Methods and apparatuses for a pressure driven fuel cell system

Abstract

A fuel cell system including a housing defining an anode chamber and a cathode chamber and including a catalyst, a protonically conductive, but electronically non-conductive membrane positioned between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber and a first vent, a fuel chamber in gaseous communication with the anode chamber via a first valve, a liquid chamber in gaseous communication with the anode chamber via a second valve, and a mixing chamber having a second vent. The mixing chamber is in gaseous communication with the anode chamber via a third valve and receives fuel from the fuel chamber through a fuel valve, liquid from the liquid chamber via a liquid valve, and liquid effluent from the anode chamber via a liquid effluent valve. The mixing chamber also provides a fuel mixture to the anode chamber via a fuel mixture valve. Using effluent gases, the present invention drives fluids between elements of the fuel cell system.

1 . (Amended) A detachable fuel chamber for a fuel cell system, comprising an area for holding an amount of fuel, a first port for gaseous connection with a fuel cell system and a second port for liquid connection with the fuel cell system. [A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a housing defining an anode chamber and a cathode chamber and including a catalyst, a protonically conductive but electronically non-conductive membrane positioned between said anode chamber and said cathode chamber and a first vent in said anode chamber;    a fuel chamber in gaseous communication with said anode chamber via a first valve;    a water chamber in gaseous communication with said anode chamber via a second valve; and    a mixing chamber having a second vent, wherein said mixing chamber is in gaseous communication with said anode chamber via a third valve, wherein 
 said mixing chamber receives fuel from said fuel chamber through a fuel valve, water from said water chamber via a water valve, and liquid effluent from said anode chamber via a liquid effluent valve, and  
   said mixing chamber provides a fuel mixture to said anode chamber via a fuel mixture valve.]   
     
     
         2 . (new) A detachable fuel chamber for a fuel cell system, comprising fuel storage means; gaseous communication means and liquid communication means.  
     
     
         3 . (new) The detachable fuel chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein the first port and second port are in communication with the fuel cell.  
     
     
         4 . (new) A method for delivering fuel from a fuel chamber to a fuel cell comprising: 
 allowing gaseous product from an anode chamber of a fuel cell system to be introduced to the fuel chamber;    creating a pressure differential between the fuel chamber and a destination for the fuel; and    releasing the pressure in the fuel chamber to the destination area; and    driving fuel contained in the fuel chamber to the destination area as a result of the release of pressure.    
     
     
         5 . (new) The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the destination area is an anode chamber of the fuel cell.  
     
     
         6 . (new) The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the destination area is a mixing chamber of the fuel cell system.  
     
     
         7 . (new) A method for driving a fluid in a fuel cell system comprising: 
 pressurizing a first chamber with gaseous product produced by an anode chamber of a fuel cell system;    creating a pressure differential between the first chamber and a second chamber containing a liquid;    releasing the pressure contained in the first chamber into the second chamber; and either    driving the liquid from the second chamber to a destination area; or    agitating the liquid in the second chamber.    
     
     
         8 . (new) The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the released pressure flows from the first chamber to the second chamber via a third chamber.  
     
     
         9 . (new) A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a housing defining an anode chamber and a cathode chamber and including a catalyst, a protonically conductive but electronically non-conductive membrane positioned between said anode chamber and said cathode chamber and a vent;