Abstract: 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. The second subassembly includes an actuator that couples to the actuation point, wherein operation of the actuator causes pumping action.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for use with an endothermic fuel generator including a fuel cell stack having a primary fuel cell stack having a first thermal mass and a secondary fuel cell stack having a second thermal mass smaller than the first, the fuel cell system further including a first thermal coupling mechanism configured to thermally couple waste heat from the secondary fuel cell stack to the primary fuel cell stack, and a second thermal coupling mechanism configured to thermally couple waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the endothermic fuel generator.

Abstract: A reaction hydrogen production control mechanism is provided that includes, a solid sodium borohydride mixture, a liquid fuel reactant, at least one liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI) and a reaction zone, where the MBI is disposed to provide a constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the primary LDM to form the reaction zone. A reaction in the reaction zone includes a hydrolysis reaction. The MBI moves according to a spring, gas pressure, or an elastic membrane. Product paths are disposed to transfer reactants from the system. The product paths can include a channel on a surface of the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed through the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed about the solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about the solid fuel mixture, or a conduit abutting the solid fuel mixture.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for use with an endothermic fuel generator including a fuel cell stack having a primary fuel cell stack having a first thermal mass and a secondary fuel cell stack having a second thermal mass smaller than the first, the fuel cell system further including a first thermal coupling mechanism configured to thermally couple waste heat from the secondary fuel cell stack to the primary fuel cell stack, and a second thermal coupling mechanism configured to thermally couple waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the endothermic fuel generator.

Abstract: A system including a fuel cell system configured to produce power from a fuel and a device configured to receive the power as the power is produced. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell arrangement fueled by a fuel supply, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of available power. The device is configured to manage a device functionality to match the available power.

Abstract: A fuel cell purge system including a fuel cell assembly, a fuel supply that supplies fuel to the fuel cell assembly at a first flow rate, an adjustable load that applies a load on the fuel cell assembly, and a purge valve coupled to the fuel cell assembly, and a purge management module. The fuel cell purge system purges the fuel cell assembly by detecting a purge initiation event, adjusting a system parameter to initiate a purge, detecting a purge completion event, and adjusting a system parameter to cease the purge.

Abstract: 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. The second subassembly includes an actuator that couples to the actuation point, wherein operation of the actuator causes pumping action.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel supply for a fuel cell, the fuel cell including a liquid storage area that includes a liquid reactant, a reaction area that includes a solid reactant, wherein the liquid reactant is pumped into the reaction area such that the liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant to produce reaction components, a product collection area that receives the reaction components, a barrier, and a container with an interior volume that substantially encloses the reaction area, liquid storage area, product collection area. The barrier separates and defines several of the aforementioned areas, and moves to simultaneously increase the product collector area and decrease the liquid storage area as the liquid reactant is pumped from the liquid storage area and the reaction components are transferred into the product collection area.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reaction chamber comprising a fuel insert and an elastic enclosure with a body and an opening, the method including the steps of stretching the body of the elastic enclosure to define a working lumen, orienting the metal hydride insert within the working lumen, and restituting the elastic enclosure over the insert.

Abstract: An article of clothing with an on-demand power supply for electrical devices is provided. The power supply includes stiff planar fuel cell devices that are distributed in a plane. The number of fuel cells is dependent on the power requirements for the electrical devices. The planar stiff fuel cells are flexibly interconnected in the plane by a flexible interconnection, which allows the fuel cells to move with respect to each other out of the plane. This further allows the power supply to be nicely integrated in an article of clothing and minimizes negative impact to a body region or to the article of clothing. The electrical and fuel connections between the fuel cells are integrated with the flexible interconnection. To further integrate and increase ease of operation a control system is included to control the on-demand power supply or control power levels for the electrical device.

Abstract: A reaction hydrogen production control mechanism is provided that includes, a solid sodium borohydride mixture, a liquid fuel reactant, at least one liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI) and a reaction zone, where the MBI is disposed to provide a constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the primary LDM to form the reaction zone. A reaction in the reaction zone includes a hydrolysis reaction. The MBI moves according to a spring, gas pressure, or an elastic membrane. Product paths are disposed to transfer reactants from the system. The product paths can include a channel on a surface of the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed through the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed about the solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about the solid fuel mixture, or a conduit abutting the solid fuel mixture.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator that includes a solid fuel mixture, a liquid reactant, a liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI), a reaction zone, wherein the MBI provides constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the liquid reactant delivered by the LDM to form the reaction zone, and a product separation media, fluidly coupled to the reaction zone by a fluid junction, that degasses a product. The hydrogen generator may further include auxiliary LDMs disposed throughout the hydrogen generator, wherein said auxiliary LDMs may be operated based on a ratio of the liquid reactant flow rate to the hydrogen generation rate.

