Patent Application
20080057353
The main components are connected in a manner described below. That is, the fuel supply device 110 is connected to the auxiliary fluid drawing device channel 131 and fluid drawing device channel 121 via a channel 111, and the auxiliary fluid drawing device 130 is connected to fluid channel 131, and connected to fuel cell body 140 via other fluid channels 133 and 141 to form a fuel supply path. There are also circulation channels 112 and 142 to allow residual fuel solution in the fuel cell body 140 to circulate back to fuel supply device 110 through the circulation channels 112 and 142, and allow high-concentration fuel solution contained in an external fuel replenishing cartridge to be fed into the fuel supply device 110 in view of the concentration of the residual fuel solution. The fuel supply device 110 can also be called a mixing chamber with the same function.
The fuel cell activation assist method according to the present invention allows fuel solution in the fuel supply device 110 to be fed into the fuel cell body 140 to keep the fuel cell system operating. Under normal operation, the fuel solution in the fuel supply device 110 is fed into the fuel cell body 140 via the working of the fluid drawing device 120. At this time, the fluid drawing device 120 is powered by the power generated from the fuel cell body. However when the fuel cell system is initiated or when the fuel concentration in the fuel cell body is inadequate to generate sufficient power for the fuel supply device to enable the operation of fluid drawing device, the present invention provides an auxiliary fluid drawing device 130. Such device 130 has a mechanical construction where solution in the fuel supply device 110 is flown via channels 111, 131 into the auxiliary fluid drawing device 130, and from where fed into fuel cell body 140 via channels 133 and 141 with the aid of external force. The fuel solution fed into the fuel cell body 140 will cause electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell to generate power. The power generated thereof will then activate the fluid drawing device 120 to restore the original fuel supply mode. In another embodiment, the fuel solution in the fuel supply device 110 is fed into the fuel cell body 140 via the fuel channel by manual means, for example, by turning a handle or pushing.
The auxiliary power apparatus 150 can be used to drive the fluid drawing device 120 directly by providing power needed by the fluid drawing device 120. That is, the auxiliary power apparatus 150 directly drives the fluid drawing device 120 through electric cable 131 to supply fuel to fuel cell body 140 when the fluid drawing device cannot be activated. The auxiliary power apparatus 150 can be a manually powered apparatus or a solar cell.
The auxiliary fluid drawing device 130 and the auxiliary power apparatus 150 can stand alone or exist in an assembly. Their purpose is to make sure the fuel solution in fuel supply device 110 is continuously supplied to the fuel cell to sustain the electrochemical reaction when the fluid drawing device 120 does not operate.
The main components are connected in a manner described below. That is, the fuel cartridge 210 is connected to the auxiliary fluid drawing device channel 131 and fluid drawing device channel 121 via a channel 111, and the auxiliary fluid drawing device 130 is connected to fluid channel 131, and connected to fuel mixing chamber 220 via other fluid channels 133 and 141 to form a fuel supply path. The auxiliary power apparatus 150 is connected to the microprocessor control unit 230 and the sensor unit 240.
The high-concentration fuel solution in the external fuel replenishing cartridge is fed into the fuel mixing chamber 220, wherein the replenishing is determined by the fuel concentration in the fuel mixing chamber 220 as detected by the sensor unit 240 and analyzed by the microprocessor control unit 230.
The activation assist method according to the present invention can be used in the fuel supply device 110. It can also be used in the adjustment of fuel concentration in fuel mixing chamber 220. The auxiliary apparatus can stand alone or exist in an assembly, or the same auxiliary apparatus can be used through switching.
The main components are connected in a manner described below. That is, the fuel supply device 110 is connected to the auxiliary fluid drawing device channel 131 via a channel, and the auxiliary fluid drawing device 130 is connected to the fuel cell body 140 via channel 133. The fuel cell body 140 is connected to the chargeable cell 310 via an electric cable and to the microprocessor control unit 230 via another electric cable. The auxiliary power apparatus 150 is connected to the microprocessor control unit 230 and the chargeable cell 310 via electric cables.
The purpose of the auxiliary power apparatus 150 is to charge the chargeable cell 310 so that the chargeable cell 310 can power the fluid drawing device 120 to supply the fuel cell body 140 with fuel without going through the auxiliary fluid drawing device 130 which relies on external force to operate. With the fuel supply, the fuel cell body 140 charges the chargeable cell 310 to activate the fluid drawing device 120. The auxiliary power apparatus 150 can use a solar cell to store power in the chargeable cell 310 to achieve the charging of chargeable cell 310, thereby activating the microprocessor control unit 230 or fluid drawing device 120. The power of chargeable cell 310 can also be supplied using a manual power generator, which generates power by turning under the exertion of force, or through induction coils, or through other manual means. In addition, the manual power generator can be coupled with a solar cell to serve as the auxiliary power apparatus 150.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 095132589 | Sep 2006 | TW | national |
