Intelligent Energy Inc.

Societe Bic

Benjamin Tam

Jean-Louis Iaconis

Gerard Francis McLean

Jeremy Schrooten

Aaron Joseph MacDonald

Joerg Zimmermann

Paul Sobejko

Mikhail Gurin

Sally Seaman

Laura Gill

Gerard F Mclean

Aaron Mcdonald

A complete fuel cell system () is disclosed. The fuel cell system () comprises at least two fuel precursors () that react to create hydrogen. A solid fuel precursor () can be carried in disposable fuel cartridges (). A passive pressure control system including a dose pump () and a pressure equalization system () is provided to dose a liquid fuel precursor () to the solid fuel precursor () in the fuel cartridge (). The solid fuel precursor () may include larger metallic particles coated by another fine metallic particles such that multiple micro galvanic cells are formed on the surface of the larger metallic particles. The fuel cell system () may also include a gas buffer () that stores produced hydrogen that is unneeded by the fuel cell, a water trapping mechanism () and an electronic vent () that consumes unneeded hydrogen.

Fuel cell system

Purge valves (I, I) that are manually turned ON but are automatically or electrically turned OFF as the fuel cell ()'s production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout are disclosed. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is anned and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is an integrated fluidic interface module () that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module () can operate passively or without being actively controlled by a processor. Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are also disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel.

Fluidic interface module for a fuel cell system

Purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically or electrically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout are disclosed. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is an integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled by a processor. Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are also disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel.

Methods, articles, and systems for controlling the internal operating temperature of fuel cell systems, such as planar fuel cell arrays. The heat management system conducts heat away from the fuel cell without disturbing the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer and without the need for the equipment to disturb the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer. The present invention also provides a heat transfer system that has a low thermal mass relative to the fuel cell layer or is thermally isolated from the fuel cell layer such that the heat transfer system will not remove substantial amounts of heat from a fuel cell layer during star-up and can be activated to dissipate heat from the fuel cell only as needed.

System for controlling temperature in a fuel cell

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Benjamin Tam