Integrated micro fuel processor and flow delivery infrastructure

• US 7,312,440 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Degertekin, F. Levent, Fedorov, Andrei G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells; Nikita
• Application Number:
  US10/756,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 250/281
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0631 Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell hydrogen C01B3/00; reactors for physicochemical processes B01J19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Apparatus for transporting a fluid, atomizers, reactors, integrated fuel processing apparatus, combinations thereof, methods of atomizing reactants, methods of moving fluids, methods of reverse-flow in a reactor, and combinations thereof, are provided. One exemplary apparatus for transporting a fluid, among others, includes: a channel for receiving a fluid; a sensor for determining an internal condition of the fluid in the channel; and a channel actuator in communication with the sensor for changing a cross-sectional area of the channel based on the internal condition, wherein the change in cross-sectional area controls a parameter selected from a pressure and a fluid flow.

Claims

1. An atomizer, comprising:

a first reservoir for receiving a fluid;

an atomizer actuator disposed in communication with the first reservoir for generating an acoustical pressure wave through the fluid; and

a first set of ejectors including at least one ejector for dispensing atomized fluid in response to the acoustical pressure wave.

2. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising:

a reactor selected from a reverse-flow micro-reactor and a unidirectional-flow micro-reactor.

3. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the atomizer actuator is selected from a piezoelectric actuator and a capacitive actuator.

4. The atomizer of claim 3, wherein the atomizer actuator operates in a range from about 100 kHz to 100 MHz.

5. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the ejector has a structure for focusing acoustic waves, and wherein the structure is selected from a horn structure and a pyramidal structure.

6. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising:

a second reservoir for receiving the fluid, the atomizer actuator disposed in communication with the first reservoir for generating an acoustical pressure wave through the fluid in the first reservoir and second reservoir; and

a second set of ejectors including at least one ejector for dispensing atomized fluid in response to the acoustical pressure wave disposed, wherein the second set of ejectors is disposed on opposite side of the atomizer actuator as the first set of ejectors.

7. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising at least two sets of ejectors and at least two atomizer actuators for activating the at least two ejector nozzles.

8. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising at least two atomizers.

9. The atomizer of claim 8, further comprising a pressure sensor for controlling each atomizer.

10. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the atomizer having at least one set of ejectors disposed on opposing sides of the atomizer actuator.

11. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the at least one ejector nozzle further comprising a structure for focusing an acoustic wave at a tip of the at least one ejector nozzle.

12. The atomizer of claim 11, wherein the structure selected from a horn structure and a pyramidal structure.

13. The atomizer of claim 12, wherein the horn structure having an internal cavity that expands from a tip according to at least one function selected from a linear function and an exponential function.

14. The atomizer of claim 11, wherein the structure formed by at least one of chemical etching and physical machining of a solid substrate.

15. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one ejector nozzles being individually activated.

16. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the at least one ejector nozzle having a tip through which an opening may be formed.

17. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising a fuel cell.

18. The atomizer of claim 17, wherein the atomizer and the fuel cell are directly integrated.

19. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage reservoir for storing the fluid.

20. The atomizer of claim 19, wherein the storage reservoir comprising a separate reservoir for delivering the fluid to the atomizer.

21. The atomizer of claim 20, wherein the separate reservoir is selected from a disposable cartridge and a refillable cartridge.

22. The atomizer of claim 20, wherein the separate reservoir comprising a pressurized cartridge for storing the fluid in a pressurized environment.

23. The atomizer of claim 22, wherein the atomizer controls a pressure of the pressurized cartridge using the atomizer actuator.

24. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from a liquid, a gas, a fluidized polymer, liquid with solid particles, a gas with solid particles, and combinations thereof.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is integrated with a membrane in the reactor.