Fuel cartridge for fuel cells

• US 7,147,955 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Adams, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/12
• US Class Current: 429/443
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• 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: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A versatile fuel cartridge for storing methanol and water, methanol/water mixture or methanol/water mixtures of varying concentrations is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a filler insert preferably occupying a small portion of the volume of the fuel cartridge, so that the fuel cartridge may hold more fuel to ensure a longer life. The filler insert is capable of wicking and transporting the fuel to the MEA. Additionally, the filler insert remains in physical contact with the fuel in any orientation of the fuel cartridge and at any fuel level in the fuel cartridge. The fuel cartridge may have more than one chamber, and preferably each chamber contains a different concentration of fuel. Optionally, the fuel cartridge may include a pump to initiate fuel flow from the fuel reservoir. The pump may regulate the flow of fuel and importantly to shut off the flow of fuel, when necessary.

Claims

1. A fuel cartridge containing fuel suitable for use with a fuel cell comprising a filler insert and the fuel cartridge is operatively connectable to a microelectromechanical pump to control the flow of fuel out of the cartridge, wherein the filler insert comprises an absorbent material capable of wicking fuel contained within the cartridge by capillary action, and wherein the filler insert is substantially in contact with the fuel at any orientation of the cartridge and at any fuel level, and wherein a fluid impermeable material covers at least a portion of the filler insert.

2. The fuel cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a first free space portion and a second space portion, wherein the filler insert occupies the second space portion.

3. The fuel cartridge of claim 2, wherein the filler insert comprises less than about 67% of the volume of the cartridge.

4. The fuel cartridge of claim 3, wherein the filler insert comprises less than about 50% of the volume of the cartridge.

5. The fuel cartridge of claim 4, wherein the filler insert comprises less than about 33% of the volume of the cartridge.

6. The fuel cartridge of claim 2, wherein the filler insert comprises a connecting column and at least two disks.

7. The fuel cartridge of claim 6, wherein the connecting column is covered by a fluid impermeable film.

8. The fuel cartridge of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of one disk is covered by a fluid impermeable film.

9. The fuel cartridge of claim 2, wherein the filler insert comprises a shell covering at least a portion of the inner surface of the cartridge.

10. The fuel cartridge of claim 2, wherein the filler insert comprises an outlet port.

11. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is made from polymeric fibers.

12. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is made from plant-based fibers.

13. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprising an air vent.

14. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprising a refillable valve.

15. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises a field-induced pump.

16. The fuel cartridge of claim 15, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises an electrical field applied to the fuel to pump the fuel.

17. The fuel cartridge of claim 16, wherein the electrical field is generated by a DC voltage.

18. The fuel cartridge of claim 16, wherein the electrical field is generated by an AC voltage.

19. The fuel cartridge of claim 15, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises a magnetic field applied to a working fluid to pump the fuel.

20. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises an electrohydrodynamic pump.

21. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises an electrohydrodynamic pump and an electro-osmotic pump.

22. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises a magnetohydrodynamic pump.

23. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an electro-osmotic pump.

24. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises a membrane-displacement pump.

25. The fuel cartridge of claim 24, wherein the microelectromechanical pump comprises a membrane and a force is applied to the membrane causing the membrane to move to pump the fuel.

26. The fuel cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a shut-off valve.

27. The fuel cartridge of claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical pump is reversible.

28. A fuel cartridge containing a fuel suitable for use with a fuel cell comprising a filler insert and the fuel cartridge is operatively connectable to a microelectromechanical pump to control the flow of libel out of the cartridge, wherein the filler insert comprises an absorbent material capable of wicking fuel contained within the cartridge by capillary action, and wherein the filler insert is substantially in contact with the fuel at any orientation of the cartridge and at any fuel level, and wherein the filler insert comprises a connecting column and a plurality of spokes.

29. The fuel cartridge of claim 28, wherein the filler insert further comprises a plurality of rings, wherein the spokes connect the connecting column to the rings.