Patent Publication Number: US-8978919-B2

Title: Gas storage cartridge

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a gas storage cartridge of a gas storage canister, and more particularly to a modular gas storage cartridge, which a plurality of gas storage cartridges are stacked over each other and accommodated within a gas storage canister. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a hydrogen-containing fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with air. Consequently, the fuel cell is categorized as a new energy source. The hydrogen-containing fuel used in the fuel cell includes any type of hydrocarbon such as natural gas, methanol, ethanol (alcohol), product from water hydrolysis, marsh gas, or the like. 
     The hydrogen gas is usually filled into a gas storage canister with metal hydride, so that the hydrogen gas is adsorbed and stored by the metal hydride. For using the hydrogen gas, the gas storage canister should be properly heated to release the hydrogen gas to the application device. Consequently, the fuel cell manufacturers make efforts in designing novel gas storage canisters for providing more stable and sustained hydrogen gas. 
     Conventionally, the gas storage material (e.g. metal hydride) is directly accommodated within a canister body of the gas storage canister. Since the gas storage material is usually in a powdery form and the gas storage material is accommodated within a single receptacle of the canister body, if the volume of the gas storage material is too large, the gas storage material fails to be uniformly and stably heated. Under this circumstance, the efficiency of releasing the gas (e.g. the hydrogen gas) from the gas storage material is deteriorated. For solving these drawbacks, the researchers are devoted to the methods of partitioning the gas storage material within the gas storage canister. Unfortunately, these methods are unsatisfied because the thermal expansion of the gas storage material may result in deformation of the partition articles. Under this circumstance, the gas storage material may be leaked to and stacked over other partition layers or a non-uniform heating problem may occur, so that the performance of the gas storage canister is impaired. 
     Moreover, it is inconvenient to fill the gas storage material into the gas storage canister because a special jig tool is indispensable. The process of filling the gas storage material is complicated, and needs to be performed by a professional technician. In addition, a difference of gas storage material between any two different filling processes is easily generated. Under this circumstance, the operating performance of the gas storage canister is adversely affected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first object of the present invention provides a modular gas storage cartridge comprising a sealed cartridge unit and a gas-guiding channel. The gas storage cartridge is used for accommodating a gas storage material. Since the gas storage cartridge is modularized to facilitate production, assembly and application, the problems encountered from the prior art will be obviated. 
     A second object of the present invention provides a simplified gas storage canister. After the modular gas storage cartridges are successively stacked over each other and accommodated within the inner space of the gas storage canister, the gas storage canister is assembled without difficulty. 
     A third object of the present invention provides a gas storage cartridge which is easily assembled and stably positioned. After several modular gas storage cartridges are successively stacked over each other and accommodated within the inner space of the gas storage canister, these gas storage cartridges are aligned with each other and positioned by simple positioning elements or positioning structures. 
     A fourth object of the present invention provides a gas storage cartridge with a compartment structure. The compartment structure is accommodated within the modular gas storage cartridge and has a plurality of compartments for storing a predetermined amount of gas storage material. Consequently, the gas storage material can be optimally distributed and uniformly heated, and the structural strength of the gas storage cartridge is enhanced. 
     A fifth object of the present invention provides a gas storage cartridge with a gap. Due to the gap between the top and inner peripheries of the gas storage cartridge, the possibility of resulting in deformation of the partition articles will be minimized. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas storage canister. The gas storage canister includes a plurality of gas storage cartridges. Each of the gas storage cartridges includes a sealed cartridge unit for storing a gas storage material. The gas storage cartridge is defined by a first slab, a peripheral wall, and a second slab. At least one gas-guiding channel is accommodated within the receptacle of the gas storage cartridge. The first slab has a first gas inlet/outlet port and the second slab has a second gas inlet/outlet port aligned with the gas-guiding channel. Consequently, a gas is guided into the receptacle through the gas-guiding channel to be adsorbed by the gas storage material within the receptacle of the gas storage cartridge. In addition, the gas released from the gas storage material can be guided to the first gas inlet/outlet port and the second gas inlet/outlet port through the gas-guiding channel. 
     The gas-guiding channel includes a first connecting part, a second connecting part, and a filtering layer. The first connecting part has at least one gas-guiding hole. The first connecting part and second connecting part may be coupled with each other. The filtering layer is sheathed around a tube wall of the first connecting part. The first connecting part is a porous material. Moreover, the gas storage cartridge further includes a compartment structure. The compartment structure includes a plurality of compartments, which are defined by a plurality of partition plates vertical to the first slab. Each of the compartments stores a predetermined amount of gas storage material. 
