Hydrogen supplies and related methods
AssigneeSociete BIC
InventorsGerard F. McLean, Joerg Zimmermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydrogen source comprises a first hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a first form and a second hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a second form different from the first form. The hydrogen source comprises a means for converting hydrogen from the first form to hydrogen gas and transferring the hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen reservoir to the second hydrogen reservoir. An interface is provided for transferring hydrogen from the second hydrogen reservoir to a hydrogen reservoir in a portable device. The interface comprises a fluidic coupling. The hydrogen source may be used to provide hydrogen fuel to a wide range of portable devices.
Claims22
A hydrogen supply system comprising:
- a first hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a first form;
- a converter adapted to convert the first form of hydrogen to hydrogen gas, wherein the converter includes a hydrolysis reactor, a galvanic cell, or a heater;
- a second hydrogen reservoir wherein the second hydrogen reservoir includes a hydrogen occluding material;
- a hydrogen transfer interface that is in fluid communication with the second hydrogen reservoir and includes a portable device fluidic coupling;
- and
- a portable electronic device removably attached to the portable device fluidic coupling, wherein the portable electronic device includes a hydrogen storing material within a fuel reservoir and wherein the system is adapted to fill the fuel reservoir with hydrogen gas from the second hydrogen reservoir and wherein the hydrogen transfer interface includes a thermally-conductive pathway between the hydrogen occluding material of the second reservoir and the hydrogen storing material in the hydrogen storing reservoir of the portable device;
- and
- wherein the system is devoid of compressors for compressing hydrogen.
A hydrogen supply system comprising:
- a first hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a first form and adapted to convert the first form of hydrogen to a hydrogen gas;
- a second hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a second form different from the first form, wherein the second hydrogen reservoir is in fluid communication with the first hydrogen reservoir;
- a hydrogen transfer interface that is in fluid communication with the second hydrogen reservoir and includes a portable device fluidic coupling;
- and
- a portable electronic device removably attached to the portable device fluidic coupling, wherein the portable electronic device includes a fuel reservoir and wherein the system is adapted to fill the fuel reservoir with hydrogen gas from the second hydrogen reservoir;
- wherein the system is devoid of compressors for compressing hydrogen and wherein the first hydrogen reservoir includes a lid that can be opened to insert the first form and wherein the system is configured to transfer hydrogen to the hydrogen reservoir of the portable device without transferring additional hydrogen from the first hydrogen reservoir to the second hydrogen reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.