# US 2008/0187798 A1 · Portable fuel cell power source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187798 A1 - Document ID: US20080187798A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/025,627 - Filed: 2008-02-04 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Angstrom Power Incorporated - Inventors: Gerard F. McLean; Joerg Zimmermann; Jeremy Schrooten - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187798A1 ## CPC - H01M 8/0606: with means for production of gaseous reactants - C01B 3/0005: Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes - F17C 1/00: Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge (pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 {; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00}) - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 8/04216: {characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent} - H01M 8/2475: Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks - C01B 2203/066: with fuel cells - F17C 11/005: {for hydrogen} - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable fuel cell power source including an expandable enclosure, a first reactant contained within the enclosure, one or more fuel cells and a fluid port positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells. The enclosure may also include an opening to insert a second reactant. When the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant a fuel is generated for use with one or more of the fuel cells. The volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state may be smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable fuel cell power source, comprising: an expandable enclosure; a first reactant, contained within the enclosure; one or more fuel cells; a fluid port, positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells; and an opening, to allow for the insertion of a second reactant to the expandable enclosure; wherein when the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant, a fuel for use with the one or more fuel cells is generated; wherein the volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state is smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the expandable enclosure comprises a collapsible enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the expandable enclosure comprises a bag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the expandable enclosure comprises a balloon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fluid port comprises an opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, further comprising a third reactant, contained within the enclosure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, further comprising additional chemicals contained within the enclosure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 7, wherein the additional chemicals act as a catalyst for the fuel generation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 7, wherein the additional chemicals act as an electrolyte for the fuel generation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the volume of the expandable enclosure and first reactant is less than about 10% more than the volume of the first reactant alone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, further comprising a self regulating mechanism, enabled by the expandable enclosure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 12, where the self regulating mechanism comprises the expandable enclosure separating the first reactant and second reactant as it expands due to the gas pressure of the generated fuel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the first reactant comprises a hydrogen storage material, metal hydride, silicon, chemical hydride, aluminum, iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium borohydride or combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the first reactant comprise a combination of a chemical hydride and a metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the first reactant comprises a combination of sodium borohydride and aluminum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the first reactant comprises a combination of metals, acting as a galvanic pair. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the second reactant comprises water or alcohol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the second reactant is stored outside the expandable enclosure until needed to generate the fuel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 6, wherein the third reactant comprises an acidic or a basic compound. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the expandable enclosure is substantially sealed from the intrusion of ambient air. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the one or more fuels cells are integrated within the expandable enclosure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the one or more fuel cells are attached to the expandable enclosure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The portable fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the first fuel reactant is attached to at least one interior wall of the expandable enclosure. ### Claim 25 A portable fuel cell power source, comprising: an expandable enclosure; a first reactant, contained within the enclosure; one or more fuel cells; a fluid port, positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells; and a second reactant, separated from the first reactant; wherein when the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant, a fuel for use with the one or more fuel cells is generated. ### Claim 26 A portable fuel cell power source, comprising: an expandable enclosure; a first reactant, contained within the enclosure; one or more fuel cells; a fluid port, positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells; and a self regulating mechanism, adapted to control the amount of hydrogen generated; wherein when the first reactant is contacted with a second reactant, hydrogen for use with the one or more fuel cells is generated; wherein the volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state is smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction. ### Claim 27 A method of generating fuel for use with one or more fuel cells, the method comprising: contacting a first reactant and a second fuel reactant within an expandable enclosure, sufficient to generate a fuel for use with one or more fuel cells. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising before contacting, vacuum sealing the expandable enclosure containing a first reactant. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein contacting comprises exposing a first reactant to a second reactant. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising separating the first reactant and second reactant, sufficient to slow the generation of fuel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising separating the first reactant and second reactant, sufficient to cease the generation of fuel.