Patent ID: 8361668

Claim:
A heat management system in a portable electronic device, comprising: a flexible fuel cell layer that includes two or more fuel cells and current collection components, wherein the two or more fuel cells and the current collection components are both substantially integrated within a two-dimensional layer; a fluid manifold coupled to the flexible fuel cell layer and forming an enclosed region between the fluid manifold and the flexible fuel cell layer; one or more internal supports bonded within the enclosed region to both the flexible fuel cell layer and the fluid manifold and wherein the one or more internal supports are configured to restrict outward expansion of the flexible fuel cell layer such that the flexible fuel cell layer is operable when self-supported; at least one electrical power consumer electrically connected to the flexible fuel cell layer; an endothermic fuel system configured to provide fuel to the flexible fuel cell layer; and at least one thermal transmission path thermally coupling the at least one electrical power consumer and the endothermic fuel system, wherein the thermal transmission path is configured to transfer heat produced by the electrical power consumer to the endothermic fuel system.