Abstract: A hydrogen generator, a fuel cell for use in the hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system are disclosed. The hydrogen generator includes a housing and a plurality of fuel pellets disposed in the housing. Each fuel pellet includes a hydrogen-containing reactant that will react to release hydrogen gas when heated. The hydrogen generator also includes a plurality of heating elements extending into the plurality of fuel pellets to generate heat to selectively heat one or more fuel pellets to initiate a reaction to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen generator further includes a plurality of electrical contacts operatively coupled to the plurality of heating elements to selectively supply electrical power to the plurality of heating elements.

Abstract: A stacked arrangement of metal oxide varistors includes a plurality of metal oxide varistors with each metal oxide varistor of the plurality of metal oxide varistors having a first lead on a first surface and a second lead on a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being opposite facing surfaces of each metal oxide varistor. The first lead and the second lead of adjacent metal oxide varistors, when placed in a stacked arrangement, are arranged, preferably asymmetrically, and having the same voltages so as not to interfere with one another, thereby result in a more compact stacking of metal oxide varistors, as compared to arrangements known to the state of the art. The stacked arrangement of metal oxide varistor can be mounted on printed circuit boards, in addition to a variety of other uses.

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: Disclosed is a hydrogen generator that produces hydrogen by thermal decomposition. An electric circuit including a plurality of parallel branches, each including at least one electric heating element, is arranged in a sequence. The circuit also includes a normally open switch between adjacent branches and a normally closed switch in each branch but the last to provide current to the heating elements in the sequence of the parallel branches. Each heating element provides heat to thermally decompose a portion of a reactant, open the normally closed switch in the same branch, and close the normally open switch following that branch, energizing and deenergizing the heating elements in sequence. Each of the normally open switches includes a switch material with a resistivity that permanently decreases to close the switch in response to heating, and each of the normally closed switches opens in response to heating.

Abstract: Methods for generating hydrogen gas and related systems are disclosed. Aspects of methods include providing a solid reactant component to an expandable reactant zone within an expandable reaction chamber, providing a liquid reactant component to a collapsible receptacle, controllably transporting the liquid reactant component in the collapsible receptacle to the expandable reaction chamber, and reacting the liquid reactant component with the solid reactant component. In some instances, components are configured for volume exchange among the expandable reaction chamber, the expandable reactant zone, and the collapsible receptacle.

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 hydrogen gas generating apparatus for providing hydrogen gas to a fuel cell stack is provided. The apparatus includes an expandable reaction chamber containing a solid reactant component and a collapsible receptacle containing a liquid reactant component with a housing. The reaction chamber includes an expandable reactant zone defined by a moveable partition that retains the reactants and reaction products within the reaction chamber. The apparatus also includes a liquid transport control system and a fluid path for transporting the liquid reactant component from the collapsible receptacle to the reactant zone in the reaction chamber, where the liquid and solid reactant components react to generate hydrogen gas. The receptacle collapses with a corresponding expansion of the reaction chamber as liquid reactant component is used, and the reactant zone expands within the reaction chamber in response to pressure from the increasing volume of reaction products on the moveable partition.

Abstract: A stacked arrangement of metal oxide varistors includes a plurality of metal oxide varistors with each metal oxide varistor of the plurality of metal oxide varistors having a first lead on a first surface and a second lead on a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being opposite facing surfaces of each metal oxide varistor. The first lead and the second lead of adjacent metal oxide varistors, when placed in a stacked arrangement, are arranged, preferably asymmetrically, so as not to interfere with one another, thereby result in a more compact stacking of metal oxide varistors, as compared to arrangements known to the state of the art. The stacked arrangement of metal oxide varistor can be mounted on printed circuit boards, in addition to a variety of other uses.

Abstract: Passive recovery of liquid water from the cathode side of a polymer electrolyte membrane through the design of layers on the cathode side of an MEA and through the design of the PEM, may be used to supply water to support chemical or electrochemical reactions, either internal or external to the fuel cell, to support the humidification or hydration of the anode reactants, or to support the hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane over its major surface or some combination thereof. Such passive recovery of liquid water can simplify fuel cell power generators through the reduction or elimination of cathode liquid water recovery devices.

