Intelligent Energy Inc.

Eveready Battery Company, Inc.

Jason L Stimits

Russell H Barton

Richard A Langan

Guanghong Zheng

Chad E Law

Thomas J Kmetich

Allison M Fisher

Douglas A Knight

Hao Huang

Olen Richard Vanderleeden

Hossein Ostadi

Iain M Fraser

Sandra H Withers-Kirby

Piotr Marcin Kleszyk

Mark D Vandayburg

Gerald A Zsigo

Craig R Huddleston

Zachary Elliott

Paul D Griffith, Jr

Andrew Jasin

Jeffrey S Dreger

Philbert C Spencer

Steven J Eickhoff

Michael Stallard

Russell Barton

Jr Paul D Griffith

Michael R Stallard

Methods and devices and aspects thereof for generating power using PEM fuel cell power systems comprising a rotary bed (or rotatable) reactor for hydrogen generation are disclosed. Hydrogen is generated by the hydrolysis of fuels such as lithium aluminum hydride and mixtures thereof. Water required for hydrolysis may be captured from the fuel cell exhaust. Water is preferably fed to the reactor in the form of a mist generated by an atomizer. An exemplary 750 We-h, 400 We PEM fuel cell power system may be characterized by a specific energy of about 550 We-h/kg and a specific power of about 290 We/kg. Turbidity fixtures within the reactor increase turbidity of fuel pellets within the reactor and improve the energy density of the system.

Compact efficient hydrogen reactor

Methods and devices for generating power using PEM fuel cell power systems comprising a rotary bed reactor for hydrogen generation are disclosed. Hydrogen is generated by the hydrolysis of fuels such as lithium aluminum hydride and mixtures thereof. Water required for hydrolysis may be captured from the fuel cell exhaust. Water is preferably fed to the reactor in the form of a mist generated by an atomizer. An exemplary 750 We-h, 400 We PEM fuel cell power system may be characterized by a specific energy of about 550 We-h/kg and a specific power of about 290 We/kg.

PEM fuel cell powersystems with efficient hydrogen generation

PEM fuel cell power systems with efficient hydrogen generation

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

Various embodiments disclosed related to hydrogen-generating compositions for a fuel cell. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a hydrogen-generating composition comprising a hydride and a Lewis acid. Various embodiments provide methods of using a hydrogen fuel cell including generating hydrogen gas using the composition, fuel cell systems including the composition, and methods of making the composition.

Hydrogen-generating compositions for a fuel cell

A hydrogen generator is provided for generating hydrogen gas for a fuel cell stack. The hydrogen generator includes a container, and a liquid reactant storage area configured to contain a liquid including a first reactant. The hydrogen generator also includes a reaction area within the container, and a solid containing a second reactant within the reaction area and having a concentration gradient that varies along an axis such as length of the solid. The hydrogen generator further includes a liquid delivery member for delivering the liquid to the solid in the reaction area to generate hydrogen. The concentration gradient controls a reaction rate of the first and second reactants.

Hydrogen generator having reactant pellet with concentration gradient

The invention is a hydrogen generator with a fuel gauge and a method of fuel gauging. The hydrogen generator includes a replaceable fuel unit, containing a hydrogen-containing material (fuel) that can release hydrogen gas when heated and whose thermal conductivity is related to a quantity of releasable hydrogen contained therein, and a fuel gauge including a heat source and a temperature sensor adjacent to the fuel unit and a controller for determining a fuel level value based on a measured temperature. The temperature is measured at a pre-established time after activating the heat source, and the measured temperature is compared to a predetermined relationship between the measured temperature and a releasable hydrogen content in the fuel at the pre-established time. An output signal is provided (e.g., to a visible display, an audible signal or a controller).

Hydrogen generator with fuel gauge

Disclosed is a fuel unit for a gas generator such as a hydrogen gas generator that can supply gas to a gas consuming system such as a fuel cell system. The fuel unit includes a housing containing a solid fuel composition and a heat producing material. The fuel composition contains gas releasing solid material that reacts to release gas when heated. The heat producing material reacts exothermically to produce heat. A plurality of quantities of the heat producing material are in thermal communication with corresponding portions of an unsegregated quantity the fuel composition such that, following initiation of a reaction of each quantity of the heat producing material, the quantity of heat producing material will heat the corresponding portion of the unsegregated quantity of the fuel composition, and the corresponding portion of the unsegregated quantity of the fuel composition will react to release a quantity of the gas.

Fuel unit, gas generator and system

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

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.

Hydrogen generator

The invention is a hydrogen generator including a housing, a reaction area, a fluid reservoir, a pellet comprising a first reactant within the reaction area, a fluid comprising a second reactant within the fluid reservoir, a fluid flow path between the fluid reservoir and the reaction area, and a hydrogen outlet. The fluid flow path comprises a follower assembly biased toward the pellet, the follower assembly includes an articulated joint and a follower, and the second reactant can react with the first reactant in the reaction area to produce hydrogen gas and byproducts.

Hydrogen generator with improved fluid distribution

The invention is a hydrogen generator with a liquid reservoir, a reaction area, a byproduct containment area and a hydrogen containment area within a housing. A liquid from the liquid reservoir can react within the reaction area to produce hydrogen gas and byproducts, which flow to the byproduct containment area, and hydrogen gas passes into the hydrogen containment area and is released from the housing through a hydrogen outlet as needed. The liquid reservoir and the reaction area are each within a container made of a liquid impermeable material, the byproduct containment area is within a flexible container made of a hydrogen permeable, liquid impermeable material, and the hydrogen containment area is within a flexible container made of a hydrogen impermeable material. The byproduct containment area is in a volume exchanging relationship with one or both of the liquid reservoir and the reaction area.

Growing community of inventors

Avon, OH, United States of America

Jason L Stimits