Patents Assigned to Trulite, Inc.
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Patent number: 8364287Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to manage the generation and use of hybrid electric power. A monitoring module receives signals from one or more sensors. The signals comprise power level information of an electric energy storage device, power level information of one or more energy converters, and power level information of an electric load. A determination module compares the signals to determine whether electric power from the energy converters satisfies the electric load. A regulation module adjusts the electric power from the energy converters in response to a determination by the determination module that the electric power from the energy converters does not satisfy an electric load threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Trulite, Inc.Inventors: Ken Pearson, Chris Brydon, Eugene You, Guangde Wang
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Patent number: 8357213Abstract: The apparatus includes a liquid permeable pouch that defines a cavity for maintaining an anhydrous hydride reactant, wherein the cavity comprises a cross-section such that a point within the cross-section is separated from a perimeter of the liquid permeable pouch by no more than double the permeation distance, and a cartridge configured to receive the liquid permeable pouch and a liquid reactant such that at least a portion of the liquid permeable pouch is submerged in the liquid reactant. The system includes a plurality of pouches formed from two rectangular sheets of liquid permeable material, and each pouch has a width selected such that each point within a cross-section is separated from the sheets by no more than double the permeation distance. The method includes joining the sheets, forming one or more seals to define a cavity, disposing anhydrous hydride within the cavity, and sealing the opening.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Trulite, Inc.Inventors: John M. Patton, J. Kevin Shurtleff, Eric J. Ladd
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Patent number: 8357214Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for generating a gas. One or more liquid permeable pouches each define a cavity that contains a solid anhydrous reactant, such as a chemical hydride. A reaction chamber made of a heat, chemical and/or pressure resistant material receives the one or more pouches from a pouch feeder that transfers the one or more pouches into the reaction chamber successively at a feed rate. One or more liquid sources inject a liquid reactant into the reaction chamber so that the liquid reactant contacts a portion of the one or more pouches. The one or more liquid sources inject the liquid reactant at an injection rate that corresponds to the feed rate. A gas outlet releases a gas, such as hydrogen, oxygen, ammonia, borazine, nitrogen, or a hydrocarbon, that is produced by a reaction between the solid reactant and the liquid reactant.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Trulite, Inc.Inventors: John Madison Patton, Howard Anderson
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Patent number: 8152873Abstract: A system is disclosed to generate hydrogen. The system includes a fuel cartridge, a cartridge interface, and a fuel cartridge receiver. The fuel cartridge includes a liquid permeable material with one or more cavities that encloses a solid anhydrous chemical hydride. The fuel cartridge also includes a housing that is heat and pressure resistant that houses the liquid permeable material, and a liquid. The fuel cartridge also includes one or more liquid sources that introduce the liquid into the housing such that the liquid contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Trulite, IncInventors: Kevin Shurtleff, Eric Ladd, John Patton, Chris Brydon, Ken Pearson
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Publication number: 20110027670Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to generate electric power from a chemical hydride. A fuel cartridge produces hydrogen by reacting a liquid with a chemical hydride. A fuel cell stack generates electric power using an oxygen source and the produced hydrogen. An electric power storage device is coupled with the fuel cell stack. The electric power storage device stores and supplies electric power. One or more liquid sources inject the liquid into the fuel cartridge at a variable rate. A controller calculates a liquid injection rate for the one or more liquid sources based on power demands of an electric load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: TRULITE INC.Inventors: Kevin Shurtleff, Eric Ladd, John Patton, Chris Brydon, Ken Pearson
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Publication number: 20100129266Abstract: A system is disclosed to generate hydrogen. The system includes a fuel cartridge, a cartridge interface, and a fuel cartridge receiver. The fuel cartridge includes a liquid permeable material with one or more cavities that encloses a solid anhydrous chemical hydride. The fuel cartridge also includes a housing that is heat and pressure resistant that houses the liquid permeable material, and a liquid. The fuel cartridge also includes one or more liquid sources that introduce the liquid into the housing such that the liquid contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: Trulite Inc.Inventors: Kevin Shurtleff, Eric Ladd, John Patton, Chris Brydon, Ken Pearson
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Patent number: 7648786Abstract: A system is disclosed to generate electric power from a chemical hydride. A fuel cartridge produces hydrogen by reacting a liquid with a chemical hydride. A fuel cell stack generates electric power using an oxygen source and the produced hydrogen. An electric power storage device is coupled with the fuel cell stack. The electric power storage device stores and supplies electric power. One or more liquid sources inject the liquid into the fuel cartridge at a variable rate. A controller calculates a liquid injection rate for the one or more liquid sources based on power demands of an electric load.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2007Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Trulite, IncInventors: Kevin Shurtleff, Eric Ladd, John Patton, Chris Brydon, Ken Pearson
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Publication number: 20090053134Abstract: A process, composition of matter, and apparatus for generating hydrogen are disclosed. The process includes providing an anhydrous hydride, forming a mixture of the hydride with an activating agent, and introducing a liquid reactant to the mixture to produce hydrogen. The mixture includes activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: TRULITE, INC.Inventors: James Kevin Shurtleff, Eric J. Ladd, Chris A. Brydon, John M. Patton, J. Howard Anderson
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Patent number: 7438732Abstract: A fuel cartridge for a hydrogen generating system having a cartridge containing a substantially anhydrous chemical hydride reactant. A plurality of liquid conduits extends into the cartridge and each of the liquid conduits has a length and a plurality of liquid distribution apertures formed along the length. The liquid distribution apertures have a diameter of less than approximately 1 mm. The chemical hydride reactant forms a bed and the liquid conduits extend along at least half of a length of the bed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Trulite, IncInventors: James Kevin Shurtleff, Eric J. Ladd, Chris A. Brydon, John M. Patton, Howard Anderson
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Patent number: 7393369Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method generate hydrogen through a controlled chemical reaction between water and a chemical hydride. The invention includes a chemical hydride isolated from water by a water-selective membrane. A fluid containing water is brought into contact with the water-selective membrane. The water diffuses through the water-selective membrane and reacts with the chemical hydride. The water diffuses through the membrane at a predetermined rate based on a water concentration gradient across the water-selective membrane. The water-selective membrane is substantially impermeable to elements and molecules other than water. Hydrogen generated within the chemical hydride is collected and used in various applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2003Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Trulite, Inc.Inventor: James Kevin Shurtleff
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Publication number: 20080025880Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to generate hydrogen. A liquid permeable material with one or more cavities contains a solid anhydrous chemical hydride and an anhydrous activating agent. A housing that is heat and pressure resistant houses the liquid permeable material, and a liquid. One or more liquid sources inject the liquid into the housing such that the liquid contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material. A gas outlet port releases hydrogen gas produced by a reaction comprising the solid anhydrous chemical hydride, the anhydrous activating agent, and the liquid. A hydrogen output regulator controls the amount of hydrogen gas that the gas outlet port releases.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: Trulite, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Shurtleff, Eric Ladd, John Patton, Chris Brydon, Ken Pearson
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Publication number: 20080026269Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to generate electric power from a chemical hydride. A fuel cartridge produces hydrogen by reacting a liquid with a chemical hydride. A fuel cell stack generates electric power using an oxygen source and the produced hydrogen. An electric power storage device is coupled with the fuel cell stack. The electric power storage device stores and supplies electric power. One or more liquid sources inject the liquid into the fuel cartridge at a variable rate. A controller calculates a liquid injection rate for the one or more liquid sources based on power demands of an electric load.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: Trulite, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Shurtleff, Eric Ladd, John Patton, Chris Brydon, Ken Pearson