The Gillette Company

The Gillette Company—south Boston

Andrew G Gilicinski

Javit A Drake

Anna Maria Bofinger

Leslie J Pinnell

In Tae Bae

Jordan Todorov Bourilkov

Zhiping Jiang

David N Klein

John Rotondo

Steven Jeffrey Specht

Gordon Gerald Guay

Thomas C Richards

Bryan L Hesse

George M Cintra

Robert John Pavlinsky

Yichun Wang

Matthew Robert Stone

C Robert Parent

Joseph E Sunstrom

An arrangement for a direct methanol fuel cell includes a fuel cartridge that supplies a source of fuel to the direct methanol fuel cell. The fuel cartridge has a surface area enhanced planar vaporization membrane residing in the fuel cartridge. The arrangement also includes a fuel reservoir that receives fuel from the fuel cartridge, the fuel reservoir arranged to deliver fuel to the fuel cell. The fuel reservoir also including a surface area enhanced planar vaporization membrane residing in the fuel reservoir. The combination of the surface area enhanced planar vaporization membranes residing in the fuel cartridge and reservoir provides a dual stage vaporization of fuel to the fuel cell. Other features included are passive or active arrangements to increase the temperature of the fuel or reduce pressure in the fuel container to enhance rate of vaporization.

Enhanced fuel delivery for direct methanol fuel cells

Fuel cells and methods of operating fuel cells are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention features a fuel source for a fuel cell including a housing having an outlet, a structure having a portion in the housing, the structure defining a cavity and having a surface defining an opening in fluid communication with the cavity, and a fuel in the housing. The fuel is in fluid communication with the outlet through the opening and the cavity of the structure.

Fuel source for a fuel cell

Fuel sources, fuel cells and methods of operating fuel cells are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention features a fuel source for a fuel cell, including a housing made substantially from a fuel-permeable material, and a fuel in the housing.

Fuel compositions, methods of making the compositions, and fuel cell systems including a fuel composition are disclosed. In some embodiments, a fuel composition includes a polymer, and a fuel such as methanol, wherein the composition has a hardness of at least about 2 grams peak force, as determined by penetration test using a texture analyzer.

Fuel compositions

A hybrid power supply includes a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from a fuel cell and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell, set to provide a fixed output voltage that is less than the full charge voltage of the rechargeable cell. The hybrid power supply includes a circuit including a fuel cell current control that senses fuel cell current, and controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel cell side of the hybrid power supply.

Fuel cell hybrid power supply

A hybrid power supply includes a fuel cell and an interface between the fuel cell and a fuel cartridge or external battery and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or external battery and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell. The hybrid power supply also includes a fuel cell current sensor/comparator, included in a feedback control loop disposed about the DC/DC converter, which controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel battery side of the hybrid power supply. An adapter that couples a source of AC power such as a charger to the interconnect is also disclosed.

Fuel cartridge interconnect for portable fuel cells

A cartridge includes a first housing, a second housing within the first housing, and a colorant. The first housing has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the second housing contains an alcohol fuel or a hydrocarbon fuel and has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The colorant is supported by at least a portion of the interior surface of the first housing.

Fuel cell with cartridge and colorant

A battery includes a battery can housing an cell that supplies electrical energy at terminals of the cell by an electro-chemical reaction with oxygen, the can including, a first member having at least one hole that is exposed to air; and a second member. The battery also includes a mechanism coupled to one of the first and second members to move the one of the first and second members such that when current is drawn from the battery, the opening in the member allows air to pass into the battery, and to move the one of the first and second members such that when current is not drawn from the battery, the opening in the member is not in registration to inhibit air to pass into the battery. The battery also includes a circuit to control the mechanism. In one embodiment the circuit monitors levels of Oin a air plenum that surrounds the cell. The circuit to monitor levels of Oin the air plenum includes a florescent detector/sensor that senses and responds to changes in Oin the plenum by using the 'quenching effect' of oxygen on a fluorescent material.

Battery

Fuel cells

A method of forming an anode comprising zinc for an alkaline cell. The method involves mixing zinc particles with binders including preferably polyvinylalcohol, surfactant and water to form a wet paste. The wet paste is molded into the near shape of the cell's anode cavity and then heated to evaporate water. A solid porous zinc mass is formed having microscopic void spaces between the zinc particles. The solid mass can be inserted into the cell's anode cavity and aqueous alkaline electrolyte, preferably comprising potassium hydroxide, then added. The solid mass absorbs the aqueous electrolyte and expands to fill the anode cavity to form the final fresh anode. Zinc fibers may be added to increase the structural integrity of the solid mass.

Alkaline cell with improved anode

Fuel sources, fuel cells and methods of operating fuel cells

A hydrogen generator includes a housing, a solid hydrogen source disposed within the housing, and an inlet configured to guide a fluid to contact the solid hydrogen source. The inlet can contact a wicking region. The wicking region can include a wicking material that has an affinity for the fluid. The wieking material can include a hydrophilic material. The housing can include a hydrogen gas outlet. The hydrogen generator can include an end cap at one end of the housing including the inlet and the hydrogen gas outlet. The hydrogen gas outlet can include a gas permeable membrane. The inlet can be fluidly connected to a fluid control system configured to control fluid flow rate to the solid hydrogen source. The generator can be portable.

Growing community of inventors

Westborough, MA, United States of America

Andrew G Gilicinski