Cartridge with fuel supply and membrane electrode assembly stack

• US 20050255359A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Curello, Andrew J., Fairbanks, Floyd, Adams, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,217,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/410
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/008 Disposal or recycling of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04164 by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0668 Removal of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0687 Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell system with various features for optimal operations of an electronic device. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cartridge with a fuel reservoir containing fuel and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) or a stack. The fuel cartridge is selectively operatively associated with the electronic device to power the device. In one embodiment, the fuel cartridge may be received within a chamber in the electronic device. In another embodiment, the fuel cartridge may be operatively associated with the electronic device while external thereto.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

an electronic device with a housing defining a fuel cartridge chamber;

a fuel cartridge removably receivable in the fuel cartridge chamber, the fuel cartridge including at least one membrane electrode assembly and a fuel reservoir containing fuel, the fuel is transportable to the electronic device before being transportable to the membrane electrode assembly for conversion to electricity for use by the electronic device.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes a first electrical contact and a controller, and the fuel cartridge further includes a second electrical contact, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the first and second electrical contacts are in electrical communication so that the controller controls the functions of the electronic device and the fuel cartridge.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a proton exchange membrane, and a cathode.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein fuel cartridge further includes an information storage device in electrical communication with the second electrical contact, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the information storage device is readable by a controller.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge further includes a heat exchanger in fluid communication upstream of the membrane electrode assembly such that the fuel is transportable to the heat exchanger for cooling then to the membrane electrode assembly.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein fuel cartridge further includes an ion filter in fluid communication downstream of the fuel reservoir.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein fuel cartridge further includes an ion sensor and the ion sensor is electrically connected with the second electrical contact.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes a pump for assisting in transporting the fuel to the membrane electrode assembly, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 8, wherein the pump is in electrical communication with the second electrical contact and the controller.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes an air chamber, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the air chamber is in fluid communication with a cathode of the membrane electrode assembly such that air is transportable to the cathode.

11. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes a gas byproduct separator, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the carbon dioxide separator is in fluid communication with anode of the membrane electrode assembly such that a gas byproduct is transportable to the gas product separator.

12. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes a condenser, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the condenser is in fluid communication with a cathode of the membrane electrode assembly such that a liquid byproduct is transportable to the condenser.

13. The fuel cell system of claim 12, wherein the electronic device further includes a mixing chamber, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the mixing chamber is in fluid communication with the condenser and the fuel reservoir such that the fuel is transportable to the mixing chamber and the byproduct is transportable to the mixing chamber and the fuel and the byproduct are mixed then transported to the membrane electron assembly.

14. The fuel cell system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device further includes a metering valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the condenser and the mixing chamber such that the byproduct is transportable to the mixing chamber through the metering valve.

15. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the membrane electrode assembly is disposable.

16. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the fuel reservoir is disposable.

17. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the membrane electrode assembly is arranged in a stack.

18. A fuel cell system comprising:

an electronic device with a first electrical contact and a controller in electrical communication with the first electrical contact;

a fuel cartridge selectively operatively associated with the electronic device and including a second electrical contact, at least one membrane electrode assembly and a fuel reservoir containing fuel, when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the first and second electrical contacts are in electrical communication so that the controller controls the functions of the electronic device and the fuel cartridge and the fuel is transportable to the membrane electrode assembly for conversion to electricity for use by the electronic device.

19. The fuel cell system of claim 18, wherein the electronic device further includes a plurality of first fluidic components and the fuel cartridge further includes a plurality of second fluidic components and a plurality of two-component valves wherein a first set of valve components are attached to the fuel cartridge and a second set of valve components are attached to the electronic device, wherein when the fuel cartridge is operatively associated with the electronic device the first and second set of valve components mate to allow fluid communication between the plurality of first fluidic components and the plurality of second fluidic components.

20. A fuel cell cartridge adapted to be insertable to an electrical device to supply electricity thereto comprising at least one membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel reservoir containing fuel, wherein the fuel is reacted at the membrane electrode assembly to produce said electricity and wherein the balance of plant occurs within the cartridge.

21. The fuel cell cartridge of claim 20, wherein the fuel reservoir removably attached to the cartridge, so that the fuel reservoir can be refilled or replaced.

22. The fuel cell cartridge of claim 20, wherein the membrane electrode assembly is removably attached to the cartridge, so that the membrane electrode assembly can be repaired or replaced.