Intelligent Energy Inc.

Craig R Huddleston

Russell H Barton

Chad E Law

Mark D Vandayburg

Richard A Langan

Jason L Stimits

Thomas J Kmetich

Paul D Griffith, Jr

Gerald A Zsigo

Andrew Jasin

Michael Stallard

Jr Paul D Griffith

Michael R Stallard

A packaged fuel unit and a refillable hydrogen generator that uses the fuel unit to produce hydrogen gas are disclosed. The fuel unit includes a reactant that can undergo a thermal decomposition reaction that produces hydrogen gas when heated to at least a minimum initiation temperature. The reactant is contained within a package that includes a poor thermal conductor with one or more thermal conductor sections for conducting heat from outside the package to the reactant. The hydrogen generator includes a holder with a cavity in which the fuel unit can be removably disposed and a heating system for heating the fuel unit when disposed therein. The hydrogen generator can be part of a fuel cell system including a fuel cell battery that is provided with hydrogen gas from the hydrogen generator.

Fuel unit, refillable hydrogen generator and fuel cell system

A heater assembly for use in a hydrogen generator can be retracted to facilitate insertion and removal of a replaceable fuel unit without damaging the heater assembly or the fuel unit and extended to provide good thermal contact with the fuel unit during use of the hydrogen generator. The heater assembly includes a support member, a heater, and an actuator for extending and retracting the heater assembly. When the heater is energized it heats the actuator, thereby extending the heater assembly to contact the adjacent fuel unit, and when the heater is deenergized the actuator cools to retract the heater assembly and provide a gap between the heater assembly and the adjacent fuel unit. The actuator is movably secured to the heater or the support member by a retainer such that an end of the actuator is movable within the retainer as the actuator changes shape during heating and cooling.

Heater assembly, hydrogen generator and method of providing hydrogen gas

Disclosed are a fuel unit for a hydrogen generator and methods for producing the fuel unit and the hydrogen generator. A fuel sheet () is made by disposing a plurality of fuel pellets (A-J) containing a hydrogen-containing material on a substrate (), and one or more fuel sheets are formed into a non-cylindrical fuel sheet assembly my moving (e.g., bending) a portion of the fuel sheet () to position pellets adjacent to each other such that adjacent sides of the adjacent pellets lie in essentially parallel planes. A non-cylindrical fuel unit is produced from one or more of the fuel sheet assemblies. Fuel units can be replaceably disposed in a hydrogen generator, and fuel pellets can be selectively heated to produce hydrogen gas as needed.

Fuel unit for hydrogen generator

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Lakewood, OH, United States of America

Craig R Huddleston