Patent ID: 7316859
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A hydrogen storage system for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell employing a polymer membrane, the fuel cell consuming part of the hydrogen to power a load in accordance with a predetermined electrical power requirement and a further part of the hydrogen to operate on a scheduled basis when not powering the load to maintain the polymer membrane in a hydrated condition, said system comprising: a main hydrogen storage site to contain the part of the hydrogen for the fuel cell to generate the predetermined electrical power requirement; an auxiliary hydrogen storage site to contain the further part of the hydrogen to allow said fuel cell to operate on a scheduled basis to maintain the polymer membrane in the hydrated condition; a manifold connected to the main hydrogen storage site and the auxiliary hydrogen storage site and having an outlet to deliver the hydrogen to the fuel cell; the manifold being configured to allow the auxiliary hydrogen storage site to be renewed independently of the main hydrogen storage site; and the manifold having a flow control network configured such that said fuel cell draws hydrogen from the auxiliary hydrogen storage site to maintain the polymer membrane in the hydrated condition without utilization of the hydrogen from the main hydrogen storage site.