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02/15/07 - USPTO Class 429 | 117 views | #20070037023 | Prev - Next | About this Page

Fuel cell power and management system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same

Title: Fuel cell power and management system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same

Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, And Process, Fuel Cell, Subcombination Thereof Or Methods Of Operating, Process Of Operating, Circulating Or Feeding Electrolyte, Active Material In Electrolyte

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070037023, Fuel cell power and management system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same.

1-48. (canceled)

49. A hydrogen fuel storage unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the hydrogen-based fuel cell system includes a power unit which is adapted to engage the hydrogen fuel storage unit and generate electrical power using hydrogen-based fuel therefrom, the hydrogen fuel storage unit comprising: a fuel vessel to store hydrogen-based fuel; a plurality of interfaces, including: a mechanical interface adapted to engage a reciprocal mechanical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system; and a fluid interface adapted to engage a reciprocal interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, the fluid interface including a valve assembly having a pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism integrated within the valve assembly; a mounting fixture attached to the fuel vessel; memory, attached to the mounting fixture, to store data which is representative of an operating parameter of the fuel vessel such that when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit, the memory retains data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel.

50. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 further including: a printed circuit substrate, attached to the mounting fixture, wherein the memory is disposed on or in the printed circuit substrate; and a visual display, electrically coupled to the memory to display information which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel using data provided thereto by the memory.

51. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 50 further including control circuitry, attached to the printed circuit substrate and electrically coupled to the memory and visual display, to control the operation of the visual display.

52. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 51 wherein the control circuitry, in response to a user input, instructs the memory to provide data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel to the visual display.

53. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 wherein the pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism includes a port disposed in the valve assembly wherein the port includes a temperature or pressure responsive material disposed therein.

54. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 wherein the memory, in response to a command from an external device, stores the data provided by the external device.

55. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 wherein the memory stores data which is representative of a unique characteristic of hydrogen fuel storage unit.

56. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 55 wherein the unique characteristic of hydrogen fuel storage unit is a serial number of the storage unit, date of manufacture of the storage unit, date of assembly of the storage unit, type of fuel contained in fuel vessel, fuel capacity of the storage unit, or number of refill operations the storage unit has undergone.

57. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 further including an electrical interface, coupled to the memory and adapted to engage an electrical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, to receive data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel.

58. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 further including a fuel leak sensor to detect a leak of fuel in the hydrogen fuel storage unit.

59. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 further including: control circuitry attached to the mounting fixture; and a contact switch, coupled to the control circuitry, to receive a user input.

60. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 further including a battery, disposed in or on the mounting fixture and electrically coupled to the memory, to provide electrical power to the memory when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit.

61. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 49 further including: a visual display electrically coupled to the memory to display information which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel using data provided thereto by the memory; a battery, electrically coupled to the memory and the visual display, to provide electrical power to the memory and the display when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit.

62. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 61 further including control circuitry, electrically coupled to the battery and the visual display, to control the operation of the visual display.

63. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 62 wherein the control circuitry, in response to a user input, instructs the memory to provide data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel to the visual display.

64. A hydrogen fuel storage unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the hydrogen-based fuel cell system includes a power unit which is adapted to engage the hydrogen fuel storage unit and generate electrical power using hydrogen-based fuel therefrom, the hydrogen fuel storage unit comprising: a fuel vessel to store hydrogen-based fuel; a plurality of interfaces, including: a mechanical interface adapted to engage a reciprocal mechanical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system; and a fluid interface adapted to engage a reciprocal interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, the fluid interface including a valve assembly having a pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism integrated within the valve assembly; and an electrical interface, coupled to the memory and adapted to engage an electrical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, to receive data from external circuitry, wherein the data is representative of the amount of hydrogen-based fuel that is in the fuel vessel; a mounting fixture attached to the fuel vessel; and memory, disposed in or on the mounting fixture, to store data which is representative of the amount of fuel in the fuel vessel such that when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit, the memory retains data which is representative of the amount of fuel in the fuel vessel.

65. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 wherein the mounting fixture is a collar-like structure that is fixed around an external surface of the fuel vessel.

66. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 further including: a visual display, attached to the mounting fixture and electrically coupled to the memory, to provide information which is representative of the amount of hydrogen-based fuel that is in the fuel vessel; and a battery, electrically coupled to the visual display, to provide electrical power to the visual display at least when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit.

67. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 wherein the electrical interface includes a plurality of sets of a plurality of electrical contacts wherein each set of the plurality of electrical contacts is a complete electrical interface.

68. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 67 wherein each set of the plurality of electrical contacts are disposed on or in the mounting fixture.

69. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 further including communication circuitry to provide data which is representative of the amount of hydrogen-based fuel that is in the fuel vessel.

70. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 wherein the pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism includes a port disposed in the valve assembly wherein the port includes a temperature or pressure responsive material disposed therein.

71. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 wherein the memory stores data which is representative of a unique characteristic of hydrogen fuel storage unit.

72. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 71 wherein the unique characteristic of hydrogen fuel storage unit is a serial number of the storage unit, date of manufacture of the storage unit, date of assembly of the storage unit, type of fuel contained in fuel vessel, fuel capacity of the storage unit, or number of refill operations the storage unit has undergone.

73. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 wherein the memory, in response to commands from an external device, stores data which is representative of the amount of fuel in the fuel vessel.

74. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 64 further including control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry, in response to a user input, instructs the visual display to display information which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel.

75. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 74 further including a contact switch, coupled to the control circuitry, to receive the user input.

76. A hydrogen fuel storage unit for use in a hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the hydrogen-based fuel cell system includes a power unit which is adapted to engage the hydrogen fuel storage unit and generate electrical power using hydrogen-based fuel therefrom, the hydrogen fuel storage unit comprising: a fuel vessel to store hydrogen-based fuel; a collar-like mounting fixture attached to the fuel vessel; a plurality of interfaces, including: a mechanical interface adapted to engage a reciprocal mechanical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system; and a fluid interface adapted to engage a fluid interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, the fluid interface including a valve assembly having a pressure or temperature sensitive relief mechanism integrated within the valve assembly; and an electrical interface, adapted to engage an electrical interface of the hydrogen-based fuel cell system, wherein the electrical interface includes a plurality of sets of a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the collar-like mounting fixture; memory, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture, to store data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel such that when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit, the memory retains the data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel; and a visual display, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture and electrically coupled to the memory, to display information which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel.

77. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 76 wherein the collar-like mounting fixture is secured to an external surface of the fuel vessel via reciprocating threads.

78. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 77 further including a battery, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture and electrically coupled to the visual display, to provide electrical power to the visual display when the hydrogen fuel storage unit is disengaged from the power unit.

79. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 76 wherein the memory, in response to commands from an external device, stores data which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel.

80. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 76 further including control circuitry, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture and electrically coupled to the memory and the visual display.

81. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 80 wherein the control circuitry, in response to a user input, causes the visual display to display information which is representative of the operating parameter of the fuel vessel.

82. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 81 further including a contact switch, coupled to the control circuitry, to receive the user input.

83. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 76 wherein each set of the plurality of electrical contacts is a complete electrical interface.

84. The hydrogen fuel storage unit of claim 76 further including a printed circuit substrate, disposed in or on the collar-like mounting fixture, wherein the memory is attached to the printed circuit substrate.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

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Previous Patent Application:
Startup method of fuel cell system
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Solid oxide fuel cell-based auxiliary power unit
Industry Class:
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and process

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