Abstract: Oxides of carbon and other impurities are removed from a hydrogen fuel supply stream (12) for a fuel cell (30). A getter element (20) sufficient for chemisorbing the oxides of carbon from the hydrogen is removably connected to the fuel cell anode side. The fuel stream is passed through the getter element so as to chemisorb the oxides of carbon onto the getter, thereby providing a purified stream of hydrogen (26) to the fuel cell anode. The getter is removed from the fuel cell when the getter is spent and replaced with a fresh getter.

Abstract: A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Abstract: A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen in a hydrogen storage vessel of a hydrogen fuel cell using the Pressure, Composition, Temperature (PCT) relationship of the storage media is disclosed. The method of measuring the quantity of hydrogen involves, measuring the temperature 310 of the hydrogen storage media at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel 300, measuring the mechanical strain 320 at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel, computing the pressure 330 inside the vessel based on the strain measurements, referring to a lookup table 340 or an equation representing the discharge PCT curve for the particular composition of the hydrogen storage media at the measured temperature and computing the hydrogen concentration at the measured pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for temperature regulation of a fuel cell using differential heat capacity of the fuel storage media is disclosed. The method of regulating the temperature involves measuring the temperature of one or more fuel cells, comparing the temperature against target values, selecting a control method from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison and using that control method to initiate and control a regulation cycle, and actuating a flow control means using the selected control method to alter the flow of fuel between one or more fuel storage containers, each containing fuel storage media which exhibit different enthalpies of formation and dissociation. The regulation process starts with measuring temperature (110) of a fuel cell system (100). The measured temperature is then compared (120) to a predetermined set of ideal target values designed to provide peak fuel cell performance.

Abstract: A fuel cell (200) includes a membrane electrode assembly (210) located together with a layer of porous, z-axis electrically conductive, non-linear positive temperature coefficient (NPTC) material (250). The NPTC material (250) operates to selectively limit the amount of electrons collected from localized areas of the membrane electrode assembly (210) in order to reduce hot spots.

Abstract: A fuel cell (100) includes a membrane electrode assembly (110) located together with a layer of variable porosity porous gas diffusion material (150). The variable porosity gas diffusion material layer (150) operates to selectively limit the amount of reactants reaching localized areas of the membrane electrode assembly (110) in order to reduce hot spots.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen in a hydrogen storage vessel of a hydrogen fuel cell using the Pressure, Composition, Temperature (PCT) relationship of the storage media is disclosed. The method of measuring the quantity of hydrogen involves, measuring the temperature 310 of the hydrogen storage media at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel 300, measuring the mechanical strain 320 at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel, computing the pressure 330 inside the vessel based on the strain measurements, referring to a lookup table 340 or an equation representing the discharge PCT curve for the particular composition of the hydrogen storage media at the measured temperature and computing the hydrogen concentration at the measured pressure. The changes in temperature and pressure during hydrogen absorption-desorption which are characteristic of hydride composition is used to measure the concentration ratio of hydrogen to metal hydride.

Abstract: A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Abstract: A thermo-responsive polymer is incorporated into a fuel cell (50) in order to maintain optimum hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The thermo-responsive polymer (52) is situated proximate to the membrane electrode assembly (54) such that fuel or oxidant gas passes (56) through the thermo-responsive polymer to the membrane electrode assembly. The thermo-responsive polymer swells or shrinks in response to changes in the operating temperature of the membrane electrode assembly, altering the flow rate of the fuel or oxidant gas passing through the thermo-responsive polymer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for temperature regulation of a fuel cell using differential heat capacity of the fuel storage media is disclosed. The method of regulating the temperature involves measuring the temperature of one or more fuel cells, comparing the temperature against target values, selecting a control method from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison and using that control method to initiate and control a regulation cycle, and actuating a flow control means using the selected control method to alter the flow of fuel between one or more fuel storage containers, each containing fuel storage media which exhibit different enthalpies of formation and dissociation. The regulation process starts with measuring temperature (110) of a fuel cell system (100). The measured temperature is then compared (120) to a predetermined set of ideal target values designed to provide peak fuel cell performance.

