Fuel cell apparatus with a split pump

• US 8,187,758 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ardica Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: FISHER, Tobin Joseph, Glassman, Jonathan Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US11/203,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,483 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/38, 429/25, 429/22, 429/19, 417/510, 220/582, 220/500, 220/553, 137/803, 137/804, 137/814, 222/61, 222/94
• US Class Current: 429/421
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/03 thermophore, i.e. self-heating, e.g. using a chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/04 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous 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 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fluid pump and connector assembly is particularly suited for use in connecting a fuel cartridge to a fuel cell system. The assembly has a first sub-assembly comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flexible diaphragm in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, and a first connector. The assembly also has a second sub-assembly comprising a second connector adapted to connect to the first connector, an actuator and a reciprocating member coupled to the actuator and contacting the diaphragm when the first and second sub-assemblies are connected, wherein a reciprocating motion of the actuator and member causes the diaphragm to reciprocate and pump fluid from the inlet to the outlet without exposing the fluid to the second sub-assembly.

Claims

1. A fuel cell apparatus comprising:

(a) a fuel cartridge comprising;

a liquid reactant dispenser;

a reaction chamber, separate from the liquid reactant dispenser, containing a solid reactant that produces hydrogen gas when mixed with a liquid reactant; and

a connector sub-assembly comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the liquid reactant dispenser, an outlet fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber, a flexible diaphragm in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, and a hydrogen discharge port fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber; and

(b) a fuel cell system removably coupled to the fuel cartridge, comprising;

a fuel cell; and

a connector sub-assembly, connectable to the fuel cartridge connector sub-assembly, comprising an actuator and a hydrogen intake port fluidly coupled to the fuel cell that aligns with the hydrogen discharge port when the fuel cartridge and fuel cell system are connected;

wherein the actuator causes the diaphragm to reciprocate and pump a liquid reactant from the liquid reactant dispenser to the reaction chamber, wherein the liquid reactant is substantially contained within the fuel cartridge during the pumping, wherein the liquid reactant reacts within the reaction chamber to produce a fuel.

2. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid reactant is citric acid solution and the solid reactant is sodium borohydride.

3. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator is a shape memory alloy and is electrically coupled to an electrical source capable of heating the shape memory alloy to above a shrinkage temperature.

4. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the actuator is a nitinol wire coupled to a reciprocating member and attached at both ends to crimping connectors to form a bow-shaped configuration.

5. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the wire is mounted so that when in a stiff phase, the reciprocating member is in a retracted position, and when in a responsive phase, the reciprocating member is in an extended position.

6. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm reciprocates between an unflexed state and a flexed state, wherein the inlet includes a first valve, and the outlet includes a second valve, wherein in the unflexed state, the inlet valve is substantially open and the outlet valve is substantially sealed, such that the liquid reactant flows through the inlet valve;

and in the flexed state, the inlet valve is substantially sealed and the outlet valve is substantially open, such that the liquid reactant flows through the outlet valve.

7. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge connector sub-assembly further includes a reciprocating member coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator reciprocates the reciprocating member between two modes:

a retracted mode wherein the reciprocating member does not transfer substantial force from the actuator to the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is in the unflexed mode; and

an extended mode wherein the reciprocating member contacts the diaphragm to transfer a force from the actuator to the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is in the flexed mode.

8. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reciprocating member contacts the diaphragm in the retracted mode.

9. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reciprocating member is a pump plunger.

10. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell apparatus further comprises a coupling mechanism that removably couples the fuel cell system to the fuel cartridge.

11. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling mechanism is a magnetic coupler comprising a magnet and a metal plate magnetically attracted to the magnet, wherein the fuel cartridge connector sub-assembly further incorporates the magnet and the fuel cell system connector sub-assembly further incorporates the metal plate.

12. A fuel cell apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid reactant is water and the solid reactant is sodium borohydride.