Fuel cell system with controller and smart cartridge

• US 20060024543A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• 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:
  US11/229,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20060024543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/416
• 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 fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising:

a portable hydrogen fuel source cartridge for storing a hydrogen fuel source, the storage device including a) a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source, b) a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder, c) a memory that stores information relevant to usage of the cartridge, and d) 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;

a fuel processor configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source and to output hydrogen;

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

a controller configured to communicate with the memory on the cartridge.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to read the information from the memory.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to write the information to the memory.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to estimate a remaining volume in the cartridge.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to compare fuel flow since filling of the cartridge against a volume read from the cartridge.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to write the remaining volume into memory.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the controller, fuel processor and fuel cell are incorporated into a portable electronics device.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 7 wherein the cartridge is external to the electronics device when providing the hydrogen fuel source to the fuel processor.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 8 wherein the electronics device further includes an external mounting bracket that couples the cartridge to the electronics device.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the information relevant to usage of the cartridge comprises one of:

a fuel volume, a fuel composition, an identification, and a number of refills.

11. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the information relevant to usage of the cartridge comprises one of:

a model number for the cartridge, a volume capacity for the cartridge, and a current volume for the cartridge.

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

13. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises a digital memory and the cartridge further includes a wireless communication device that permits wireless communication with a wireless interrogator associated with the controller.

14. The fuel cell system of claim 13 wherein the wireless communication device interrogator provides power to the wireless communication device.

15. The fuel cell system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor that monitors a condition related to the health or functioning of the cartridge.

16. A fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising:

a portable hydrogen fuel source cartridge configured to store a hydrogen fuel source, the cartridge including a memory that stores information relevant to usage of the cartridge and 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;

an electronics device including

a controller that communicates with the memory on the storage device,

a fuel processor that includes i) a reformer configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source and configured to output hydrogen, and ii) a burner configured to provide heat to the reformer, and

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

17. The fuel cell system of claim 16 wherein the cartridge is external to the electronics device when providing the hydrogen fuel source to the fuel processor.

18. The fuel cell system of claim 17 wherein the electronics device further includes an external mounting bracket that couples the cartridge to the electronics device.

19. The fuel cell system of claim 16 wherein the information relevant to usage of the cartridge comprises one of:

a model number for the cartridge, a volume capacity for the cartridge, and a current volume for the cartridge.

20. A method for using a cartridge that includes a hydrogen fuel source, the method comprising:

transferring the hydrogen fuel source between the cartridge and a mating connector that interfaces with a connector included in the cartridge;

reading a volume for the hydrogen fuel source from a memory that is included with the cartridge and configured to store information relevant to usage of the cartridge; and

writing a current volume for the hydrogen fuel source to the memory.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising writing, to the memory, a usage history according to an identification for the cartridge.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein reading the current hydrogen fuel source volume includes reading a volume capacity for the cartridge.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising converting the current hydrogen fuel source volume to an available run time for an electronics device that reads from the memory.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the mating connector is included in a fuel cell system including a fuel cell that is configured to produce electrical energy.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the fuel cell system includes a fuel processor configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source and to output hydrogen to the fuel cell.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising reading, from the memory, one of:

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

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising writing, to the memory, one of:

a number of refills provided to the cartridge, a fill or refill date, and a refilling service provider that refilled cartridge.