Fuel preheat in fuel cells and portable electronics

Abstract

Described herein are fuel cell systems and methods of increasing fuel cell system efficiency. The systems include a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel source and a fuel cell that generates electrical energy using the hydrogen. An electronics device that receives the electrical energy may also include the fuel cell system and a heat-generating component. The invention uses heat from the fuel cell and / or heat from the heat-generating electronics component to preheat a liquid fuel source. This reduces or potentially eliminates the need for fuel source heating in the fuel processor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 482,996 entitled “Fuel cell system startup procedure and self-heating apparatus”, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes; this application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 483,416 entitled “Fuel Preheat in Portable Electronics Powered by Fuel Cells”, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes; and this application additionally claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 482,981 entitled “Micro machined fuel stack with integral cooling and humidification”, which is incorporated by reference for all purposesBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to fuel cell technology. In particular, the invention relates to systems for improving efficiency of fuel cell...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention relates to fuel cell systems and methods of increasing fuel cell system efficiency. The systems include a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel source and a fuel cell that generates electrical energy using the hydrogen. An electronics device that receives the electrical energy may also include the fuel cell system and a heat-generating component. The invention uses heat from the fuel cell and / or heat from the heat-generating electronics component to preheat a liquid fuel source. This reduces or potentially eliminates the need for fuel source heating in the fuel processor.

Problems solved by technology

Gaseous hydrogen has a low energy density that reduces its practicality as a portable fuel.

Liquid hydrogen, which has a suitable energy density, must be stored at extremely low temperatures and high pressures, making storing and transporting liquid hydrogen burdensome.

A catalytic burner uses the fuel source to generate heat and reduces the fuel efficiency of the system.

An electric burner requires electrical energy to generate heat and reduces electrical efficiency of the system.

Fuel cell systems that generate electrical energy for portable applications such as electronics would be desirable but are not yet commercially available.

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