Abstract:
A power generator includes a housing, a chemical hydride fuel block adapted to be removably placed within the housing, an air conduit disposed about the chemical hydride fuel block in the housing. The air conduit includes a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion. The housing has an air intake opening to draw air into the housing and through the air conduit to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and to carry water vapor generated by the fuel cell portion past the permeable membrane portion such that water vapor passes through the membrane and causes release of hydrogen from the fuel block.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/167,405, filed Jun. 23, 2011, which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Current batteries for portable electronic equipment, such as a hand held mobile devices need to be recharged fairly often. With increasing functionality of such equipment, come increasing power demands. The desired portability of the electronic equipment leads to space constraints, further increasing the demands on battery performance. The energy density of existing batteries is proving insufficient to keep pace with the power requirements of portable electronic equipment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A power generator includes a housing, a chemical hydride fuel block adapted to be removably placed within the housing, an air conduit disposed about the chemical hydride fuel block in the housing. The air conduit includes a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion. The housing has an air intake opening to draw air into the housing and through the air conduit to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and to carry water vapor generated by the fuel cell portion past the permeable membrane portion such that water vapor passes through the membrane and causes release of hydrogen from the fuel block. 
         [0004]    In a further embodiment, a power generator includes a housing having an opening to receive gas containing oxygen and water vapor, a fan, and a manifold to distribute air to multiple power generating conduits. Each conduit has a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion. The housing is adapted to receive a replaceable chemical hydride fuel block shaped to slide into and out of the casing about the power generating conduits. 
         [0005]    A method includes drawing air containing oxygen and water vapor into a housing, distributing the air to a plurality of conduits, flowing the air past a fuel cell portion to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and receive water vapor from the fuel cell portion, flowing the air including the received water vapor past a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion such that water vapor is transported across the membrane portion to a replaceable chemical hydride fuel block, generating hydrogen in the fuel block responsive to the water vapor, providing the hydrogen to the fuel cell portion, and exhausting air and heat from the conduits out of the housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block perspective diagram of an air manifold with air conduits having fuel cell and membrane portions according to an example embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a block perspective diagram of a housing to hold the air conduits of  FIG. 1  according to an example embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a block perspective diagram of a fuel cartridge according to an example embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a block perspective diagram of a power generator according to an example embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a block perspective diagram of an alternative power generator according to an example embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross section of a power generator according to an example embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross section of an alternative power generator according to an example embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a top view representation of a conduit illustrating fuel cell portions and selectively permeable membrane portions according to an example embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram representation of an example controller to execute methods and algorithms according to an example embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims. 
         [0016]    The control functions or algorithms described herein may be implemented in software or a combination of software and human implemented procedures in one embodiment. The software may consist of computer executable instructions stored on computer readable media such as memory or other type of storage devices. Further, such functions correspond to modules, which are software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. Multiple functions may be performed in one or more modules as desired, and the embodiments described are merely examples. The software may be executed on a digital signal processor, ASIC, microprocessor, or other type of processor operating on a computer system, such as a personal computer, server or other computer system. 
         [0017]    A high level description of a fuel cell based power generator having components including an air circulating manifold with tubular shaped fuel cells that include water vapor permeable membranes disposed along the tubes, and a block of hydrogen producing fuel is described. Further details regarding the assembly of the components and further details of the tubes is provided along with alternative embodiments. 
