Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a fuel cell power source comprising one or more fuel cells, one or more power conditioning components in contact with the one or more fuel cells, fuel storage, an exterior casing in contact with one or more of the fuel cells, power conditioning components or fuel storage, and two or more outputs, wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure of an electronic device, such that the outputs are in contact with connections of the existing battery enclosure.

Abstract: A power source tester includes a processor and an internal variable load controlled by the processor. A network communication port is coupled to the processor. A pair of inputs is also coupled to the processor for coupling to a power source to be tested under control of the processor. In a method executed by the tester, remote commands are received via a network interface to select one or more tests to be run by the tester. The selected tests are started and data is collected and logged. The data is then sent via the network interface to a remote computer.

Abstract: A method for refilling a hydrogen reservoir comprising a first hydrogen-storing material comprises establishing a fluid connection between the hydrogen reservoir and a cartridge containing a second hydrogen-storing material. The second hydrogen-storing material releases hydrogen at a pressure sufficient to charge the first hydrogen-storing material. Some embodiments involve heating the second hydrogen-storing material and/or allowing heat to flow between the first and second hydrogen-storing materials.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including, among other things, one or more of a fuel cell, a fuel reservoir, a current collecting circuit, a plenum, or a system cover. The fuel reservoir is configured to store fuel, and may include a regulator for controlling an output fuel pressure and a refueling port. A surface of the fuel reservoir may be positioned adjacent a first fuel cell portion. The current collecting circuit is configured to receive and distribute fuel cell power and may be positioned adjacent a second fuel cell portion. The plenum may be formed when the fuel reservoir and the first fuel cell portion are coupled or by one or more flexible fuel cell walls. The system cover allows air into the system and when combined when a fuel pressure in the plenum, may urge contact between the fuel cell and the current collecting circuit.

Abstract: Thin layers of fuel cells are provided on the housings of portable electrically-powered devices. The fuel cells provide electrical power for the devices. The fuel cell layers can follow contours of the device housings. some embodiments provide fuel plenums between a surface of the housing and a fuel cell layer. The fuel plenum may carry a fuel such as hydrogen gas to fuel cells of the fuel cell layer.

Abstract: Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel stores of the portable devices. A network of refilling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel stores. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.

Abstract: A hydrogen source comprises a first hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a first form and a second hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a second form different from the first form. The hydrogen source comprises a means for converting hydrogen from the first form to hydrogen gas and transferring the hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen reservoir to the second hydrogen reservoir. An an interface is provided for transferring hydrogen from the second hydrogen reservoir to a hydrogen reservoir in a portable device. The interface comprises a fluidic coupling. The hydrogen source may be used to provide hydrogen fuel to a wide range of portable devices.

Abstract: Fuel cell components provide fuel cells on a flexible sheet that defines a wall of a flexible plenum. An external support structure limits expansion of the plenum in response to forces exerted by a pressurized reactant. The external support structure may comprise a portion of a housing of a portable device. Cathodes of the fuel cells may be accessible from an outside of the flexible sheet and exposed to ambient air while anodes of the fuel cell are accessible from an inside of the flexible sheet and exposed to a fuel, such as hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for providing hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered device comprises providing a buffer connected to supply hydrogen to the device. The buffer is filled with hydrogen by coupling the buffer to a cartridge containing a predetermined quantity of hydrogen. The hydrogen in the cartridge may be stored in a form having a higher energy density than the hydrogen in the buffer. Systems comprising hydrogen-powered devices that include such buffers are also described.

Abstract: A sheet of substrate material is corrugated. First and second troughs are defined on opposed faces of the substrate material. Ion-conducting regions are located in a common wall of the first and second troughs. In the ion-conducting regions ions can pass through the substrate material between the first and second troughs.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an ion-conducting membrane comprising an ion-conducting region and a non-ion-conducting region. The ion-conducting region is formed by a plurality of ion-conducting passageways that extend through the membrane. The passageways are filled with ion-conducting material and may be surrounded by non-ion conducting material. The membrane may comprise a substrate of non-ion-conducting material that is penetrated by openings, each opening providing a corresponding one of the passageways.

