A plug and play disposable fuel cartridge for use with a portable fuel cell system garnered U.S. Patent 7,648,792 on January 19, 2010 for UltraCell Corporation (Livermore, CA). The cartridge is being designed to meet standards governing use of methanol fuel cells on commercial aircraft.
A portable cartridge that stores a fuel for use with a fuel cell system includes one or more disposable components for use by the fuel cell system. The disposable component may be included on a fuel cartridge, but used by a fuel cell system when the cartridge and a package that includes the system are coupled together, according to inventors James L. Kaschmitter and Ian W. Kaye
The disposable component may include: an inlet filter that regulates passage of gases and liquids into the fuel system, an outlet filter that cleans fuel cell system exhaust gases, a sensor on the inlet air stream to the fuel cell system; a sensor on the exhaust; a desiccant that sinks moisture from within the fuel cell system package; or a fuel absorbent that soaks fuel between connectors on the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell system.
A sensor developed by UltraCell, in conjunction with the control system, can infer the specified gas composition in the incoming air stream, and compare the concentration to a threshold value, which if exceeded could cause the fuel cell to shut down.
For example, IEC standard 62282-6-1 Ed.1/PAS, which governs the use and transport of portable methanol fuel cells on commercial aircraft, lists the following maximum emissions rates and concentration limits for a 1 m3 air volume with 10 air changes per hour. Any of these materials or concentrations are suitable for use with an UltraCell sensor. Other concentrations may be detected by a sensor. The fuel cell system controller is configured to shut down the fuel cell system when one of these parameters is detected on a cartridge sensor.
