# US 8,771,889 B2 · Hydrogen generator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,889 B2 - Document ID: US8771889B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/659,938 - Filed: 2012-10-25 - Published: 2013-05-02 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-26 - Assignees: Intelligent Energy Limited - Applicants: Eveready Battery Company, Inc. - Inventors: Richard A. Langan; Jason L. Stimits; Chad E. Law; Russell H. Barton; Thomas J. Kmetich; Allison M. Fisher; Guanghong Zheng; Olen Vanderleeden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771889B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0643: {Gasification of solid fuel} - C01B 3/0005: Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes - C01B 3/0084: Solid storage media characterised by their shape, e.g. porous compacts or hollow particles - C01B 3/02: Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen - C01B 3/04: by decomposition of inorganic compounds (reversible storage of hydrogen C01B3/0018) - C01B 3/08: by reaction of inorganic compounds with metals - F17C 11/005: {for hydrogen} - H01M 8/04208: {Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs} - H01M 8/04216: {characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent} - H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming} - H01M 8/065: by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances - C01B 2203/085: by electric heating - C01B 2203/1619: Measuring the temperature - C01B 2203/1623: Adjusting the temperature - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - 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 A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes a cartridge, a housing with a cavity to removably contain the cartridge, and an initiation system. The cartridge includes a casing; a plurality of pellets including a hydrogen containing material; a plurality of solid heat transfer members in contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each pellet to the hydrogen outlet. A plurality of heating elements is disposed inside the housing. When the cartridge is in the cavity, each heating element is disposed so heat can be conducted from the heating element and through the casing and corresponding heat transfer member to initiate the release of hydrogen gas. The initiation system can selectively heat one or more pellets to release hydrogen gas as needed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrogen generator comprising: a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a casing; a plurality of pellets, each comprising at least one hydrogen containing material capable of releasing hydrogen gas when heated; a plurality of solid heat transfer members, each in direct contact with but not penetrating the casing; a hydrogen outlet valve in the casing; and a hydrogen flow path from each fuel pellet to the hydrogen outlet valve; a compartment configured to removably contain the cartridge, the compartment comprising: a housing comprising a wall; a hydrogen outlet through the housing; a cavity within the housing within which the cartridge can be disposed; and a plurality of heating elements disposed within the housing such that when the cartridge is disposed within the cavity each heating element is in contact with an outer surface of the cartridge casing and disposed so that heat can be conducted from the heating element, through the casing and to a heat transfer member, which can conduct the heat to a portion of the at least one hydrogen containing material not in contact with the casing; and an initiation system comprising the heat transfer members, the heating elements, and circuitry for conducting an electric current to the heating elements, wherein the electrical current can be applied selectively to one or more heating elements for generating heat to selectively heat one or more pellets to initiate a release of hydrogen gas. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge and the compartment cooperate so the cartridge can be inserted into the compartment only such that the heating elements and the heat transfer members are aligned for conducting heat from the heating elements, through the casing, to corresponding heat transfer members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each heat transfer member is disposed on a pellet surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydrogen generator according to claim 3, wherein the heat transfer members are partially disposed within the pellets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein each heat transfer member has a cartridge casing contact portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein each heat transfer member includes a layer of pyrolytic carbon in contact with a pellet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer members are in pressure contact with an inside surface of the casing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the pellets are disposed in one or more layers and a thermally insulating material is disposed between adjacent pellets in a layer of pellets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hydrogen generator according to claim 8, wherein a layer of the thermally insulating material separates adjacent layers of pellets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hydrogen generator according to claim 9, wherein pellet surfaces are coated with a layer of the thermally insulating material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises means for maintaining contact between the heat transfer members and the pellets as the hydrogen generator is being used. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is enclosed in the casing prior to the cartridge being disposed in the cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the pellets further comprise at least one ignition material selected from the group consisting of metal/metal oxide multilayers, a metal/metal multilayered thin film, an autoignition composition, a gel of a metal and water, and a gel of metal and water in combination with sodium borohydride. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pellets is disposed in a plurality of layers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hydrogen generator according to claim 14, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of pellets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The hydrogen generator according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of pellets is disposed in a single layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pellets does not include a catalyst for the release of hydrogen gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell battery; and the hydrogen generator according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The fuel cell system according to claim 18, wherein a portion of the initiation system is outside the hydrogen generator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The fuel cell system according to claim 18, wherein the initiation system is configured to monitor at least one of temperature and pressure and to selectively heat one or more pellets to provide hydrogen gas as needed by the fuel cell battery. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises two opposing halves; and the casing comprises a material that is a poor thermal conductor with thermally conductive areas corresponding to the heating elements when the cartridge is contained within the compartment. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The hydrogen generator according to claim 21, wherein the casing comprises a sealed casing capable of remaining sealed during use.