Hydrogen and electrical power generator

• US 9,029,028 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Eickhoff, Steven J., McBrady, Adam, Bonne, Ulrich, Wood, Roland A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayes, Melvin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Slifka, Colin W
• Application Number:
  US13/113,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/416
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04223 during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04225 during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0606 with means for production of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A device using needed hydrogen gas flow and electricity for operation obtained from a fuel cell power supply. Also, water generated by the fuel cell may be recycled for hydrogen generation which may be used by the device and in turn expanded by the fuel cell for further electrical power generation. The device may be a gas chromatograph, a fluid calibration mechanism, a flame ionization detector, or the like.

Claims

1. A generation system comprising:

a fuel cell to create electrical power and provide water;

a hydrogen gas generator including a first input channel, an output channel, and a direct feed line, the hydrogen gas generator to generate hydrogen gas from the water and a metal hydride, wherein the hydrogen gas generator is mechanically connected to the fuel cell by the first input channel and the direct feed line, wherein the first input channel provides the water to the hydrogen gas generator and the direct feed line provides generated hydrogen from the hydrogen generator to the fuel cell, and wherein the hydrogen gas generator pressurizes hydrogen gas and provides the pressurized hydrogen gas to the output channel;

a second input channel connected to the output channel of the hydrogen gas generator, the second input channel to provide a gas sample to be carried by the pressurized hydrogen gas in the output channel;

an electrically powered fluid analyzer mechanically connected to the second input channel, and to the output channel of the hydrogen gas generator, the fluid analyzer to analyze the gas sample from the second input channel, the fluid analyzer electrically connected to the fuel cell to receive electrical power therefrom, the fluid analyzer comprising;

a concentrator connected to the input channel and the output channel of the hydrogen gas generator;

a separator mechanically connected to the concentrator to separate the carrier gas from the sample;

a detector connected to the separator; and

a flow channel through the concentrator, the separator, and the detector, wherein the flow channel is valveless at least from the beginning of the concentrator through the end of the detector; and

a hydrogen gas reservoir connected between the fuel cell and the detector of the fluid analyzer, the hydrogen gas reservoir for storing hydrogen gas separated by the separator in the fluid analyzer; and

wherein;

the fuel cell draws hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas reservoir against a vacuum at an electric generator rate to provide electrical power to the fluid analyzer; and

the fluid analyzer provides the recycled hydrogen gas to the hydrogen gas reservoir at a rate greater than the electric generator rate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid analyzer is capable of operation with continuous intake of a sample fluid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid analyzer further comprises a plurality of heaters situated along a portion of the flow channel;

the plurality of heaters are configured to turn on in a sequential manner to continually heat a portion of a sample fluid as it moves along the portion of the flow channel; and

the plurality of heaters are configured to provide a heat pulse that moves along the portion of the flow channel at a velocity about the same as a velocity of the portion of the sample fluid moving along the portion of the flow channel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of heaters cumulatively heat the portion of the sample fluid.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid analyzer is configured to perform an analysis cycle in less than about ten seconds.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen gas generator, the fuel cell, and the fluid analyzer are provided in a module incorporable into a handheld device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is capable of performing fluid analysis continuously for at least about eight hours.

8. A generator system comprising:

a fuel cell to create electrical power and provide water;

a hydrogen gas generator connected to the fuel cell by a direct feed line and a first input channel, wherein the hydrogen gas generator generates hydrogen gas from water and a metal hydride, wherein hydrogen gas generator pressurizes the hydrogen gas and provides the pressurized hydrogen gas to an output channel of the hydrogen gas generator to prevent the need for a carrier gas pump, wherein the first input channel provides the water to the hydrogen gas generator and the direct feed line provides generated hydrogen from the hydrogen generator to the fuel cell;

a second input channel connected to the output channel of the hydrogen gas generator, the second input channel to provide a gas sample to be carried by the pressurized egn in the output channel;

a device connected to the second input channel, to the output channel, and the hydrogen gas reservoir, wherein the device needs electric power for its operation and uses hydrogen gas during operation, wherein the device is electrically connected to the fuel cell to receive electrical power therefrom;

a hydrogen gas reservoir connected between the fuel cell and the device, the reservoir for storing excess hydrogen gas; and

wherein the device uses the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas generator as a carrier gas and forwards a recycled hydrogen gas used by the device to the hydrogen gas reservoir, wherein the fuel cell draws hydrogen gas from the reservoir as a fuel to generate electrical power, leaving excess hydrogen gas in the hydrogen gas reservoir;

the fuel cell draws the recycled hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas reservoir against a vacuum to provide electrical power to the device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device provides all of the hydrogen gas used by the device to the fuel cell without excess hydrogen gas in the hydrogen gas reservoir.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the device provides hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas generator to the hydrogen gas reservoir at a device rate;

the fuel cell consumes hydrogen gas at an electric generator rate; and

if the device rate exceeds the electric generator rate, substantially all the hydrogen gas consumed by the fuel cell is forwarded to the fuel cell from the device, and hydrogen gas provided by the device in excess of the electric generator rate is vented from the system.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the device provides hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas generator to the hydrogen gas reservoir at a device rate;

the fuel cell consumes hydrogen gas at an electric generator rate; and

if the device rate exceeds the generator rate, substantially all the hydrogen gas consumed by the fuel cell is forwarded to the fuel cell from the hydrogen gas reservoir, and hydrogen gas provided by the device in excess of the electric generator rate is routed to the hydrogen reservoir.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein some hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas generator is forwarded directly to the fuel cell, bypassing the device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell is capable of providing substantially all electric energy needed by the device for its operation.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an electric energy storage mechanism connected to the fuel cell and the device, wherein the electric energy storage mechanism is configured to store electric energy from the fuel cell when the fuel cell generates more power than instantaneously needed by the device, and provides electric energy to the device when the fuel cell generates less power than instantaneously needed by the device.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of a flame ionization detector, a gas chromatograph, a gas calibration device, and any combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the hydrogen gas generator, the fuel cell, and the device are provided in a module incorporable into a handheld device.