a fuel type, a fuel composition, an identification, a model number for the storage device, and a number of refills.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising writing, to the memory, one of:

a number of refills provided to the storage device, a refill date, a name of a refilling service provider, and a current volume for the hydrogen fuel source to the memory.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising reading, from the memory, a usage history according to an identification for the storage device.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising rejuvenating a filter included in the storage device.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein rejuvenating the filter includes running hydrogen through the filter.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the hydrogen fuel source refiner is located in a retail outlet.