Abstract: Oxides of carbon and other impurities are removed from a hydrogen fuel supply stream (12) for a fuel cell (30). A getter element (20) sufficient for chemisorbing the oxides of carbon from the hydrogen is removably connected to the fuel cell anode side. The fuel stream is passed through the getter element so as to chemisorb the oxides of carbon onto the getter, thereby providing a purified stream of hydrogen (26) to the fuel cell anode. The getter is removed from the fuel cell when the getter when spent and replaced with a fresh getter.

Abstract: A self-contained hydrogen recharging system (5) for a fuel cell metal hydride storage canister (100). A water reservoir (10) provides water (15) to an electrolyzer (20), where the water is converted into hydrogen gas (22) and oxygen gas (24). The hydrogen gas is dried (26) and then stored in an accumulator (30). When the metal hydride storage canister is ready to be refilled, it is connected by the user to the recharging system. A heat exchanger (55) heats the fuel cell hydride storage canister prior to transfer of the stored hydrogen gas, and then cools the fuel cell hydride storage canister during transfer of the stored hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas stored in the accumulator is rapidly transferred to the hydride storage canister by means of a pump (60) and stowed in the canister as a metal hydride.

Abstract: A method of diluting reacted fuel gas that is exhausted from a fuel cell. The reacted fuel gas is transferred from the fuel cell (10) into a hydrogen diluting mechanism (16) prior to release into the atmosphere, so that when the reacted fuel gas is subsequently released into the atmosphere, the percentage of hydrogen immediately surrounding the fuel cell does not exceed 4 percent by volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the performance of a fuel cell system (100) using an agitation means (150). The method of managing the performance involves, monitoring operational parameters (110) of individual fuel cells and the overall fuel cell system, comparing performance parameters (120) of the system against target values, selecting a control method (130) from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison of the performance parameters against the target values and using that control method to initiate and control an agitation process, and actuating (140) an agitation means using the selected control method so as alter the monitored operational parameters (160).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing thermal performance of a fuel cell system having a fuel cell assembly and a fuel storage container is disclosed. The fuel cell system 100 consists of one or more fuel cells 110, each having a major surface 140, and disposed next to each other in a side-by-side adjacent arrangement and a fuel storage container 120 having an exterior wall 150. The fuel cells 110 are positioned such that distance between the major surfaces 140 and the fuel storage container wall 150 along a direction normal to the major surfaces is substantially the same. In addition, one or more of the fuel cells are in thermal contact with the fuel storage container such that cell waste heat is transferred to the fuel storage container.

Abstract: A water management system reduces the problems with flooding and also enhances the flow of fuel gas to the anodes. Individual unit cells (20) in an array are separated by cell walls (24), the array is covered by a fuel manifold (36), and the manifold is arranged so that the individual unit cells have their own respective chambers. Each chamber is arranged so that the fuel gas flows from one chamber into another through an opening or vent (35) in the chamber wall. The opening contains a hydrophobic portion (38) that serves to urge liquid water that accumulates in the opening to migrate away.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for generating energy, utilizing a fuel cell. Air is freely guided to the fuel cell, while a fuel gas is provided to the fuel cell from a pressurized fuel supply via a regulator. The portable power supply is most applicable to use with handheld electric devices, and contains a fuel storage means (110) for storing a supply of fuel, a fuel delivery means (120) connected to the fuel storage means, an energy conversion device (140) connected to the fuel delivery means for converting the fuel to electricity. The fuel storage means, the fuel delivery means, and the energy conversion device are all contained in a volume less than 500 cubic centimeters.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly consists of a polymer electrolyte membrane (100) with an electrode on each side. The polymer electrolyte membrane has an integral sensor (115) disposed on the surface. The sensor monitors the physical, thermal, chemical or electrical state of the membrane electrode assembly. Information obtained from the sensor is used to identify a defective membrane electrode assembly, and the operation of the fuel cell is altered based on the identified defective membrane electrode assembly.