Societe Bic

Commissariat &#xc0; L'&#xc9;nergie Atomique Et Aux &#xc9;nergies Alternatives

Intelligent Energy Inc.

Societé Bic S.a.

Constance R Stepan

Andrew J Curello

Michael R Curello

Alain Rosenzweig

Anthony Sgroi, Jr

Floyd B Fairbanks

Paul H Adams

Paul Spahr

Ken Cooper

Kurt Rath

Hung T Than

Anthony Jr Sgroi

Anthony Sgroi

Michael Curello

The present application is directed to gas generators comprising a fuel mixture and a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a self-regulated reactor or buoy, and selectively opens and closes to produce a gas in accordance with the demand for gas. This fuel mixture is generally a solution formed by dissolving a solid fuel component in a liquid fuel component. The mixing preferably occurs before the first use, and more preferably occurs immediately prior to the first use. The inventive gas generators preferably further comprises a starting mechanism that isolates the solid fuel from the liquid fuel or vice versa before the first use. In one embodiment, the starting mechanism further comprises a catalyst shield mechanism that isolates the catalyst in the reactor or buoy from the liquid and/or the solid fuel prior to the first use.

Gas generator with starter mechanism and catalyst shield

The present application is directed to a hydrophobic membrane assembly () used within a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is separated from the reaction solution by passing through a hydrophobic membrane assembly () having a hydrophobic lattice like member () disposed within a hydrogen output composite () further enhancing the ability of the hydrogen output composite's ability to separate out hydrogen gas and prolonging its useful life.

Hydrogen membrane separator

A fuel supply () is attachable to a fuel cell system (). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector () configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves () or filler material (-) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube () and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.

Separable fuel cartridge

Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of a hydrogen generator () that measures, transports or stores a single dose of a viscous fuel component from first fuel chamber () in storage area () when the internal hydrogen pressure (') of the hydrogen generator is high, and transports this single dose to a metal hydride fuel component in second fuel chamber () when the internal pressure is low, so that the viscous liquid and metal hydride fuel components react together to generate more hydrogen and to restart the cycle. The viscous fuel component can be water or alcohol, such as methanol, in liquid or gel form, and the metal hydride fuel component can be sodium borohydride or other metal hydride that chemically reacts with the viscous fuel to produce hydrogen. The metal hydride fuel component can be in solid or viscous form, e.g., aqueous form.

Hydrogen gas generators

The present invention concerns a hydrogen gas-generating apparatus () comprising (1) a reservoir () comprising an aqueous component (), (2) a fuel compartment () comprising a solid metal borohydride fuel component (), and (3) a reaction chamber () comprising an aerogel catalyst (). A first fluid path introduces the aqueous component into the fuel compartment where the solid metal borohydride fuel component is dissolved into a liquid metal borohydride fuel component ('). A second fluid path introduces the liquid metal borohydride fuel component into the reaction chamber to produce a hydrogen gas by means of a hydride-water oxidation reaction that is accelerated by the aerogel catalyst. The temperature and/or pressure of the reaction chamber are predetermined to maintain the water in the borate byproduct to be substantially in the liquid phase to minimize the precipitation of the borate byproduct.

Hydrogen generator with aerogel catalyst

A gas-generating apparatus includes a reaction chamber having a first reactant, a reservoir having an optional second reactant, and a self-regulated flow control device. The self-regulated flow control device stops the flow of reactant from the reservoir to the reaction chamber when the pressure of the reaction chamber reaches a predetermined level. Methods of operating the gas-generated apparatus and the self-regulated flow control device, including the cycling of a shut-off valve of the gas-generated apparatus and the cycling of the self-regulated flow control device are also described.

Hydrogen generating fuel cell cartridges

The present invention increases the amount of hydrogen produced or released from reactions between a metal hydride fuel and liquid reactant. The present invention also decreases the volume of a hydrogen generating cartridge by reducing the pH of the liquid reactant.

Fuels for hydrogen generating cartridges

Fuel cartridge

A gas-generating apparatus () includes a reaction chamber () containing a solid fuel component () and a liquid fuel component () that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.

The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus and various pressure regulators or pressure-regulating valves. Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The transportation of a first fuel component to a second fuel component to generate of hydrogen occurs automatically depending on the pressure of a reaction chamber within the gas-generating apparatus. The pressure regulators and flow orifices are provided to regulate the hydrogen pressure and to minimize the fluctuation in pressure of the hydrogen received by the fuel cell. Connecting valves to connect the gas-generating apparatus to the fuel cell are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, CT, United States of America

Constance R Stepan