Patent ID: 7648786

Claim:
A system to manage the generation and use of electric power from a chemical hydride, the system comprising: a fuel cartridge configured to produce hydrogen by reacting a liquid reactant with a chemical hydride, the production of hydrogen having a hydrogen production delay; a fuel cell stack configured to generate electric power using an oxygen source and the produced hydrogen; an electric power storage device coupled with the fuel cell stack, the electric power storage device configured to store and supply electric power; a hydrogen pressure sensor that measures a hydrogen gas pressure at an output of the fuel cartridge; one or more liquid sources configured to inject the liquid reactant into the fuel cartridge at a liquid injection rate that is adjustable; and a controller configured to manage the liquid injection rate for the one or more liquid sources in response to the hydrogen gas pressure, the controller further configured to balance a supply of electric power delivered to an electric load between the electric power generated by the fuel cell stack and the electric power stored by the electric power storage device in response to the hydrogen production delay, such that the supply of electric power satisfies the electric load.