         [0018]    Many different chemical hydrides may be used for the hydrogen producing fuel, such as for example LiAlH4, LiH, NaAlH4, CaH2, and NaH as well as others in various embodiments. NaAlH4 may provide a good cost/performance balance. Fuel including Li may provide for desireable recycling of spent fuel blocks, which in some embodiments are replaceable in the power generator. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective block diagram of a component of a power generator having an array  100  of tubes or air conduits  110  that contain fuel cells  112  along a part of the length of the tubes  110 . The fuel cells  112  may have a metal on polymer film construction for flexibility, thin cross section and low cost. They may be manufactured in a roll to roll type process for efficiency. The tubes  110  also include a portion along their length containing selectively permeable membranes, such as STFE, a Nafion-like polymer for high water vapor to hydrogen/air selectivity. The selectively permeable membranes allow water vapor to pass, but prevent hydrogen from passing. Thinner membranes are desired in one embodiment to enable higher power generation and marginally higher energy density. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, array  100  includes an air manifold  115  to provide oxygen and water vapor containing air to a conduit area inside the tubes  110  containing the fuel cells  112 . Air manifold  115  in one embodiment is coupled to the tube  110  at one end of the tubes  110 . The tubes  110  open into a manifold cavity  120  of the air manifold  115 , allowing air from the manifold cavity  120  to pass into an end of the tubes  110  and travel through the tubes  110  to a far end of the tubes  110 , where the air may be exhausted. In one embodiment, the array  100  is fairly flat, and contains two rows of tubes, such that the array may be fit with other components into a cell phone type flat battery. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a structure or housing  200  for holding the array  100 , and providing air to the manifold  115 . A top portion  210  of structure  200  contains a fan  215  and a further manifold  220  that is coupled to manifold  115 . The fan  215  in one embodiment is embedded within top portion  210  to provide airflow from ambient, such as air from an environment where the structure  200  is placed. The fan  215  in one embodiment is a low profile, low power fan such as Sunon US5U3-100 that fits in a 30 mm×30 mm×3 mm form factor, and provides air containing oxygen and water vapor via manifold  220  to manifold  115 , resulting in the air flowing through the tubes  110  carrying oxygen and water vapor, as well as heat generated by fuel cell reactions through the tubes, and exhausting the heat and unused air containing oxygen and water vapor to ambient. The structure  200  may also include a bottom portion  225  and sides, not shown, which together with the top portion  210  provide mechanical support for the tubes and manifold  115 . 
         [0022]    A fuel cartridge  300  is illustrated in a perspective block form in  FIG. 3 . As indicated above, different hydrogen producing materials that produce hydrogen when exposed to water vapor may be used. The fuel cartridge  300  in one embodiment contains cylindrical openings  310  corresponding to the array  100  tubes  110  such that the fuel cartridge  300  may be inserted over the array  100  of tubes  110 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the fuel cartridge  300  includes a metal or polymer case  315  with integrated gas seals to interface with the tubes  110 . The fuel used to form the fuel cartridge  300  may be formed with an engineered particle size, distribution, and controlled density. For example, the fuel may be formed in a hydraulic press with a die, and contain particle sizes in the range of 1 to 100 μm. In one embodiment, the size of the particles may be between 5 to 10 μm. The particles may all be the same size, or may have different ranges of particle sizes within one or more of the above ranges. In one embodiment, particle sizes outside of the above ranges is limited so as to not adversely affect performance of hydrogen generation and utilization of the fuel. 
         [0024]    Fuel cartridge  300  may also include a water vapor selective membrane that is impermeable to liquid water, as well as a particulate filter to contain the chemical hydride. The membrane and filter may extend around the outside of the fuel cartridge  300  as well as inside the cylindrical openings  310 . The membrane and filter are shown in further detail in succeeding figures. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a power generator  400  assembled from the array  100 , structure  200 , and fuel cartridge  300 . In some embodiments, the power generator  400  may have sides and a vented cover to be placed over the openings of the tubes  115  to allow venting to ambient, yet protect the fuel cartridge  300  and tubes  115  from damage. In further embodiments, the metal or polymer case  315  provides this function. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a block perspective diagram of a power generator  500  illustrating a flat, planar type of case or housing  505  construction and having a fan  510  located toward one edge of the power generator  500  in a housing opening  515 . The fan location provides for a shorter top portion manifold  220  to connect to the array manifold  115 , providing a shorter overall and more efficient ambient air path to the tubes. In one example embodiment, the power generator  500  has a form factor of approximately 10 cm by 10 cm by 6 cm, providing a 60 cc system volume. The fuel cartridge is replaceable in one embodiment. Other shapes and system volumes may be made in further embodiments. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross section block representation of power generator  600  having a case or housing  603 , taken along two tubes  605  and  610  in an array of tubes. Several arrows illustrated the movement of air, water vapor (H2O), oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) within the power generator  600 . A fan  620  draws in air from ambient via an opening  622  in the housing  603 , through a fan manifold  625 , and an array manifold  630 , where the air then flows through the tubes  605  and  610 . The air is then exhausted out the tubes as indicated at  635 . In one embodiment, a first portion of the tubes contains tubular fuel cells  640 , and a second portion of the tubes contains the selectively permeable membranes  645 . The selectively permeable membranes  645  allow water vapor to enter a hydrogen producing fuel cartridge  650 , which may be encapsulated in a particulate filter  650 . The selectively permeable membranes  645  prevent hydrogen from traversing back through the membranes  645 . Hydrogen generated in the fuel cartridge is consumed at anodes  655  of the fuel cells, while oxygen in the ambient airflow is consumed at cathodes  660  of the fuel cells. The fuel cells produce water vapor and heat when reacting the hydrogen and oxygen, as well as electricity. The water vapor and heat are carried downstream by the ambient airflow driven by fan  620 . Some of the water vapor may proceed back to the fuel cartridge for use in generating more hydrogen, which the heat and excess water vapor is exhausted to ambient. 
