Power supply apparatus with fuel cell assembly

• US 20060078772A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hu, Sheng-Yan, Liu, Hsi-An, Yu, Chen-Yu
• Application Number:
  US11/025,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20060078772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/414
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0263 having meandering or serpentine paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04544 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04865 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2418 Grouping by arranging unit cells in a plane H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A power supply apparatus includes a fuel cell assembly, a feeding device, a blower, a detecting circuit and a converting circuit. The fuel cell assembly performs an electrochemical reaction to generate an input voltage. The feeding device has therein a fluid fuel and in fluid connection with the fuel cell assembly so as to introduce the fluid fuel into the fuel cell assembly. The blower is used for introducing ambient air into the fuel cell assembly. The detecting circuit is electrically connected to the load, detects an operating voltage of the load, and generates a triggering signal in response to the detecting result. The converting circuit is electrically connected between the fuel cell assembly and the detecting circuit, converts the input voltage into the operating voltage in response to the triggering signal, and offers the operating voltage to the load.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus for offering a voltage to be used with a load, said power supply apparatus comprising:

a fuel cell assembly performing an electrochemical reaction to generate an input voltage;

a feeding device having therein a fluid fuel and in fluid connection with said fuel cell assembly so as to introduce said fluid fuel into said fuel cell assembly;

a blower for introducing ambient air into said fuel cell assembly;

a detecting circuit electrically connected to said load, detecting an operating voltage of said load, and generating a triggering signal in response to the detecting result; and

a converting circuit electrically connected between said fuel cell assembly and said detecting circuit, converting said input voltage into said operating voltage in response to said triggering signal, and offering said operating voltage to said load.

2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said load is a portable electronic product.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid fuel comprises methanol or hydrogen.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feeding device is detachable from said power supply apparatus to supplement said fluid fuel.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said converting circuit is a charge pumping circuit.

6. The power supply apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said input voltage generated from said fuel cell assembly is a DC voltage, and said charge pumping circuit is a DC/DC converter.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a waste liquid container for storing waste liquid generated from said electrochemical reaction and the unreacted fluid fuel.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fuel cell assembly is a planar fuel cell assembly.

9. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detecting circuit and said converting circuit are mounted on a circuit board.

10. A power supply apparatus for offering a plurality of output voltages, said power supply apparatus comprising:

a fuel cell assembly performing an electrochemical reaction to generate an input voltage;

a feeding device having therein a fluid fuel and in fluid connection with said fuel cell assembly so as to introduce said fluid fuel into said fuel cell assembly;

a blower for introducing ambient air into said fuel cell assembly; and

a converting circuit electrically connected to said fuel cell assembly for converting said input voltage into said plurality of output voltages to be used with corresponding loads.

11. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said loads are portable electronic products.

12. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said fluid fuel comprises methanol or hydrogen.

13. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said feeding device is detachable from said power supply apparatus to supplement said fluid fuel.

14. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said converting circuit is a charge pumping circuit.

15. The power supply apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said input voltage generated from said fuel cell assembly is a DC voltage, and said charge pumping circuit is a DC/DC converter.

16. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a waste liquid container for storing waste liquid generated from said electrochemical reaction and the unreacted fluid fuel.

17. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said fuel cell assembly is a planar fuel cell assembly.

18. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said detecting circuit and said converting circuit are mounted on a circuit board.

19. A power supply apparatus for offering a plurality of output voltages, said power supply apparatus comprising:

a fuel cell assembly performing an electrochemical reaction to generate an input voltage;

a feeding device having therein a fluid fuel;

a waste liquid container for storing waste liquid generated from said electrochemical reaction and the unreacted fluid fuel;

a mixing container connected between said feeding device, said planar fuel cell assembly and said waste liquid container, mixing said fluid fuel from said feeding device and said waste liquid from said waste liquid container to introduce a mixture of said fluid fuel and said waste liquid into said fuel cell assembly;

a blower for introducing ambient air into said fuel cell assembly; and

a converting circuit electrically connected to said fuel cell assembly for converting said input voltage into said plurality of output voltages to be used with corresponding loads.

20. The power supply apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a return pipe connected between said mixing container and said waste liquid container for recycling said waste liquid to said mixing container therethrough.