Fuel cell power and management system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same
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Abstract
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable fuel cell power and management system (for example, hydrogen and/or methanol based systems), components and/or elements thereof, as well as techniques for controlling and/or operating such systems. The fuel cell power management system (and method of controlling and/or operating same) actively monitors, manages and/or controls one or more operating parameter(s) of the fuel cell system. For example, the system monitors, manages and/or controls the consumption and/or the rate of consumption of fuel by the system, and in response thereto, may provide and/or alert the user to amount of fuel remaining, consumed, the rate of consumption and/or the time (or estimation thereof) remaining until all of the fuel is spent. In this way, the user may schedule or plan accordingly.
127 Citations
85 Claims
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1-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A hydrogen-based power generation unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell management system wherein the management system includes a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge having a fuel vessel containing a hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based power generation unit comprising:
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a power unit valve assembly, adapted to couple to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, to provide exchange of hydrogen-based fuel with the fuel vessel of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge;
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, adapted to receive the hydrogen-based fuel and generate electrical power therefrom; and
control circuitry to determine at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A hydrogen-based power generation unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell management system wherein the management system includes a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge having a fuel vessel containing a hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based power generation unit comprising:
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a power unit valve assembly, adapted to couple to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, to provide exchange of hydrogen-based fuel with the fuel vessel of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge;
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, adapted to receive the hydrogen-based fuel and generate electrical power therefrom;
a power unit interface, including an electrical interface to receive first data from the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, wherein the first data is representative of at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge at a first time; and
control circuitry to determine second data while the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge is coupled to the hydrogen-based power generation unit using the first data, wherein the second data is representative of the at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge at a second time. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A hydrogen-based power generation unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell management system wherein the management system includes a hydrogen-based fuel cartridge having a fuel vessel containing a hydrogen-based fuel, the hydrogen-based power generation unit comprising:
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a power unit valve assembly, adapted to couple to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge, to provide exchange of hydrogen-based fuel with the fuel vessel of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge;
a hydrogen-based fuel cell, adapted to receive the hydrogen-based fuel and generate electrical power therefrom;
a power unit interface, including an electrical interface to provide parameter data to the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge during operation of the power generation unit and while the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge provides hydrogen-based fuel to the hydrogen-based fuel cell, wherein the parameter data is representative of at least one operating parameter of the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge; and
control circuitry to determine the parameter data while the hydrogen-based fuel cartridge is coupled to the hydrogen-based power generation unit. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification