Fuel cell power and management system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable fuel cell power and management system (for example, hydrogen and/or methanol based systems), components and/or elements thereof, as well as techniques for controlling and/or operating such systems. The fuel cell power management system (and method of controlling and/or operating same) actively monitors, manages and/or controls one or more operating parameter(s) of the fuel cell system. For example, the system monitors, manages and/or controls the consumption and/or the rate of consumption of fuel by the system, and in response thereto, may provide and/or alert the user to amount of fuel remaining, consumed, the rate of consumption and/or the time (or estimation thereof) remaining until all of the fuel is spent. In this way, the user may schedule or plan accordingly.
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Citations
84 Claims
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1-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A hydrogen fuel storage unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the hydrogen-based fuel cell system includes a power unit which is adapted to engage the hydrogen fuel storage unit and generate electrical power using hydrogen-based fuel therefrom, the hydrogen fuel storage unit comprising:
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a fuel vessel to store hydrogen-based fuel;
a plurality of interfaces, including;
a mechanical interface adapted to engage a reciprocal mechanical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system; and
a fluid interface adapted to engage a reciprocal interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, the fluid interface including a valve assembly having a pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism integrated within the valve assembly;
a mounting fixture attached to the fuel vessel;
memory, attached to the mounting fixture, to store data which is representative of an operating parameter of the fuel vessel such that when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit, the memory retains data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A hydrogen fuel storage unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the hydrogen-based fuel cell system includes a power unit which is adapted to engage the hydrogen fuel storage unit and generate electrical power using hydrogen-based fuel therefrom, the hydrogen fuel storage unit comprising:
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a fuel vessel to store hydrogen-based fuel;
a plurality of interfaces, including;
a mechanical interface adapted to engage a reciprocal mechanical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system; and
a fluid interface adapted to engage a reciprocal interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, the fluid interface including a valve assembly having a pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism integrated within the valve assembly; and
an electrical interface, coupled to the memory and adapted to engage an electrical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, to receive data from external circuitry, wherein the data is representative of the amount of hydrogen-based fuel that is in the fuel vessel;
a mounting fixture attached to the fuel vessel; and
memory, disposed in or on the mounting fixture, to store data which is representative of the amount of fuel in the fuel vessel such that when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit, the memory retains data which is representative of the amount of fuel in the fuel vessel. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A hydrogen fuel storage unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the hydrogen-based fuel cell system includes a power unit which is adapted to engage the hydrogen fuel storage unit and generate electrical power using hydrogen-based fuel therefrom, the hydrogen fuel storage unit comprising:
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a fuel vessel to store hydrogen-based fuel;
a collar-like mounting fixture attached to the fuel vessel;
a plurality of interfaces, including;
a mechanical interface adapted to engage a reciprocal mechanical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system; and
a fluid interface adapted to engage a fluid interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, the fluid interface including a valve assembly having a pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism integrated within the valve assembly; and
an electrical interface, adapted to engage an electrical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the electrical interface includes a plurality of sets of a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the collar-like mounting fixture;
memory, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture, to store data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel such that when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit, the memory retains the data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel; and
a visual display, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture and electrically coupled to the memory, to display information which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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Specification