# US 10,374,240 B2 · Power generator having fuel cell and membrane conduits

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,374,240 B2
- Document ID: US10374240B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/439,446
- Filed: 2017-02-22
- Published: 2017-06-08
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-23
- Assignees: Honeywell International Inc.
- Applicants: Honeywell International Inc.
- Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374240B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04216: {characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent}
- H01M 8/004: {Cylindrical, tubular or wound}
- H01M 8/04156: {with product water removal}
- H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes}
- H01M 8/04291: Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems (H01M8/04119 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/0432: Temperature; Ambient temperature
- H01M 8/04388: {of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell}
- H01M 8/04492: Humidity; Ambient humidity; Water content
- H01M 8/04753: {of fuel cell reactants}
- H01M 8/065: by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
- H01M 8/241: with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
- H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds
- H01M 8/2475: Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A power generator includes a housing, a chemical hydride fuel block adapted to be removably placed within the housing, an air conduit disposed about the chemical hydride fuel block in the housing. The air conduit includes a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion. The housing has an air intake opening to draw air into the housing and through the air conduit to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and to carry water vapor generated by the fuel cell portion past the permeable membrane portion such that water vapor passes through the membrane and causes release of hydrogen from the fuel block.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
drawing air containing oxygen and water vapor into a housing;
distributing the air to a plurality of conduits;
flowing the air past a fuel cell portion to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and receive water vapor from the fuel cell portion;
flowing the air including the received water vapor past a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion such that water vapor is transported across the membrane portion to a replaceable chemical hydride fuel block, the replaceable chemical hydride fuel block including an array of cylindrical openings passing through the entire length of the chemical hydride fuel block;
generating hydrogen in the fuel block responsive to the water vapor;
providing the hydrogen to the fuel cell portion; and
exhausting air and heat from the conduits out of the housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the air is drawn into the housing via a fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 and further comprising:
sensing pressure in the fuel block;
sensing temperature and relative humidity where air is drawn into the housing and exhausted from the conduits; and
controlling a speed of the fan as a function of the sensed pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 and further comprising powering the fan from a rechargeable battery.