Modular fuel cell and fuel source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016149235-A1
Application number	US-201414784905-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Apr 16, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell power module is coupled to a fuel supply reactor module by way of an adaptor which includes some of the control elements for controlling reaction of reactants in the reactor module. The adaptor includes a housing and a first connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a fuel cell power module fuel inlet port and a second connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a reactor module fuel outlet port. A fluid line extends between the first connection interface and the second connection interface. The adaptor includes a motive unit of a flow control mechanism configured to provide motive power to a flow circuit of a reactor module when the reactor module is coupled to the adaptor. The adaptor enables a fuel cell power module to be interfaced with different types of reactor modules having different form factor and different control requirements.

First claim

1 . An adaptor for a fuel cell power source comprising:
a housing; a first connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a fuel cell power module fuel inlet port; a second connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a reactor module fuel outlet port; a fluid line extending between the first connection interface and the second connection interface; a motive unit of a flow control mechanism configured to provide motive power to a flow circuit of a reactor module when the reactor module is coupled to the adaptor.

2 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which:
the motive unit comprises a motor and pump, and
the second connection interface further comprises a first reactant port and a second reactant port, the pump being disposed in a fluid line extending between the first reactant port and the second reactant port.

3 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which the motive unit comprises a pump motor having a drive output disposed on the second connection interface for coupling to a pump head in the reactor module.

4 . The adaptor of claim 2 in which the motor and pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

5 . The adaptor of claim 3 in which the drive output comprises a roller configured to cooperate with a peristaltic pump head in a reactor module when the reactor module is coupled to the second connection interface.

6 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which the first connection interface further includes an electrical connection interface for receiving control signals and/or electrical power from a fuel cell power module.

7 . The adaptor of claim 6 further including an electronic controller coupled to the electrical connection interface for receiving control signals from the fuel cell power module.

8 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which the first connection interface further includes a mechanical actuator coupled to a valve, the mechanical actuator being operable by a fuel cell power module when coupled to the first connection interface.

9 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which the first connection interface further includes a mechanical actuator coupled to a valve, the mechanical actuator being operable by a fuel cell power module when coupled to the first connection interface.

10 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which the second connection interface comprises a mechanical actuator for operating a closure valve or seal of the reactor module.

11 . The adaptor of claim 7 further including a controller configured to control the motive unit.

12 . The adaptor of claim 1 in which:
the motive unit comprises a flow control valve, and
the second connection interface further comprises a first reactant port and a second reactant port, the switching valve being disposed in a fluid line extending between the first reactant port and the second reactant port.

13 . A modular reactor assembly comprising an adaptor according to any preceding claim and a reactor module,
the reactor module having connection interface configured to engage and cooperate with the second connection interface of the adaptor.

14 . The modular reactor assembly of claim 13 in which the reactor module comprises:
a reactant reservoir containing a first reactant,
a reaction chamber containing a second reactant;
a flow circuit comprising a flow path extending between the reactant reservoir and the reaction chamber; and
a flow control element in the flow path for controlling flow of first reactant to the reaction chamber, the flow control element being driveable by the motive unit of the adaptor when the reactor module is coupled to the second connection interface of the adaptor.

15 . The modular reactor assembly of claim 13 in which the reactor module comprises:
a reactant reservoir containing a first reactant,
a reaction chamber containing a second reactant; and
a flow circuit comprising a first flow path extending from the reactant reservoir to the reactor module connection interface and a second flow path extending from the reactor module connection interface to the reaction chamber; and
in which the adaptor comprises:
a first reactant port and a second reactant port in the second communication interface respectively engaging with the first flow path and the second flow path of the reactor connection interface,
wherein the motive unit comprises a flow control element in a fluid line extending between the first reactant port and the second reactant port for controlling flow of first reactant to the reaction chamber via the fluid line of the adaptor when the reactor module is coupled to the second connection interface of the adaptor.

16 . The modular reactor assembly of claim 13 in which the adaptor defines a cavity into which the reactor module is received.

17 . The modular reactor assembly of claim 16 in which the cavity is closable when the reactor module is received into the cavity.

18 . The modular reactor assembly of claim 13 in which the reactor module defines a cavity into which the adaptor module is received.

19 . A fuel cell power source comprising:
a housing; a connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the fuel cell power source to a reactor module fuel outlet port; a motive unit of a flow control mechanism configured to provide motive power to a flow circuit of a reactor module when the reactor module is coupled to the fuel cell power source.

20 . The fuel cell power source of claim 1 in which:
the motive unit comprises a motor and pump, and
the connection interface further comprises a first reactant port and a second reactant port, the pump being disposed in a fluid line extending between the first reactant port and the second reactant port.

21 . The fuel cell power source of claim 19 in which the motive unit comprises a pump motor having a drive output disposed on the connection interface for coupling to a pump head in the reactor module.

22 . The fuel cell power source of claim 20 in which the motor and pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

23 . The fuel cell power source of claim 21 in which the drive output comprises a roller configured to cooperate with a peristaltic pump head in a reactor module when the reactor module is coupled to the connection interface.

24 . The fuel cell power source of claim 19 in which the connection interface comprises a mechanical actuator for operating a closure valve or seal of the reactor module.

25 . The fuel cell power source of claim 19 in which:
the motive unit comprises a flow control valve, and
the second connection interface further comprises a first reactant port and a second reactant port, the switching valve being disposed in a fluid line extending between the first reactant port and the second reactant port.

26 . The fuel cell power source of claim 19 further including a cavity in the housing into which a reactor module is receivable.

27 . A method of operating a fuel cell power source comprising:
a) providing an adaptor having:
a housing;
a first connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a fuel cell power module fuel inlet port;
a second connection interface in the housing for detachably coupling the adaptor to a reactor module fuel outlet port;
a fluid line extending between the first connection interface and the second connection interface;
a motive unit of a flow control mechanism configured to pro

Assignees

• Intelligent Energy Ltd
• Intelligent Energy Ltd

Inventors

• Carnall Andrew John
• Nicholas Simon
• Kells Ashley James

Classifications

• H01M8/04104

  Regulation of differential pressures · CPC title

• B01J7/02

  by wet methods · CPC title

• H01M8/04089

  of gaseous reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04201 Primary

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• H01M8/0625 Primary

  in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure · CPC title