Hot swappable fuel cell system

• US 20060024553A1
• 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:
  US11/228,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20060024553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/423
• 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 hot swappable fuel cell system comprising:

a portable hydrogen fuel cartridge 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;

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

a hot swappable reserve included in the device and configured to store the hydrogen fuel source when the connector and mating connector are separated.

2. The hot swappable system of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell is configured to generate electrical energy when no hydrogen fuel source cartridge is connected to the electronics device.

3. The hot swappable system of claim 1 wherein the reserve includes a volume that allows the fuel cell to generate electrical energy when the connector and mating connector are separated.

4. The hot swappable system of claim 3 wherein the reserve includes a maximum volume between about 1 milliliter and about 50 milliliters.

5. The hot swappable system of claim 4 wherein the reserve includes a maximum volume between about 1 milliliter and about 4 milliliters.

6. The hot swappable system of claim 1 wherein the reserve includes a collapsible tube that seals when the connector and mating connector are separated.

7. The hot swappable system of claim 1 wherein the device that includes the mating connector further comprises a fuel processor that reforms the hydrogen fuel source to produce hydrogen for the fuel cell.

8. The hot swappable system of claim 1 wherein the device that includes the mating connector is a portable electronics device.

9. The hot swappable system of claim 8 wherein the portable electronics device is a portable computer.

10. The hot swappable system of claim 1 wherein the reserve is included in the mating connector.

11. The hot swappable system of claim 11 wherein the reserve comprises a cavity disposed in the mating connector.

12. A hot swappable fuel cell system comprising:

a portable hydrogen fuel source cartridge that contains the hydrogen fuel source and includes a connector; and

a device that includes

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

a fuel cell is configured to generate electrical energy when the connector and mating connector are separated,

a fuel processor configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source from the mating connector and configured to output hydrogen, and

a hot swappable reserve configured to store the hydrogen fuel source when the connector and mating connector are separated.

13. The hot swappable system of claim 12 wherein the reserve volume includes a maximum volume between about 1 milliliter and about 50 milliliters.

14. The hot swappable system of claim 12 wherein the reserve comprises a cavity disposed in the mating connector.

15. The hot swappable system of claim 12 wherein the fuel processor is configured to output hydrogen when no hydrogen fuel source cartridge is connected to the electronics device.

16. A method for hot swapping a hydrogen fuel source storage device with an electronics device that includes a fuel cell, the method comprising:

connecting a first hydrogen fuel source cartridge with the electronics device;

providing the hydrogen fuel source from the hydrogen fuel source cartridge to the electronics device;

filling a reserve with the hydrogen fuel source;

disconnecting the first hydrogen fuel source cartridge from the electronics device;

generating electricity in the fuel cell when no hydrogen fuel source cartridge is connected to the electronics device; and

connecting a second hydrogen fuel source cartridge with the electronics device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the reserve comprises a cavity disposed in the mating connector.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronics device also includes a fuel processor, and further comprising converting the hydrogen fuel source to hydrogen when no hydrogen fuel source storage device is connected to the electronics device.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the reserve volume includes a maximum volume between about 1 milliliter and about 50 milliliters.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising a tube in the mating connector that seals when the connector is disconnected from the mating connector.