Abstract: A fuel cell has an ion-conducting membrane comprising an ion-conducting region and a non-ion-conducting region. The ion-conducting region is formed by a plurality of ion-conducting passageways that extend through the membrane. The passageways are filled with ion-conducting material and may be surrounded by non-ion conducting material. The membrane may comprise a substrate of non-ion-conducting material that is penetrated by openings, each opening providing a corresponding one of the passageways.

Abstract: A fuel cell layer and methods for making a fuel cell layer comprising at least one fuel cell in communication with first reactant plenum and second reactant plenum, wherein one of the reactant plenums contains oxidant and the other reactant plenum contains fuel. The fuel cell comprises a gas barrier region formed by disposing gas barrier material on a substrate; a second region having a first port formed on the gas barrier; a first gas diffusion electrode having a first seal disposed around the electrode; an electrolyte region formed by disposing electrolyte material on the second region; a fourth region having a second port formed on the electrolyte region; a second gas diffusion electrode having a second seal disposed around the electrode, wherein the second and fourth regions are in communication with the electrolyte region, and the gas barrier region separates the first reactant plenum from the second reactant plenum.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a plurality of groups of fuel cells electrically connected in series-parallel. Each of the groups of fuel cells comprises a plurality of fuel cells connected in series-parallel. Each of the fuel cells may have a very small active area. The system provides passive fault tolerance for both open-circuit and closed-circuit failures of individual fuel cells.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an ion-conducting membrane comprising an ion-conducting region and a non-ion-conducting region. The ion-conducting region is formed by a plurality of ion-conducting passageways that extend through the membrane. The passageways are filled with ion-conducting material and may be surrounded by non-ion conducting material. The membrane may comprise a substrate of non-ion-conducting material that is penetrated by openings, each opening providing a corresponding one of the passageways.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell structure has an electrical current-carrying structure which, at least in part, underlies an electrochemical reaction layer. The cell comprises an ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer on each side thereof. The ion exchange membrane may comprise, for example, a proton exchange membrane. Some embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical cell layers which have a plurality of individual unit cells formed on a sheet of ion exchange membrane material.

Abstract: A sheet of substrate material is corrugated. First and second troughs are defined on opposed faces of the substrate material. Ion-conducting regions are located in a common wall of the first and second troughs. In the ion-conducting regions ions can pass through the substrate material between the first and second troughs.

Abstract: The methods include steps for making a fuel cell layer, making a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities from components with low aspect ratio cavities, and forming of a high aspect ratio compact chemical reactor using low aspect ratio layers. The methods entail forming at least two process layers; forming a perimeter barrier on at least one side of one of the process layers creating an intermediate assembly with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; repeating the initial steps to create additional intermediate assemblies with at least one low aspect ratio cavity; joining intermediate assemblies to create a compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities; and joining the compact chemical reactor with high aspect ratio cavities to two reactant plenums to facilitate a transport process between reactant plenums and process layers.

Abstract: The fuel cell layer with a central axis includes a first and a second unit fuel cell, an oxidant plenum comprising an oxidant; and a fuel plenum comprises a fuel; and each unit fuel cell comprises: a first and second process layer; a first cavity and second cavity formed between the first and second process layer and a first process layer of an adjacent unit fuel cell; a first perimeter barrier disposed on the second process layer substantially surrounding the second cavity; a second perimeter barrier disposed on the first process layer substantially surrounding the first cavity forming a unit fuel cell comprising a front face and back face; the first cavity is in communication with the oxidant plenum; the second cavity is in communication with the fuel plenum; wherein at least one of the process layers transports ions between the first and second cavities.

Abstract: The compact chemical reactor includes one or more unit reactors, a front reactant plenum, and a back reactant plenum. Each unit reactor is made of a front and back process layer, a front and back cavity, and a front and back perimeter barrier. The resulting assemblage is configured so the front cavity is in communication with the front side of the compact chemical reactor and the back cavity is in communication with the back side of the compact chemical reactor. The process layers facilitate an exchange of reactants between the reactant plenums.