Abstract: Spacing of metal oxide varistors (“MOVs”) when used for surge suppression or surge protection will determine the number that can be used and the amount of protection achieved in a limited space. By changing the way the leads are attached to the metal oxide varistors (“MOVs”), tighter spacing, higher densities, and more surge suppression and protection can be placed in the same sized location.

Abstract: A surge suppression or surge protection device for affording enhanced safety by disconnecting a protected device should a fault occur, and which is preferably formed as part of an electrical power strip, preferably includes a plurality of fuses with at least one fuse being a thermal fuse and a heating element in proximity to the thermal fuse for opening the thermal fuse, when heated. The heating element may preferably be a positive coefficient self-regulating heating element.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas generating apparatus for providing hydrogen gas to a fuel cell stack is provided. The apparatus includes an expandable reaction chamber containing a solid reactant component and a collapsible receptacle containing a liquid reactant component with a housing. The reaction chamber includes an expandable reactant zone defined by a moveable partition that retains the reactants and reaction products within the reaction chamber. The apparatus also includes a liquid transport control system and a fluid path for transporting the liquid reactant component from the collapsible receptacle to the reactant zone in the reaction chamber, where the liquid and solid reactant components react to generate hydrogen gas. The receptacle collapses with a corresponding expansion of the reaction chamber as liquid reactant component is used, and the reactant zone expands within the reaction chamber in response to pressure from the increasing volume of reaction products on the moveable partition.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling electrical power distribution to an electrical charging device includes a power input that is to be connected to a power source for receiving electrical current from the power source and a power output that is to be connected to at least one electrical charging device having a run mode and a standby mode for supplying the electrical current to the one or more electrical charging devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a power distribution to subsystems includes a power input that is to be connected to a power source and a primary power output to be connected to a primary device, along with at least one secondary power output, which is to be connected to at least one secondary device. A sensing device is included for sensing when a current level falls below a first predetermined threshold, in response to the primary device being turned off, deactivated or “on standby,” as well as for sensing when the current level rises above a second predetermined threshold in response to the primary device being turned “on” or activated. An executing device is connected with the sensing device and is operative for interrupting a power supply to, at least, one secondary device when the sensing device senses that the current level has fallen below the threshold.

Abstract: A device for controlling a power distribution to subsystems, has a power input to be connected to a power source, a primary power output to be connected to a primary device; at least one secondary power output to be connected to at least one secondary device; sensing unit for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off or going into a standby mode and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on; executing unit operatively connected with the sensing unit and operative for interrupting a power supply to the at least one secondary device when the sensing unit sense the current level below the threshold and supplying power to the at least one secondary device when the sensing unit sense the current level above the threshold correspondingly and adjusting unit for adjusting the threshold depending on a current of the primary device during periods of turning off, going into standby mode, and turning on.

Abstract: Passive recovery of liquid water from the cathode side of a polymer electrolyte membrane through the design of layers on the cathode side of an MEA and through the design of the PEM, may be used to supply water to support chemical or electrochemical reactions, either internal or external to the fuel cell, to support the humidification or hydration of the anode reactants, or to support the hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane over its major surface or some combination thereof. Such passive recovery of liquid water can simplify fuel cell power generators through the reduction or elimination of cathode liquid water recovery devices.

Abstract: The invention provides gas phase fuel cells for use in such fuel cells and methods of operating such fuel cells.

Abstract: The invention provides dimensionally stable polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) that can be used to fabricate catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) that are useful in fuel cells.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell stack with integrated anode exhaust valves is disclosed, comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode and at least one anode flow field channel, an anode exhaust manifold fluidly connected to the at least one anode flow field channel of each fuel cell, and a means for minimizing fluid backflow from the anode exhaust manifold into the anode flow field channels of the fuel cells. Methods for purging, and reducing fuel cell voltage variations within, the electrochemical fuel cell stack are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell cathode recirculation valve is provided. The valve is configured to recirculate nearly 100% of a cathode outlet stream at idle and to exhaust all of a cathode outlet stream when the fuel cell is operating a full power.