Abstract: A hydrogen producing reactor having a pellet core within a containment vessel. The vessel having an exit nozzle surrounding the pellet. At least one elastomeric winding surrounding the containment vessel; and, a water line to deliver fluid to the pellet. Whereby the elastomeric windings compress the containment vessel around the fuel pellet as it is used. Hydrogen and other products produced by the reactor within a cartridge is filtered with a clog-less filter and substantially pure hydrogen is output.

Abstract: The invention is a hydrogen generator including a housing, a reaction area, a fluid reservoir, a pellet comprising a first reactant within the reaction area, a fluid comprising a second reactant within the fluid reservoir, a fluid flow path between the fluid reservoir and the reaction area, and a hydrogen outlet. The fluid flow path comprises a follower assembly biased toward the pellet, the follower assembly includes an articulated joint and a follower, and the second reactant can react with the first reactant in the reaction area to produce hydrogen gas and byproducts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas generator that contains a liquid reactant that reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a carrier that is buoyant in the liquid reactant. The gas generator also has at least one carrier movement restraining member adapted to selectively control the location of the carrier, and at least one compressible body containing a volume of gas. In a first configuration, when an internal pressure of the gas generator is lower than an internal pressure of the compressible body, the compressible body increases in volume, and in a second configuration when the internal pressure of the gas generator is higher than the internal pressure of the compressible body, the compressible body decreases in volume. The carrier movement restraining member restricts the carrier's movement in the first configuration.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) used within a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is separated from the reaction solution by passing through a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) having a hydrophobic lattice like member (36) disposed within a hydrogen output composite (32) further enhancing the ability of the hydrogen output composite's ability to separate out hydrogen gas and prolonging its useful life.

Abstract: This disclosure is drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to fuel cell cartridges. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to compact fuel cell cartridges for producing hydrogen gas for use by fuel cells. Some example fuel cell cartridges may include a reactor module for storing a reactant, a water module for storing water, and an interface coupling the reactor module and the water module. The interface may permit the water to flow from the water module to the reactor module such that the water mixes with the reactant in the reactor module to form a gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) that may exit through a gas outlet.

Abstract: A current collector component (206) for a fuel cell. The current collector component (206) comprises a first electrically conductive plate (210) configured to form a wall of a fluid confinement volume of a fuel cell; and a second electrically conductive plate (212) in electrical contact with the first electrically conductive plate (210). The second electrically conductive plate (212) comprises an external electrical connection (208). The second electrically conductive plate (212) has a higher electrical conductivity than the first electrically conductive plate (210). The first electrically conductive plate (210) has a higher resistance to corrosion than the second electrically conductive plate (212).

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack with a cathode exhaust outlet coupled to a cathode exhaust conduit. A condenser is provided in the cathode exhaust conduit for extracting water from a cathode exhaust stream in the cathode exhaust conduit. A compressor is disposed in the cathode exhaust conduit between the cathode exhaust outlet and the condenser and an expander is disposed downstream of the condenser for recovering energy from the condenser exhaust stream. By providing compressor and expander stages on either side of the condenser, the condenser performance can be enhanced by higher pressure operation independent of the fuel cell pressure. The parasitic load of this pressurised operation of the condenser is reduced by recovering the energy from the exhaust stream.

Abstract: A method of supplying fuel to a fuel cell system wherein a flexible diaphragm controls ingress and egress of liquid reactant. The method utilizes a pump assembly including a first subassembly and a second subassembly. The first subassembly includes a fluid conduit; an inlet fluidly coupled to the liquid reactant dispenser and the fluid conduit; an outlet fluidly coupled to a reaction chamber and the fluid conduit; and a diaphragm, defining a portion of the fluid conduit, that flexes to pump the liquid reactant from the inlet to the outlet. The diaphragm preferably includes an actuation point coupled to the diaphragm, wherein the liquid reactant is substantially contained within the first subassembly during pumping. The second subassembly is couplable to the first subassembly, and is fluidly isolated from the liquid reactant wherein operation of the actuator causes diaphragm flexion.

