Interface for flexible fluid enclosures

1. A fluid enclosure interface system, comprising:

a flexible fluid enclosure, including

a structural filler, including

a material capable of occluding and desorbing a fluid;

a binder; and

an outer enclosure wall, conformably coupled to the structural filler;

wherein the structural filler supports stress applied by an internal fluid pressure;

one or more components, including

a device that can control the flow of a fluid into or out of the enclosure; and

one or more strain absorbing interfaces, in contact with the flexible fluid enclosure and the one or more components;

wherein the one or more strain absorbing interfaces is flexible, allowing for a differential in strain between the flexible fluid enclosure and the one or more components.

2. The fluid enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components are rigid, semi-rigid or less flexible than the flexible fluid enclosure.

3. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components are surface-mounted to the one or more strain absorbing interfaces.

4. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid enclosure comprises a cavity.

5. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components comprise a fitting, mount, connector, valve, regulator, pressure relief device, planar microfluidic device, fluid manifold, a plate or combinations thereof.

6. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more strain absorbing interfaces comprise thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers, polyamides, melt processable rubbers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, polyimides, synthetic rubbers or natural rubbers.

7. A fluid enclosure interface system, comprising:

a straining fluid enclosure, including

a structural filler, including

a material capable of occluding and desorbing a fluid;

a binder; and

an outer enclosure wall, conformably coupled to the structural filler;

wherein the structural filler supports stress applied by an internal fluid pressure;

one or more components, including

a device that can control the flow of a fluid into or out of the enclosure; and

one or more interfaces, in contact with the straining fluid enclosure and the one or more components and adapted to relieve a strain between the one or more components and the straining fluid enclosure;

wherein the one or more interfaces provide a fluidic coupling between the straining fluid enclosure and one or more components.

8. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 7 , wherein the strain is caused by expanding or contracting of the straining fluid enclosure.

9. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 7 , wherein the straining fluid enclosure expands or contracts as a result of desorbing or occluding a fluid within the fluid enclosure.

10. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 7 , wherein the straining fluid enclosure includes a composite hydrogen storage material.

11. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more components include an electrochemical cell, fuel cell, a heat pump, an electrolyser or combinations thereof.

12. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 7 , wherein the strain is caused by fluid flowing through the one or more interfaces.

13. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flowing through the one or more interfaces comprises hydrogen.

14. The fluid enclosure interface system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flowing through the one or more interfaces comprises one or more of ammonia, formic acid, methanol, ethanol, formic acid, butane, borohydride compounds or combinations thereof.

15. A method of making a fluid enclosure interface system, comprising:

forming a strain absorbing interface;

forming a flexible fluid enclosure that includes a structural filler and an outer enclosure, the structural filler including a binder and a material capable of occluding and desorbing a fluid and the outer enclosure wall conformably coupled to the structural filler; and

contacting the strain absorbing interface with the flexible fluid enclosure and a device that can control the flow of a fluid into or out of the enclosure.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the contacting comprises adhering.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein contacting comprises heating an adhesive.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein contacting comprises applying an adhesive.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein contacting comprises applying pressure to an adhesive.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein contacting the strain absorbing interface with a flexible fluid enclosure and a component comprises contacting the fluid enclosure on a first side of the interface and contacting the component on a second side of the interface.

21. A method of allowing for a differential in strain between a flexible enclosure and one or more fluid flow control components, comprising:

straining an outer enclosure wall conformably coupled to a structural filler by the occlusion or desorption of a fluid within a material enclosed by the outer enclosure wall;

relieving a strain at an interface of the outer enclosure wall and one or more fluid flow control components in contact with the outer enclosure wall.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein straining comprises contacting a flexible fluid enclosure with a fluid, sufficient to increase one or more of the dimensions of the fluid enclosure.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein relieving comprises absorbing a strain at an interface of the flexible fluid enclosure and one or more components in contact with the enclosure.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein straining is in response to a change in temperature, a change in pressure, a contacting of a fluid or a combination thereof, with regard to the flexible fluid enclosure.