POWER GENERATION CAPACITY INDICATOR

• US 20080187821A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Eickhoff, Steven J., Zhang, Chunbo
• Granted Patent: US 7,713,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/90
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04447 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Improved portable power sources such as batteries, fuel cells, power generators and the like can include structure or apparatus that are adapted to provide an indication of the power capacity remaining within the portable power source. In some cases, these power sources may be configured to accommodate remote communication regarding their remaining power capacity.

Claims

1. A power generator comprising:

a fuel gas generator comprising a solid fuel;

a fuel cell in fluid communication with the fuel gas generator; and

a capacity detection element disposed at least partially within the fuel gas generator.

2. The power generator of claim 1, further comprising a water vapor source in fluid communication with the fuel gas generator.

3. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the fuel gas generator is configured to accept water from the fuel cell.

4. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the capacity detection element provides an electrical signal representing remaining fuel capacity.

5. The power generator of claim 4, further comprising an indicator in electrical communication with the capacity detection element, the indicator providing a visual representation of remaining fuel capacity.

6. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the capacity detection element comprises a member coated with a conductive reactive material, the member disposed at least partially within the fuel gas generator.

7. The power generator of claim 6, wherein the conductive reactive material changes resistance when exposed to water or to reaction products.

8. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the capacity detection element provides a visual representation of remaining fuel capacity.

9. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the capacity detection element comprises two or more indicator elements disposed at varying depths within the fuel gas generator.

10. The power generator of claim 9, wherein the indicator elements change color upon exposure to a reaction front within the fuel gas generator.

11. The power generator of claim 9, further comprising an optical fiber that permits viewing of the two or more indicator elements from a position external to the fuel gas generator.

12. The power generator of claim 1, further comprising an RF transmitter coupled to the capacity detection element.

13. A hydrogen gas generator, comprising:

a solid fuel;

an inlet for water vapor;

an outlet for hydrogen gas; and

a fuel capacity indicator disposed at least partially within the solid fuel;

wherein the fuel capacity indicator outputs one of a visual representation of remaining fuel capacity or an electrical signal representing remaining fuel capacity.

14. A portable power source assembly comprising:

a power source;

a power source capacity indicator; and

an RF transmitter in communication with the power source capacity indicator.

15. The portable power source assembly of claim 14, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

16. The portable power source assembly of claim 14, wherein the power source comprises a fuel cell.

17. The portable power source assembly of claim 14, wherein the power source comprises a power generator comprising a fuel gas generator.

18. The portable power source assembly of claim 17, wherein the fuel gas generator comprises a hydrogen gas generator.

19. The portable power source assembly of claim 14, wherein the RF transmitter is adapted to be remotely activated.

20. A power system comprising:

a portable power source assembly of claim 14; and

an RF interrogator adapted to communicate with the RF transmitter.