Societe Bic

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

Intelligent Energy Inc.

Michael R Curello

Andrew J Curello

Constance R Stepan

Paul Spahr

Alain Rosenzweig

Anthony Sgroi, Jr

Floyd B Fairbanks

Kurt Rath

David Robert Gray

The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus (). Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The generation of hydrogen is regulated automatically by the selective exposure of a catalyst () to the fuel mixture depending on the pressure inside the reaction chamber () of the gas-generating apparatus. Catalyst sealing mechanisms () are provided at least partially within the reaction chamber to regulate the hydrogen pressure and to minimize the fluctuations in pressure of the hydrogen received by the fuel cell.

Hydrogen-generating fuel cell cartridges

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

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

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

A fuel supply () including a cover () having an opening () for access to the fuel. The cover () includes a shutter () or similar element for closing off the opening () to increase the operational resistance to the insertion and/or removal of the fuel supply (). In one embodiment, the cover () includes a support () with a rotatable cap (), where the rotation of the cap causes the shutter () to open. In another embodiment, the cover includes a base and a slidable cap, where the slidable cap is the shutter. The shutter () may be manually actuated, mechanically actuated or electrically actuated. The cover () may be biased to the open position or to the closed position.

Fuel supply systems having operational resistance

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.

Hydrogen generating fuel cell cartridges

A refillable fuel supply assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a refillable fuel supply adapted to supply fuel to a fuel cell, a refilling fuel cartridge containing fuel to be transferred to the refillable fuel supply, and a lock-and-release device connecting the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply to transport fuel from the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply. The lock-and-release device also retains the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply until the refilling fuel cartridge is substantially free of fuel.

Growing community of inventors

Cheshire, CT, United States of America

Michael R Curello