Abstract: The method of generating and delivering on-demand power to the consumer in a low-carbon-emitting manner comprises the steps of: generating energy from a low-carbon-emitting source, using the generated energy to generate a hydrogen storage composition, transporting the hydrogen storage composition and a reagent to the consumer, facilitating the use of the hydrogen storage composition to generate electricity, and facilitating the return of the by-products to a regeneration facility. This method is preferably used to distribute an on-demand power source to the consumer. One potential advantage of this distribution method includes low carbon emissions. By leveraging low-emission energy sources, utilizing low-emission distribution channels, and placing the energy source (H2) and energy generation (conversion of H2 to electricity) in the consumer's hands, unexpected savings in environmental impact, as measured by carbon emission, can be achieved.

Abstract: A chemical hydride liquid reactant distribution mixture is provided. The mixture includes a fuel mixture having at least one hydride and at least one activating agent. The invention further includes a liquid-distributing agent (LDA), a form-stabilizing agent, and at least one anti-caking agent. The liquid reactant distribution mixture reduces caking and precipitation while promoting liquid reactant distribution, where the chemical hydride liquid reactant distribution mixture generates hydrogen via hydrolysis.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and highly efficient fuel cell has boundary structures made of a photo-sensitive material in combination with selective patterning. Printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication techniques combine boundary structures with two and three dimensional electrical flow path. Photo-sensitive material and PCB fabrication techniques are alternately or combined utilized for making micro-channel structures or micro stitch structures for substantially reducing dead zones of the diffusion layer while keeping fluid flow resistance to a minimum. The fuel cell assembly is free of mechanical clamping elements. Adhesives that may be conductively contaminated and/or fiber-reinforced provide mechanical and eventual electrical connections, and sealing within the assembly. Mechanically supporting backing layers are pre-fabricated with a natural bend defined in combination with the backing layers' elasticity to eliminate massive support plates and assist the adhesive bonding.

Abstract: The current invention is a fuel cell controller that includes a first control loop, where the first control loop is disposed to adjust a fuel cell current to regulate a hydrogen output pressure from the fuel cell to a pressure target valve, and further includes a second control loop disposed to adjust a hydrogen flow rate from a hydrogen generator to match a DC/DC power output to a power target value.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and highly efficient fuel cell has boundary structures made of a photo-sensitive material in combination with selective patterning. Printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication techniques combine boundary structures with two and three dimensional electrical flow path. Photo-sensitive material and PCB fabrication techniques are alternately or combined utilized for making micro-channel structures or micro stitch structures for substantially reducing dead zones of the diffusion layer while keeping fluid flow resistance to a minimum. The fuel cell assembly is free of mechanical clamping elements. Adhesives that may be conductively contaminated and/or fiber-reinforced provide mechanical and eventual electrical connections, and sealing within the assembly. Mechanically supporting backing layers are pre-fabricated with a natural bend defined in combination with the backing layers' elasticity to eliminate massive support plates and assist the adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and highly efficient fuel cell has boundary structures made of a photo-sensitive material in combination with selective patterning. Printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication techniques combine boundary structures with two and three dimensional electrical flow path. Photo-sensitive material and PCB fabrication techniques are alternately or combined utilized for making micro-channel structures or micro stitch structures for substantially reducing dead zones of the diffusion layer while keeping fluid flow resistance to a minimum. The fuel cell assembly is free of mechanical clamping elements. Adhesives that may be conductively contaminated and/or fiber-reinforced provide mechanical and eventual electrical connections, and sealing within the assembly. Mechanically supporting backing layers are pre-fabricated with a natural bend defined in combination with the backing layers' elasticity to eliminate massive support plates and assist the adhesive bonding.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices are utilized as an on-demand personal temperature control system, as well as an on-demand power supply for electrical devices. The electrochemical devices are planar stiff fuel cells flexibly interconnected in a plane by a flexible interconnecting means. This allows the fuel cells to move with respect to each other out of the plane. This further allows it to be nicely integrated in an article of clothing, to minimize negative impact to a body region or to the article of clothing, and to maximize the heat conduction area to a body region. To further integrate and increase ease of operation a control system and sensors could be included to control: (i) on-demand power and/or heat supply, (ii) temperature levels, and/or (iii) power levels for the electrical device(s).

Abstract: A fuel cell gas purge system is provided that includes at least one fuel cell, such as a fuel cell stack or a fuel cell array, a fuel supply, and an adjustable fuel cell current load. The system further includes at least one passive purge valve disposed to purge accumulated non-fuel matter in the fuel cell, and operates according to a pressure differential across the valve. The valve can be a passive bi-directional valve, such as a dome valve, or a passive unidirectional valve. Further included is a purge management module that has a purge request module to determine when to increase the pressure of the hydrogen fuel to initiate the purge, and a purge complete module to determine when to adjust the pressure of the hydrogen fuel to complete the purge. The non-fuel matter can include non-fuel gases or condensed water.