Patents Assigned to Intelligent Energy Limited
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Patent number: 10290879Abstract: A microvalve assembly (30) is integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate (31). An aperture (32) in the PCB substrate includes a closure member (33) extending into the aperture. A flexible fluid pipe (38) is disposed between the closure member and a closure edge (37) of the aperture. A displacement member (34) is coupled to the PCB and is configured for thermal actuation to displace the closure member so as to vary the cross-sectional profile of the flexible fluid pipe. The closure member may be a cantilever section of the PCB substrate. Displacement of the closure member to vary the cross-sectional profile of the flexible fluid pipe can occur entirely within the plane of the PCB substrate and movement of the displacement member to displace the closure member can also occur entirely within the plane of the PCB substrate, providing a very low profile of microvalve particularly suited for integration into a fuel cell stack (1).Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Hossein Ostadi, Paul Leonard Adcock, Christopher James Kirk, Zachary Elliott
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Patent number: 10283790Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventor: David Edgar
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Patent number: 10270108Abstract: A coolant storage tank (1) for storing coolant in a fuel cell system (2), the coolant storage tank comprising a plurality of individually controllable heater elements (7, 8a, 8b). A coolant storage tank comprising a first heater element (7) located at a base of the coolant storage tank and a second heater element (8a) is also disclosed. A coolant storage tank comprising a first coolant storage compartment (50) in fluid communication with a second coolant storage compartment (51), the first coolant storage compartment including at least a first heater element (54) and wherein the second coolant storage compartment is unheated is also disclosed. A method of melting frozen coolant in a coolant storage tank is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Daniel Ninan, Nathaniel Palmer, Sophie Charlotte Harris, Phillip Wardle, Jonathan Cole, Iain Fraser, Peter David Hood, Paul Leonard Adcock
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Patent number: 10243219Abstract: A fluid flow plate for an electrochemical assembly has a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending across an active area of the flow plate to define a first fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate and a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending across the active area of the flow plate to define a second fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate. An array of first fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the first fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the first fluid flow channels. An array of second fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the second fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the second fluid flow channels. A first fluid gallery a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of first fluid transfer points and has a second peripheral edge portion forming a first fluid communication edge of the fluid flow plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Peter David Hood, Paul Leonard Adcock
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Publication number: 20190088957Abstract: A fluid flow plate for an electrochemical fuel cell assembly comprises a first plurality of fluid flow channels extending across an area of the flow plate to define a flow field of the fluid flow plate. An array of first fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the fluid flow channels. A gallery has a first peripheral edge portion bounded by the array of first fluid transfer points and at least two second peripheral edge portions each bounded by an array of second fluid transfer points disposed along fluid access edges of the fluid flow plate. The at least two second peripheral edge portions are disposed at oblique angles to the first peripheral edge portion such that the total length of the any of second fluid transfer points is at least as long as, and preferably longer than, the length of the array of first fluid transfer points.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Peter David HOOD, Paul Leonard ADCOCK
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Publication number: 20190077521Abstract: The application relates to a fueling station for a fuel generator having a fuel generator reservoir, the fueling station comprising: a station reservoir (11) for storing at least one reactant for fuel generation; a fueling interface (14) configured to engage with the fuel generator reservoir and dispense the at least one reactant to the fuel generator reservoir; and a controller (18) configured to: receive a parameter indicative of an intended use of the fuel generator; and control the fueling interface to dispense the at least one reactant in accordance with the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2016Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Andrew Paul KELLY, Zachary ELLIOTT, Paul Leonard ADCOCK
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Patent number: 10227966Abstract: A pump assembly includes a chamber, a compressible conduit along a periphery of the chamber, an elongated sun member within the chamber, and an elongated planet member arranged to orbit around the sun member. The sun member includes a first portion at one axial end having a gear and a second portion at the other axial end. The planet member includes a first portion at one axial end with a gear engaged with the gear of the sun member and a second portion at the other axial end configured to be engaged with a section of the compressible conduit to constrict the section. The first portion has a different texture from the second portion, and teeth of the gears on either the sun member or the planet member are retained in an axial direction by the second portion of the other of the sun member and planet member.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventor: Alexander David Norman
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Patent number: 10230126Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly (101) comprising a fuel cell stack (102) comprising one or more fuel cells and a retaining member (100) comprising a first engaging region (104) that engages a first end face (110) of the fuel cell stack (102), a second engaging region (106) that engages a second opposing end face (112) of the fuel cell stack (102, and a joining region (108) configured to bias the first engaging region (104) towards the second engaging region (106). The retaining member (106) defines a fluid chamber (118) for communicating a fluid to or from the fuel cell stack (102).Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventor: Mark Phillip Horlock
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Patent number: 10218009Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack is disclosed. An ozone generator is configured to introduce ozone into a coolant in the fuel cell system. A deionization apparatus is coupled to the fuel cell stack. A bypass conduit is arranged in parallel with the deionization apparatus. A controller is configured to control flow of the coolant to the fuel cell stack through either the deionization apparatus or the bypass conduit based on the operating state of the ozone generator.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Pratap Rama, Mathias Crespy
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Patent number: 10218026Abstract: A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Andrew Wallace, Glenn Rambach, Linna Peng, Rodney Sparks, John Melack