         [0028]    A controller  670  is disposed within the power generator  600  in one embodiment to control or modulate the fan  620  speed as a function of power demand and power generation of power generator  600 . The controller  670  may include a rechargeable battery  675  or other energy storage device such as a super capacitor, which may be charged with the electrical energy generated by power generator  600 . The controller  670  is show in one position in the power generator  600 , but may be located just about anywhere that does not interfere with assembly and operation of the power generating components of the power generator and allow electrical coupling to the fuel cells and fan. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, controller  670  implements a table lookup mechanism to correlate fan speed with power demand and power generation. The control table may be empirically generated through testing of the power generator in one embodiment. Some factors that may be considered when developing a control algorithm include the efficiency of the power generator at various temperatures. Faster fan speed may exhaust more heat, providing a cooling effect on the power generator, while also providing more water vapor from which hydrogen may be generated and converted to electricity. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, one or more pressure sensors may be disposed within the fuel cartridge as indicated at  680 . Further, temperature and relative humidity sensors are disposed at one or more locations within the power generator, such as at the beginning upstream portion of the tubes as indicated at  682  and exhaust end of the tubes  684 . Temperature and humidity sensors  682  may also be positioned near the housing opening or manifold  625  in further embodiments. Information from the various sensors may be provided to the controller to aid in modulating the fan  620  speed. 
         [0031]    While power generator  600  is shown as having fuel cells positioned only at the beginning of the tubes next to the manifold  630 , in further embodiments, additional fuel cells may be interspersed with portions of the tubes having selectively permeable membranes. This may provide for a more efficient flow and use of hydrogen generated by the fuel cartridge. In some embodiments, the total fuel cell length is about ⅓ rd  of the length of the tube, with the remainder of the tube containing selectively permeable membrane. In further embodiments, the lengths may be varied depending on the desired power generation characteristics, and may not include the entire length of the tubes in either fuel cell or selectively permeable membrane. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross section block representation of a power generator  700  illustrating planar air flow paths or conduits  705 ,  710  on either side of a hydrogen generating fuel  715 . Fuel  715  includes an encapsulating particulate filter  720 , and a container or shell  725 . The shell  725  in one embodiment is formed of a rigid metal or polymer material that allows handling of the fuel  715 . 
         [0033]    On both sides the fuel  715 , the air flow paths  705  and  710  contain multiple lengths or portions of fuel cells  730  interspersed with lengths or portions of selectively permeable membranes  735 . The fuel cells and membranes function in the same way as in power generator  600 . In some embodiments, since the paths are planar, the fuel cells and membranes may be formed in strips extending the entire width of the fuel  715 , or may even be formed in different patterns, such as checkerboard or other patterns to aid in utilization of all the fuel  715  by providing shorter water vapor and hydrogen migration paths within the fuel  715 , as well as insuring that generated water vapor is effectively utilized. While in  FIG. 7  several of alternating strips are illustrated, in further embodiments, even narrower strips and more sets of strips are desired to further promote effective utilization of the generated water vapor and utilization of the fuel. 
