Fuel source, fuel cell system and associated method

• US 10,283,790 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Inventors: Edgar, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baillargeon, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US15/116,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20160351927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 324 711
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04656 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04992 characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel source (100), a fluid gauge adapter (300), a fuel cell system (200) and an associated method. The fuel source (100) has a gauge (104) comprising an electronic multi-stable display (106). The fuel cell system (200) and method relate to receiving fuel from the fuel source (100), determining (212) a fuel consumption of the fuel cell system (200), calculating (214) a substance level of the fuel source in accordance with the fuel consumption and updating (216) an electronic multi-stable display of the fluid gauge of the fuel source in accordance with the substance level.

Claims

1. A fuel source for a fuel cell system, the fuel source having a fuel gauge comprising an electronic multi-stable display and a read-back unit configured to determine a first substance level of the fuel source by measuring an electrical property of the electronic multi-stable display.

2. The fuel source of claim 1 wherein the electronic multi-stable display comprises an electronic paper display.

3. The fuel source of claim 2 wherein the electronic paper display comprises electrophoretic ink.

4. A fuel cell system comprising:

the fuel source of claim 1;

a controller configured to;

determine a fuel consumption of the fuel cell system;

calculate a second substance level of the fuel source in accordance with the fuel consumption; and

,

update the electronic multi-stable display of the fluid gauge of the fuel source in accordance with the second substance level.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 4 wherein;

the controller is configured to

receive a second substance level from the read-back unit; and

,

calculate a third substance level of the fuel source in accordance with the fuel consumption and the second substance level.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 5 wherein receiving the second or third substance level comprises measuring an electrical property of one or more picture elements.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to determine the fuel consumption in accordance with an output voltage, current or power of the fuel cell system.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 4 further comprising a flow meter on a fuel inlet line and wherein the controller is configured to determine the fuel consumption in accordance with a flow through the flow meter.

9. A method for operating a fuel cell system, the method comprising:

receiving fuel from a fuel source having a fuel gauge comprising an electronic multi-stable display;

determining a first substance level of the fuel source by way of measurement of an electrical property of the electronic multi-stable display;

determining a fuel consumption of the fuel cell system;

calculating a second substance level of the fuel source in accordance with the fuel consumption; and

,

updating the electronic multi-stable display of the fluid gauge of the fuel source in accordance with the second substance level.

10. A non-transient computer program on a computer readable medium configured to perform the method of claim 9.

11. A fluid gauge adapter comprising:

a fluid gauge comprising an electronic multi-stable display;

a flow path between an inlet and an outlet of the adapter;

a fluid property measuring device configured to measure a property of a fluid in the flow path; and

,

a controller configured to;

determine a substance level of a fluid storage device by way of measurement of an electrical property of the electronic multi-stable display;

calculate a subsequent fluid level of the fluid storage device in accordance with the property of the fluid; and

,

update the electronic multi-stable display of the fluid gauge in accordance with the subsequent fluid level.

12. The fluid gauge adapter of claim 11 wherein the controller periodically updates the display.

13. The fluid gauge adapter of claim 11 further comprising a generator configured to generate power using a fluid flow through the flow path.

14. A substance storage vessel, the vessel having a gauge comprising an electronic multi-stable display, the vessel including a read-back unit configured to provide for determination of a substance level in the vessel by measurement of an electrical property of the electronic multi-stable display.

15. A system configured to receive a substance from a substance storage vessel, the vessel having a gauge comprising an electronic multi-stable display, the system configured to determine a substance level in the vessel by measurement of an electrical property of the electronic multi-stable display.

16. A method of determining a substance level of a substance in a storage vessel, the storage vessel comprising an electronic multi-stable display configured to display the substance level, the method comprising

measuring an electrical property of the electronic multi-stable display and deriving the substance level therefrom.