Water reactive hydrogen fuel cell power system

Abstract

A hydrogen fuel cell system includes devices and methods to combine reactant fuel materials and aqueous solutions to generate hydrogen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel cartridge, and a supply of pressurized aqueous solution to generate power for portable power electronics. The fuel cartridge includes a top cap with an overmolded face seal gasket that provides an offset injection point on the fuel cartridge. The aqueous solution is delivered into the fuel cartridge to generate hydrogen for the fuel cell which then produces power for the user of the electronics.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A hydrogen fuel cartridge comprising:
 a canister;   a top cap operatively connected to the canister and having an overmolded face seal gasket that provides an offset injection point on the fuel cartridge; and   a reactant fuel material disposed within the canister.   
     
     
         34 . The hydrogen fuel cartridge of  claim 33 , wherein the top cap further comprises a hydrogen output port and a cartridge valve configured to control the flow rate of hydrogen through the hydrogen output port. 
     
     
         35 . The hydrogen fuel cartridge of  claim 34 , wherein the cartridge valve comprises a hydrogen flow restriction orifice. 
     
     
         36 . A hydrogen fuel cell system comprising:
 the hydrogen fuel cartridge of  claim 35 ;   a fuel cell connected to receive hydrogen gas from the hydrogen output port of the hydrogen fuel cartridge;   a supply of pressurized aqueous solution connected to deliver aqueous solution to the hydrogen fuel cartridge through the top cap to react with the reactant fuel material to develop hydrogen for the fuel cell.   
     
     
         37 . The hydrogen fuel cell system of  claim 36 , wherein the cartridge valve is configured to set or regulate the hydrogen gas pressure within the hydrogen fuel cartridge. 
     
     
         38 . The hydrogen fuel cell system of  claim 37 , wherein the delivery of aqueous solution from the supply of pressurized aqueous solution is regulated by the hydrogen gas pressure within the hydrogen fuel cartridge. 
     
     
         39 . The hydrogen fuel cell system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the supply of pressurized aqueous solution comprises a bellows assembly; and   the supply of pressurized aqueous solution is regulated by the hydrogen gas pressure within the hydrogen fuel cartridge so that no aqueous solution is delivered to the hydrogen fuel cartridge when the hydrogen gas pressure equals the bellows assembly pressure.   
     
     
         40 . The hydrogen fuel cell system of  claim 35 , wherein the fuel cell is configured to dynamically adjust to the hydrogen gas received from the hydrogen fuel cartridge by charging or discharging a battery in the fuel cell at a constant load. 
     
     
         41 . The hydrogen fuel cell system of  claim 38 , wherein the cartridge valve and the supply of pressurized aqueous solution are configured to set the flow rate of hydrogen through the hydrogen output port to an optimal flow range which enables the fuel cell to operate at a predictable current. 
     
     
         42 . The hydrogen fuel cartridge of  claim 35 , wherein the cartridge valve comprises an o-ring type compression fitting about the hydrogen flow restriction orifice. 
     
     
         43 . The hydrogen fuel cartridge of  claim 42 , wherein the o-ring type compression fitting is configured such that a compression force of up to approximately 20 N compresses the o-ring at a distance of about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         44 . The hydrogen fuel cartridge of  claim 33 , wherein the canister comprises a metal material, the top cap comprises a plastic material, and a roll-over crimp operative connects the canister to the top cap.