         [0034]    In power generator  715 , a fan  740  provides ambient air flow to the airflow paths via one or more manifolds. In further embodiments, the air may be provided by a source separate from the power generator  700 , such as by an external fan or pressurized source of air having a desired humidity level. Control electronics and battery  750  may be located next to the fan  740 , and modulate the fan as a function of temperature, pressure, and power demand. The fan may be powered from the batter in various embodiments. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a top view representation of a conduit  800  illustrating fuel cell portions  805  and selectively permeable membrane portions  810  according to an example embodiment. In one embodiment, the portions may resemble a checkerboard square, with alternately disposed fuel cell portions adjacent membrane portions. In further embodiments, longitudinal or transverse stripes of portions may be used. Many different layouts of the portions may be used in various embodiments, while retaining a desired ratio of areas of the fuel cell portions to selectively permeable membrane portions and effective utilization of the water vapor and fuel. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram representation of an example controller to execute methods and algorithms according to an example embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , a hardware and operating environment is provided that is applicable to any of the servers and/or remote clients shown in the other Figures. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , one embodiment of the hardware and operating environment includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer  900  (e.g., a personal computer, workstation, or server), including one or more processing units  921 , a system memory  922 , and a system bus  923  that operatively couples various system components including the system memory  922  to the processing unit  921 . There may be only one or there may be more than one processing unit  921 , such that the processor of computer  900  comprises a single central-processing unit (CPU), or a plurality of processing units, commonly referred to as a multiprocessor or parallel-processor environment. In various embodiments, computer  900  is a conventional computer, a distributed computer, or any other type of computer. 
         [0038]    The system bus  923  can be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory can also be referred to as simply the memory, and, in some embodiments, includes read-only memory (ROM)  924  and random-access memory (RAM)  925 . A basic input/output system (BIOS) program  926 , containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer  900 , such as during start-up, may be stored in ROM  924 . The computer  900  further includes a hard disk drive  927  for reading from and writing to a hard disk, not shown, a magnetic disk drive  928  for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk  929 , and an optical disk drive  930  for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk  931  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. 
         [0039]    The hard disk drive  927 , magnetic disk drive  928 , and optical disk drive  930  couple with a hard disk drive interface  932 , a magnetic disk drive interface  933 , and an optical disk drive interface  934 , respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide non volatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  900 . It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type of computer-readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), redundant arrays of independent disks (e.g., RAID storage devices) and the like, can be used in the exemplary operating environment. 
         [0040]    A plurality of program modules can be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk  929 , optical disk  931 , ROM  924 , or RAM  925 , including an operating system  935 , one or more application programs  936 , other program modules  937 , and program data  938 . Programming for implementing one or more processes or method described herein may be resident on any one or number of these computer readable media. 
         [0041]    A user may enter commands and information into computer  900  through input devices such as a keyboard  940  and pointing device  942 . Other input devices (not shown) can include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  921  through a serial port interface  946  that is coupled to the system bus  923 , but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  947  or other type of display device can also be connected to the system bus  923  via an interface, such as a video adapter  948 . The monitor  947  can display a graphical user interface for the user. In addition to the monitor  947 , computers typically include other peripheral output devices shown), such as speakers and printers. 
         [0042]    The computer  900  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers or servers, such as remote computer  949 . These logical connections are achieved by a communication device coupled to or a part of the computer  900 ; other types of communication devices may also be used. The remote computer  949  can be another computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a client, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above I/0 relative to the computer  900 , although only a memory storage device  950  has been illustrated. The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 9  include a local area network (LAN)  951  and/or a wide area network (WAN)  952 . Such networking environments are commonplace in office networks, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the internet, which are all types of networks. 
         [0043]    When used in a LAN-networking environment, the computer  900  is connected to the LAN  951  through a network interface or adapter  953 , which is one type of communications device. In some embodiments, when used in a WAN-networking environment, the computer  900  typically includes a modem  954  (another type of communications device) or any other type of communications device, e.g., a wireless transceiver, for establishing communications over the wide-area network  952 , such as the internet. The modem  954 , which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus  923  via the serial port interface  946 . In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  900  can be stored in the remote memory storage device  950  of remote computer, or server  949 . It is appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of, and communications devices for, establishing a communications link between the computers may be used including hybrid fiber-coax connections, T1-T3 lines, DSL&#39;s, OC-3 and/or OC-12, TCP/IP, microwave, wireless application protocol, and any other electronic media through any suitable switches, routers, outlets and power lines, as the same are known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0044]    Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.