Patent ID: 7901815

Claim:
A power generator comprising: a hydrogen flow path containing a hydrogen-containing fuel and a flow inducer, wherein the hydrogen-containing fuel reacts with moisture in the hydrogen flow path to produce hydrogen, and wherein the flow inducer induces a flow in the hydrogen flow path; a humid air flow path separate from the hydrogen flow path, wherein at least a portion of the humid air flow path runs next to a portion of the hydrogen flow path; a fuel cell between the hydrogen flow path and the humid air flow path such that at the anode the fuel cell reacts with at least a portion of the hydrogen in the hydrogen flow path to produce electricity and such that at least a portion of the moisture produced by the reaction of the fuel cell is introduced into the humid air flow path at the cathode of the fuel cell; and, a water vapor exchange membrane separate from the fuel cell and located between the portion of the hydrogen flow path and the portion of the humid air flow path that run next to each other, wherein the majority of the moisture required in the hydrogen flow path passes through the water vapor exchange membrane in the form of water vapor from the humid air flow path to the hydrogen flow path in an amount sufficient to provide a closed water supply.