Fuel cells used to supplement power sources for aircraft equipment

• US 8,846,255 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Dineen, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Barbara
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arciero, Adam A
• Application Number:
  US11/737,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,720 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/400
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/005 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• 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 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell may be used to supplement power sources for aircraft equipment. A fuel cell to provide electrical power in an aircraft may include a replaceable fuel source, an information output, and a power output to output power to a line replaceable unit of the aircraft. A method of supplementing electrical power in an aircraft may include providing a fuel cell in the aircraft, the fuel cell comprising a replaceable fuel cartridge and a replaceable by-product cartridge, and supplementing an electrical power system of the aircraft with power generated by the fuel cell by outputting power.

Claims

1. A supplemental power source for a line-replaceable unit (LRU) of an aircraft comprising:

a fuel cell dedicated to the LRU, the fuel cell comprising;

a replaceable fuel cartridge;

a replaceable by-product cartridge including an absorbent material in a reservoir; and

an information output configured to produce signaling to an aircraft crew display; and

a power output to output supplemental power from the fuel cell to the LRU.

2. The supplemental power source of claim 1, wherein the replaceable fuel cartridge contains a solution comprising at least one of ethanol, formic acid or bacteria.

3. The supplemental power source of claim 1, wherein the information output is configured to output at least one of a fuel cell on indicator, a remaining charge measure, or a remaining time measure.

4. The supplemental power source of claim 1, wherein the information output is configured to produce at least one of ARINC 429 bus data, Military Standard 1553 bus data, Ethernet bus data, or USB bus data.

5. The supplemental power source of claim 1, wherein the line-replaceable unit comprises at least one of a navigational system, a communications system, or an emergency system.

6. The supplemental power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell further comprises a main body configured with holders to receive the replaceable fuel cartridge and the replaceable by-product cartridge.