     By means of the present technology, the gas storage canister can be easily assembled by successively accommodating the stacked gas storage cartridges within the canister body without the need of using the complicated assembling process. Since the gas storage material has been precisely and previously filled into each modular gas storage cartridge, the difference of gas storage material between any two different filling processes will be largely reduced, the assembling complexity and difficulty will be reduced, and the possibility of resulting in deformation will be minimized. By using the gas storage canister of the present invention, each modular gas storage cartridge is uniformly and stably heated. Consequently, the efficiency of charging or releasing the gas (e.g. the hydrogen gas) is enhanced. Since there is a buffering space between any two adjacent stacked gas storage cartridges, even if the gas storage material is suffered from thermal expansion, the deformation of the canister body will be minimized. Consequently, the safety of operating the canister body is enhanced. 
     In the modular gas storage cartridge of the present invention, a predetermined amount of gas storage material is accommodated within the compartment of the compartment structure, so that the gas storage material is locally distributed. Consequently, during operation of the fuel cell system, the gas storage canister allows the external heat to be uniformly conducted to the compartments of all compartment structures. Since the heat applied to the inner portion and the outer portion of the gas storage material are not obviously distinguished during the heating stage, the released gas can be outputted more uniformly and stably. Under this circumstance, the operating efficacy of the present invention is enhanced. Moreover, since the compartment structure is accommodated within the receptacle of the gas storage cartridge and the partition plate is effective to reinforce the structural strength of the gas storage cartridge, the operation of the gas storage canister is more stable, and the working efficiency of the fuel cell system is enhanced. In such way, the gas storage cartridge is modularized to facilitate production, assembly and application, so that the industrial utilization is enhanced. 
     The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage canister according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the gas storage canister according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge of the gas storage canister according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view illustrating a gas storage cartridge of the gas storage canister according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the gas storage cartridge of  FIG. 4  and taken along the line A-A; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the portion C of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage canister according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the gas storage canister according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The gas storage canister  100  comprises a canister body  1  and a plurality of gas storage cartridges  2 . The gas storage cartridges  2  are stacked over each other and accommodated within an inner space  10  of the canister body  1 . The canister body  1  comprises a bottom end  11  and an outlet  12  opposed to the bottom end  11 . The canister body  1  has a circular, square or polygonal shape. The shape of the canister body  1  may be varied according to the practical requirements. The bottom end  11  and the outlet  12  of the canister body  1  are arranged along a long axis direction Y. The plurality of gas storage cartridges  2  are accommodated within the inner space  10  and stacked over each other along the long axis direction Y of the canister body  1 . In this embodiment, the gas storage cartridges  2  are made of a thermally-conductive material. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge of the gas storage canister according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gas storage cartridge  2  comprises a first slab  21 , a peripheral wall  22 , and a second slab  23 . The first slab  21 , the peripheral wall  22  and the second slab  23  are collectively defined as a sealed cartridge unit with a receptacle. The shape of the gas storage cartridge is dependent on the shape of the canister body  1 . The peripheral wall  22  is vertically extended from a periphery of the first slab  21  along the long axis direction Y. The second slab  23  is disposed on the top portion of the peripheral wall  22 . In an embodiment, the second slab  23  (e.g. a flat slab or a lid plate with an edge) is accommodated within the top and inner periphery of the peripheral wall  22 . Consequently, a receptacle P is defined by the gas storage cartridge  2  for accommodating the gas storage material. A plurality of ribs  212  are formed on the first slab  21 , so that the structural strength of the first slab  21  is enhanced. In this embodiment, a concave ring-shaped edge structure  213  is formed at a junction between the first slab  21  and the peripheral wall  22 . After the plurality of gas storage cartridges  2  are stacked over each other, every two adjacent gas storage cartridges  2  are engaged with each other through the concave ring-shaped edge structure  213 . Alternatively, the periphery of the concave ring-shaped edge structure  213  may have a plurality of bumps, and the peripheral wall  22  corresponding to the bumps may have positioning structures such as concave edges (not shown). Moreover, according to the practical requirements, the second slab  23  is replaced by an external lid plate, wherein the lid plate  23  is sheathed around the top and outer periphery of the peripheral wall  22 . In addition, the lid plate  23  and the peripheral wall  22  may be equipped with convex/concave engaging elements or tenons in order to facilitate combination. 
     Furthermore, at least one gas-guiding channel  3  runs through the receptacle P of the gas storage cartridge  2 . Corresponding to the gas-guiding channel  3 , the first slab  21  has a first gas inlet/outlet port  211  and the second slab  23  has a second gas inlet/outlet port  231 . Through the gas inlet/outlet ports  211  and  231 , a supply gas can be introduced into the gas-guiding channel  3  and guided to and adsorbed by the gas storage material, which is accommodated within the gas storage cartridge  2 . In addition, the gas released from the gas storage material can be guided to the gas inlet/outlet ports  211  and  231  through the gas-guiding channel  3 . 
     After the gas storage cartridges  2  are successively stacked over and accommodated within the inner space  10  of the canister body  1 , at least one positioning element  4  is penetrated through the gas-guiding channels  3  of corresponding gas storage cartridges  2  (see  FIG. 1 ). Consequently, the gas storage cartridges  2  are stably aligned with each other, and the gas-guiding channels  3  are in communication with each other. Afterwards, the canister body  1  is necked or the top side of the canister body  1  is sealed up with a top cover. Meanwhile, the gas storage canister  100  is assembled. 
