Smart fuel cell cartridge

• US 7,401,712 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UltraCell Corporation (Bren-Tronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UltraCell Corporation (Bren-Tronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaye, Ian W., Kaschmitter, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US11/228,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 220/495.01, 220/495.04, 220/495.05, 220/694, 222/92, 222/3, 222/23, 429/12, 429/19, 429/34, 137/260
• US Class Current: 222/3
• 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 portable hydrogen fuel source cartridge for storing a hydrogen fuel source, the cartridge comprising:

a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source;

a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder;

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; and

a wireless identification tag configured for wireless communication, wherein the wireless identification tag is configured to receive power from a wireless signal and configured to power one or more electrical components included with the cartridge using power from the wireless signal.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the wireless identification tag is configured to reply with its identification when wirelessly probed by an interrogator.

3. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the wireless identification tag includes a unique identification for the cartridge.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 further including a memory that stores information relevant to usage of the cartridge.

5. The cartridge of claim 4 wherein, when probed by an interrogator, the wireless identification tag is configured to reply with information stored in the memory.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a sensor that monitors a condition related to the health or functioning of the storage device.

7. A hydrogen fuel source supply system for use with a fuel cell, the supply system comprising:

a hydrogen fuel source cartridge for storing a hydrogen fuel source, the cartridge including a first connector and a wireless identification tag configured for wireless communication; and

a device that includes a) a mating connector that interfaces with the first connector to permit transfer of the fuel source between the cartridge and the device and b) an interrogator configured to communicate, using a wireless signal, with the wireless identification tag, wherein the interrogator is configured to provide power to one or more electrical components in the cartridge using the wireless signal.

8. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the device is a hydrogen fuel source refiller that is configured provide the hydrogen fuel source to the cartridge when the connector is coupled to the mating connector.

9. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the device further includes:

a fuel processor configured to receive the hydrogen fuel source and to output hydrogen; and

a fuel cell configured to produce electrical energy using hydrogen output by the fuel processor.

10. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the wireless identification tag is configured to reply with its identification when probed by the interrogator.

11. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the cartridge further includes a memory that stores information relevant to usage of the cartridge.

12. The supply system of claim 11 wherein, when probed by the interrogator, the wireless identification tag is configured to reply with information stored in the memory.

13. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the wireless identification tag includes a unique identification for the cartridge.

14. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the interrogator and wireless identification tag communicate using radio frequency or microwave frequency radiation.

15. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the wireless identification tag includes a rectifier that receives the wireless signal.

16. The supply system of claim 7 wherein the cartridge also includes a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source and a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder.

17. A hydrogen fuel source storage device for storing a hydrogen fuel source, the storage device comprising:

a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source;

a housing that provides mechanical protection for the bladder;

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;

memory that stores information relevant to usage of the storage device; and

a sensor that monitors a condition related to the health or functioning of the storage device, wherein the sensor is configured to detect mechanical damage in the housing.

18. The storage device of claim 17 wherein the sensor comprises a wire on an inside surface of the housing.

19. The storage device of claim 18 wherein an electrical state of the wire is configured to provide an indication of health of the housing.

20. The storage device of claim 17 wherein the sensor comprises a filament network of wires that extends two-dimensionally on an inside surface of the housing.

21. The storage device of claim 17 wherein the memory stores information detected by the sensor.

22. The storage device of claim 21 wherein the memory stores whether the sensor detected a leak.

23. The storage device of claim 22 wherein the memory stores whether the sensor detected a leak in the housing.

24. The storage device of claim 17 wherein the memory comprises a digital memory and the storage device further includes a wireless communication device that permits wireless communication with a wireless interrogator associated with the controller.