US 7,622,207 B2 · Fuel cell cartridge with reformate filtering

Abstract

Described herein is a portable storage device that stores a hydrogen fuel source. The storage device includes a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source and conforms to the volume of the hydrogen fuel source. A housing provides mechanical protection for the bladder. The storage device also includes a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector. The device may be a portable electronics device such as a laptop computer. Refillable hydrogen fuel source storage devices and systems are also described. Hot swappable fuel storage systems described herein allow a portable hydrogen fuel source storage device to be removed from a fuel processor or electronics device it provides the hydrogen fuel source to, without shutting down the receiving device or without compromising hydrogen fuel source provision.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for providing hydrogen to a fuel cell in an electronics device, the method comprising:

attaching a hydrogen fuel source storage device to the electronics device, such that the storage device is detachably coupled with the electronics device that includes a fuel processor;
transferring a hydrogen fuel source from the storage device to the fuel processor included in the electronics device;
reforming the hydrogen fuel source in the fuel processor to produce reformate;
transferring the reformate from the fuel processor to the storage device;
removing a contaminant from the reformate while the reformate is in the storage device by way of a reformate cleaning system;
and
transferring hydrogen in the reformate from the storage device to the fuel cell in the electronics device.

4 more elements

A method for providing hydrogen to a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell and a fuel processor using a detachable cartridge that is separate from the fuel cell system, the detachable cartridge having a hydrogen fuel source stored therein and including a reformate cleaning system, the method comprising:

attaching the cartridge to the fuel cell system, such that the cartridge is detachably coupled with the fuel cell system;
transferring at least some of the hydrogen fuel source from the cartridge to the fuel processor, wherein the fuel processor is included in the fuel cell system;
reforming the hydrogen fuel source within the fuel processor to produce reformate;
transferring the reformate from the fuel processor to the cartridge;
cleaning the reformate by passing the reformate through the reformate cleaning system within the cartridge to thereby remove contaminants from the reformate while the reformate is in the cartridge;
and
transferring hydrogen in the cleaned reformate from the cartridge to the fuel cell system to facilitate the production of electricity within the fuel cell system;
and
wherein the cartridge may be detached from the fuel cell system to facilitate refilling or replacing the cartridge.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel cell cartridge with reformate filtering

Life of this patent

Fuel cell cartridge with reformate filtering

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16