Portable fuel-cell-powered system with ultrasonic atomization of H2O by-product
View Patent ↗A portable electronic system which obtains power from a dry-electrolyte fuel cell. Water which is produced by the fuel cell is atomized by an ultrasonic transducer, to avoid user inconvenience due to reservoirs or dripping.
1. A portable electronic system, comprising:
electronic operating circuits which perform one or more functions;
a fuel cell operatively connected to provide power to said operating circuits; and
an ultrasonic atomizer which uses ultrasonic energy to atomize any liquid water produced by said fuel cell.
2. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , wherein:
said portable electronic system is a computer.
3. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic operating circuits include a microprocessor.
4. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat exchanger coupled to said electronic operating circuits.
5. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat exchanger connected between said fuel cell and said atomizer.
6. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat exchanger connected between said atomizer and an external exhaust.
7. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a separator coupled to said fuel cell and to said atomizer.
8. The portable electronic system of claim 1 , wherein:
said ultrasonic atomizer includes a resonant piezoelectric transducer driven at an ultrasonic frequency.
9. A method for operating a fuel cell, comprising the steps of:
(a) supplying an oxidant and a fuel which contains hydrogen to a dry-electrolyte membrane;
(b) allowing an electromechanical reaction to occur at said membrane in which hydrogen is oxidized to form water; and
(c) atomizing any water condensate from the cell by applying ultrasonic energy thereto, and expelling atomized water into the ambient air.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step (a) comprises the sub-step of:
(a1.) supplying air as said oxidant.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step (a) comprises the sub-step of:
(a2) supplying gaseous hydrogen as said fuel.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
said dry-electrolyte membrane comprises a sulfonated copolymer.