     In this embodiment, the gas-guiding channel  3  comprises a first connecting part  31 , a second connecting part  33 , and a filtering layer  34 . The first connecting part  31  is a hollow tube. At least one gas-guiding hole  32  is formed in the tube wall of the first connecting part  31 . A first end of the first connecting part  31  is a sustaining end  311 . A second end of the first connecting part  31  is an enlarged end  312 . After the sustaining end  311  of the first connecting part  31  is penetrated through the first gas inlet/outlet port  211  and the receptacle P of the gas storage cartridge  2 , the sustaining end  311  is sustained against the inner surface of the second slab  23 . The enlarged end  312  of the first connecting part  31  is in contact with the outer periphery of the first gas inlet/outlet port  211  of the first slab  21 . 
     The second connecting part  33  comprises a coupling end  331  and an enlarged end  332 . After the coupling end  331  of the second connecting part  33  is penetrated through the second gas inlet/outlet port  231  of the second slab  23 , the coupling end  331  is fitted into the sustaining end  311  of the first connecting part  31 . The enlarged end  332  of the second connecting part  33  is in contact with the outer periphery of the second gas inlet/outlet port  231  of the second slab  23 . 
     The filtering layer  34  is sheathed around the tube wall of the first connecting part  31 . In a case that the gas flows through the gas-guiding channel  3 , the gas-guiding hole  32  is blocked by the filtering layer  34 . Under this circumstance, the gas storage material will not be leaked out from the gas-guiding hole  32 , and thus the isolating and filtering efficacy will be enhanced. 
     Moreover, a compartment structure  5  is disposed within the receptacle P of respective gas storage cartridge  2 . The compartment structure  5  comprises a plurality of compartments  52 . These compartments  52  are defined by partition plates  51  which are vertical to the first slab  21 . Alternatively, these compartments  52  may be defined by parallel partition plates. Each of the compartments  52  is used for storing a predetermined amount of gas storage material. The partition plates  51  are made of a thermally-conductive material, so that the efficacy of heating the gas storage material is enhanced. In this embodiment, the compartment structure  5  is a honeycomb-like structure. The shape of the compartment structure  5  is not restricted. For example, the compartment structure  5  is a rectangular structure, a square structure, a polygonal structure, an irregular shape or a circular structure. The special profile of the compartment structure  5  can reinforce the structural strength of the gas storage cartridge  2 . Consequently, when the gas storage material is suffered from thermal expansion, the deformation of the gas storage cartridge  2  is minimized. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic top view illustrating a gas storage cartridge of the gas storage canister according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the gas storage cartridge of  FIG. 4  and taken along the line A-A.  FIG. 6  is a schematic enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the portion C of  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , a gap is formed between the second slab  23  and the top surface of the peripheral wall  22  for minimizing deformation of the cartridge unit. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The concepts of the gas storage canister of  FIG. 7  are expanded from the concepts of the gas storage canister of  FIG. 3 . In the gas storage cartridge  2   a  of the second embodiment, the gas-guiding channel  3  which is composed of the first connecting part  31 , the second connecting part  33  and the filtering layer  34  is replaced by a gas-guiding channel  3   a . The gas-guiding channel  3   a  is a hollow rod made of porous material (or filtering material). The hollow rod  35  is accommodated within the receptacle P of the gas storage cartridge  2   a , and arranged between the first gas inlet/outlet port  211  of the first slab  21  and the second gas inlet/outlet port  231  of the second slab  23 . After the second slab  23  is sheathed by the inner periphery of the peripheral wall  22  of the first slab  21 , the open end of the rod  35  is protruded out of the second gas inlet/outlet port  231  by a certain distance. In such way, the gas can be introduced into the gas storage cartridge  2   a  through the gas-guiding channel  3   a , and the released gas can be guided to the gas inlet/outlet ports  211  and  231  through the gas-guiding channel  3   a.    
       FIG. 8  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In comparison with  FIG. 3 , the first connecting part  31  is directly formed on the first slab  21 . The filtering layer  34  is sheathed around the tube wall of the first connecting part  31 . In addition, the second connecting part  33  is directly formed on the second slab  23 , and aligned with the first connecting part  31 . The configurations of other components of the gas storage cartridge  2   b  of this embodiment are similar to those of  FIG. 3 , and are not redundantly described herein. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a gas storage cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In comparison with  FIG. 8 , the first connecting part  31  is directly formed on the second slab  23 . The filtering layer  34  (or a filtering tube) is sheathed around the tube wall of the first connecting part  31 . In addition, the second connecting part  33  is directly formed on the first slab  21 , and aligned with the first connecting part  31 . The configurations of other components of the gas storage cartridge  2   c  of this embodiment are similar to those of  FIG. 8 , and are not redundantly described herein. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.