Hydrogen-Generating Fuel Cell Cartridges
AssigneeSociete BIC
InventorsAlain Rosenzweig, Andrew J. Curello, Paul Spahr, Michael R. Curello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus (10). Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The generation of hydrogen is regulated automatically by the selective exposure of a catalyst (48) to the fuel mixture depending on the pressure inside the reaction chamber (28) of the gas-generating apparatus. Catalyst sealing mechanisms (40, 42) are provided at least partially within the reaction chamber to regulate the hydrogen pressure and to minimize the fluctuations in pressure of the hydrogen received by the fuel cell.
Claims28
A gas-generating apparatus comprising:
- a reaction chamber;
- a fuel mixture within the reaction chamber, wherein the fuel mixture reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst;
- and
- a catalyst sealing member comprising a substantially non-planar pressure sensitive member and disposed at least partially within the reaction chamber, wherein the catalyst sealing member has at least a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the catalyst is contactable by the fuel mixture when the catalyst sealing member is in the first configuration, wherein the catalyst is not contactable by the fuel mixture when the catalyst sealing member is in the second configuration, wherein a pressure in the reaction chamber actuates the non-planar pressure sensitive member to move between the first configuration and the second configuration.
A gas-generating apparatus comprising:
- a reaction chamber;
- a fuel mixture within the reaction chamber, wherein the fuel mixture reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst;
- and
- a catalyst sealing member comprising at least one fuel channel and disposed at least partially within the reaction chamber, wherein the catalyst sealing member has at least a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the catalyst is contactable by the fuel mixture when the catalyst sealing member is in the first configuration, wherein the catalyst is not contactable by the fuel mixture when the catalyst sealing member is in the second configuration, wherein a pressure in the reaction chamber actuates the catalyst sealing member to move between the first configuration and the second configuration, and wherein the at least one fuel channel allows the fuel mixture to contact the catalyst in the second configuration.
A gas-generating apparatus comprising
- a reaction chamber containing a fuel mixture, wherein the fuel mixture reacts in the presence of a catalyst to produce a gas,
- wherein the reactor chamber comprises a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable composite and wherein a lattice structure is disposed between two gas-permeable membranes and the produced gas flows through one or both of the membranes and into the lattice structure.
A gas-generating apparatus comprising:
- a reaction chamber;
- a fuel mixture within the reaction chamber, wherein the fuel mixture reacts to produce a gas and a byproduct in the presence of a catalyst;
- and
- a fuel gage, wherein the fuel gage measures an electrical resistance or the density of the fuel mixture to determine the remaining unreacted fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.