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.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly (30) comprises a fuel cell stack (31); an air flow plenum chamber (33) disposed on a face (4) of the stack (31) for delivering air to or receiving air from flow channels in the fuel cell stack (31), at least a part of the plenum chamber wall being defined by a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having at least one aperture (37) therein; and a fan (36) mounted to the board adjacent the aperture (37) and configured to force air through the aperture into or out of the plenum chamber. The assembly provides integration of circuit boards essential or supportive to operation of the fuel cell assembly with the air flow plenum for forced ventilation of the fuel cells in the stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides liquid/solid phase reactor systems that generate product gases. The present disclosure also provides for methods of generating gas using the systems of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A fuel cell (FC) system operating as its own hydrogen leak detector. The system including at least one cathode and cathode conduit for passage of oxidant to the cathode and a housing containing one or more FCs and defining a plenum around the FC. A ventilation system forces air from the plenum into the cathode conduit and a control system monitors the FC voltage and detects a drop in voltage attributable to hydrogen in the cathode conduit. A control system may include actual cell voltage monitoring of the FC or of one or more cells in the FC stack and a processor for receiving inputs indicative of the operation of the FC or FC stack and/or to determine an expected voltage of FC(s) being monitored and whether the difference between the actual and expected voltage(s) exceeds a predetermined threshold indicative of a predetermined level of hydrogen in the cathode conduit.

Abstract: A valve assembly (6) comprises a valve stem (21) with a resilient proximal seal member (25) and a distal seal member (28) disposed around the stem. The proximal and distal seal members are axially separated from one another along the valve stem. A housing defines a valve chamber in which the valve stem is confined so as to be axially displaceable within the valve chamber. The housing defines a first portion (41) of the valve chamber in which the proximal seal member resides and a second portion (42) of the valve chamber in which the distal seal member resides. The housing further defines a cross-bore chamber(12) which opens into the valve chamber in a third portion (43) between the first and second portions. The third portion has a minimum cross-sectional diameter greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the first portion, and preferably larger than the uncompressed diameter of the proximal seal member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprising a proton exchange membrane and a catalyst layer including a catalyst, the method comprising; forming a gas diffusion layer comprising graphene.

Abstract: A fuel cell flow plate having a first layer (12) comprising an electrically conductive hydrophobic layer; and a second layer (13) comprising a graphene coating.

Abstract: A fuel supply (10) is attachable to a fuel cell system (12). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector (14) configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves (24, 26) or filler material (23a-d) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube (114) and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.

Abstract: A charging device is configured to deliver power to a portable, power-consuming device, having a profile sensor which can detect information relating to the identity of power-consuming device to which the charging device is connected and may also have a communication channel configured to transmit said information to a remote server. In use, data can be collected or aggregated relating to power-consuming devices by connecting the charging device to the portable power-consuming device; sensing, by a profile sensor in the charging device, information relating to the identity of the power-consuming device; and transmitting the information to a remote server over a communication channel. Collected data may, for example, be used to identify when fuel for a charging device may need replenishment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to electrochemical cells and membranes including alternating electrically conductive and dielectric regions. One embodiment describes an ion-conducting composite layer for an electrochemical cell, including two or more electrically conductive components, each electrically conductive component having one or more electrically conductive passageways and one or more dielectric components, each dielectric component having one or more ion-conducting passageways. The electrically conductive components and the dielectric components are adjacently arranged to provide a fluidically impermeable composite layer.

Abstract: An energy resource network with plurality of energy resources) each capable of delivering a quantum of energy; and a plurality of energy-consuming-devices each capable of accepting a quantum of energy. Each energy resource is associated with an energy-resource-processor which is configured to issue one or more offer-messages in respect of a quantum of energy available for supply from the energy resource Each energy-consuming-device is associated with at least one energy-consuming-processor) that is configured to receive one or more offer-messages in respect of a transaction for receiving a quantum of energy from one of the energy resources The energy-resource-processor and/or the energy-consuming-processor being configured to issue a cryptographically-secured transaction record of the transaction for inclusion within a publicly-available distributed ledger.

Abstract: A mains power adaptor (1) incorporating a fuel cell (5) for providing alternative power to a low voltage portable device when no mains power is available. The adaptor (1) includes electrical pins (4) configured to connect with a mains power supply socket; a power converter circuit (7) having an input coupled to the electrical pins (4) for converting mains power to a lower voltage supply (8); an electrical output (2) of the lower voltage supply (8); and a fuel cell (5) switchably coupled to said electrical output. The adaptor (1) has a fluid connection port (12) for coupling a fluid fuel outlet of a fuel cartridge (not shown) to a fuel inlet of the fuel cell (5) and the fluid connection port (12) is disposed in a face (3) of the adaptor (1) from which the electrical pins (4) extend. A valve of the fuel cartridge is operable by engagement with the electrical pins (4) of the adaptor (1).