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Patent number: 10218015Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell assembly comprises a fuel cell stack having a fuel delivery inlet and a fuel delivery outlet. The fuel cell stack further includes a number of fuel cells each having a membrane-electrode assembly and a fluid flow path coupled between the fuel delivery inlet and the fuel delivery outlet for delivery of fuel to the membrane-electrode assembly. A fuel delivery conduit is coupled to the fuel delivery inlet for delivery of fluid fuel to the stack. A bleed conduit is coupled to the fuel delivery outlet for venting fluid out of the stack. A variable orifice flow control device coupled to the bleed conduit configured to dynamically vary an amount of fluid from the fuel delivery outlet passing into the bleed conduit as a function of one or more of the control parameters: (i) measured fuel concentration; (ii) measured humidity; (iii) cell voltages of fuel cells in the stack; (iv) impedance of fuel cells in the stack; (v) resistance of fuel cells in the stack.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Pratap Rama, Paul Leonard Adcock, Jignesh Karsan Devshi Patel
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Patent number: 10211466Abstract: A resilient sealing member (27) has a first face (40) and a second face (41) and an aperture (42) extending between the first face and the second face. At least two, preferably three or more, circumferential ridges (43, 44, 45) surround the aperture on the first face. Channels (46, 47) may be disposed between each adjacent pair of circumferential ridges and a flat seal may be provided on the first face, peripheral to the circumferential ridges. The flat seal may occupy a different plane than the plane occupied by apexes of the circumferential ridges. The resilient sealing member may be incorporated into interface seal assembly comprising a rigid frame (26) onto which it is molded. The rigid frame may comprise a printed circuit board (25). The interface seal assembly allows for an easily interchangeable seal on a refillable fuel cartridge (1) for a fuel cell apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Monjur Choudhury, Simon Payne
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Patent number: 10199670Abstract: A device includes a case having a surface with a perforation and a first cavity containing a gas generating fuel. A first membrane is supported by the case inside the first cavity. The first membrane has an impermeable valve plate positioned proximate the perforation. The first membrane is water vapor permeable and gas impermeable and flexes responsive to a difference in pressure between the cavity and outside the cavity to selectively allow water vapor to pass through the perforation to the fuel as a function of the difference in pressure. A second membrane that is water vapor permeable gas impermeable is coupled between an outside of the case exposed to ambient atmospheric gas and the valve plate creating a reference pressure second cavity configured to reduce the effects of ambient pressure transients on the difference in pressure. A fuel cell membrane may be included in the device to produce electricity.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Steven J. Eickhoff, Russell Barton
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Patent number: 10193169Abstract: Purge valves (I 09, I 09?, 200) that are manually turned ON but are automatically or electrically turned OFF as the fuel cell (108)'s production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout are disclosed. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is anned and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is an integrated fluidic interface module (10) that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module (10) can operate passively or without being actively controlled by a processor. Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are also disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Jean-Louis Iaconis, Aaron MacDonald, Benjamin Tam
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Patent number: 10186719Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly comprises fuel cells disposed in a stacked configuration, each cell substantially parallel to an x-y plane and including a tab extending laterally from an edge of a plate in the cell in the x-direction to form an array of tabs extending along a side face of the fuel cell stack in a z-direction orthogonal to the x-y plane. A connector engages with the tabs of the fuel cell stack. The connector comprises a support region and engagement regions, each engagement region bounded by the support region and configured to receive one of the array of tabs by engagement in the x-direction. The connector has flexible conductors, each of the flexible conductors laterally extending from the support region over at least a portion of one of the engagement regions and configured to be deflected away from the support region by a received tab.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventor: Paul Leonard Adcock
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Patent number: 10181611Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell assembly configured to generate electrical power from a fuel flow and an oxidant flow, the method comprising a first phase and a subsequent second phase, the first phase comprising; operating the fuel cell assembly with a first stoichiometric ratio of oxidant flow to fuel flow to generate electrical power; providing said generated electrical power to a heater element for heating a coolant for supply to said fuel cell assembly; the second phase comprising; delivering coolant heated in the first phase to the fuel cell assembly; operating the fuel cell assembly with a second stoichiometric ratio of oxidant flow to fuel flow to generate electrical power, the second stoichiometric ratio lower than the first ratio.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Shahin Moghimi, Vince Gardner, Nathaniel Palmer, Simon Foster, Pratap Rama
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Patent number: 10181604Abstract: A bipolar fluid flow plate for an electrochemical assembly comprises a plurality of first fluid flow channels extending across a face of the flow plate to define a first fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate and a plurality of second fluid flow channels extending across a face of the flow plate to define a second fluid flow field of the fluid flow plate. The pluralities of first fluid flow channels and second fluid flow channels both occupying a common channel plane. An array of first fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the first fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the first fluid flow channels. An array of second fluid transfer points is disposed along an edge of the second fluid flow field for communicating fluid into or out of the second fluid flow channels.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Peter David Hood, Paul Leonard Adcock
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Patent number: 10179734Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus comprising; a reaction chamber for hosting a reaction when a fuel generating fluid and a fuel generating substance are brought together to generate fuel, a plurality of discrete fuel generating fluid chambers, each chamber being separately rupturable; and, a heater assembly adapted to, when in use, selectively rupture the fuel generating fluid chambers to supply fuel generating fluid to the reaction chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventor: Harry John Karmazyn
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Patent number: 10174882Abstract: A gas filling apparatus for filling a plurality of gas storage vessels with a gas, the apparatus comprising a plurality of gas filling ports, each port configured to introduce gas into one of the gas storage vessels, and a controller configured to supply gas to the gas filling ports for filling the vessels and to control the supply of gas to all of the gas filling ports based on a property of any one of the vessels.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Colin Cort, Colin Bennett, Christopher Conlon, Simon Payne, Monjur Choudhury, Hiten Mistry
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Patent number: D844555Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis