Patent ID: 8029938
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An electric power source comprising: a fuel cell; at least one flow channel that passes through the fuel cell, the flow channel including an inlet and an outlet; a reactive fluid source connected to the inlet of the flow channel: a tank connected to the outlet of the flow channel via an orifice in the tank, the orifice of the tank being the only opening of the tank that is connected to the fuel cell: an inlet valve arranged between the reactive fluid source and the inlet of the flow channel; and a controller configured to close the inlet valve for a predetermined first time period and configured to open the inlet valve for a predetermined second time period that is shorter than the first time period, wherein the closing of the inlet valve causes the fuel cell to be supplied with reactive fluid from the tank via the orifice of the tank and the opening of the inlet valve causes the tank to fill with reactive fluid and water from the fuel cell via the same orifice of the tank.