Fuel storage container for a fuel cell

Abstract

Improved fuel storage containers adapted for use with fuel cells comprise a rigid outer container associated with a flexible inner container in which a liquid is stored. The outer container generally comprises a port that allows transport of the filled inner container into the outer container. The flexible inner container can comprise a resealable connection that allows the liquid stored within the inner container to be accessed when the fuel storage container is inserted into a suitable fuel cell. Thus, the rigid outer container can be reused.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid container comprising a rigid outer container with an interior space, a closed flexible inner container within the interior space of the rigid outer container and fluid within the flexible inner container, wherein the rigid outer container has a port through which the flexible inner container filled with fluid can be transported without disassembling the rigid outer container in order to disengage and engage the inner container within the outer container and wherein the inner container is suitable for forming a resealable connection.  
     
     
         2 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the rigid outer container comprises metal.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the rigid outer container comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid container of  claim 3  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), high density poly(ethylene), polycarbonate, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(propylene), polyurethane, suitable copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the flexible inner container comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid container of  claim 5  wherein the polymer comprises poly(tetrafluoroethylene).  
     
     
         7 . The fluid container of  claim 5  wherein the polymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy tetrafluoroethylene (PFA).  
     
     
         8 . The fluid container of  claim 5  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol), poly(ethylene), poly(propylene), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidenefluoride), suitable copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises alcohol.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid container of  claim 9  wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises JP8 jet fuel.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the resealable connection comprises puncturable membrane that can reseal when a puncturing member is removed.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the resealable connection comprises an engageable mechanical sealing structure that is adapted to mate with a corresponding structure, and wherein the corresponding structure can unseal the mechanical sealing structure when the corresponding structure mates with the sealing structure to provide fluid flow through the resealable connector.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein the port comprises an opening in the rigid outer container.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid container of  claim 14  wherein fluid container further comprises a closing member, wherein the closing member can be reversibly closed to cover at least a portion of the port.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid container of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid access port that provides access to the resealable connection.  
     
     
         17 . A cartridge for a fuel cell comprising a rigid outer container, a closed flexible inner container and a fluid enclosed within the inner container, the rigid container comprising a releasable latch that secures the cartridge with a matched structure of the fuel cell for proper alignment of the cartridge upon placement of the cartridge within a fuel cell holding space of the fuel cell and the flexible container comprising a sealing structure that can interface with a corresponding structure of the fuel cell to provide fluid flow from the inner container to the fuel cell upon placement of the cartridge within the fuel cell holding space.  
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 17  wherein the sealing structure comprises a quick connect valve.  
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 17  wherein the sealing structure comprises a needleless valve system.  
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 17  wherein the flexible inner container comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 20  wherein the polymer comprises a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 17  wherein the fluid comprises alcohol.  
     
     
         23 . The cartridge of  claim 22  wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.  
     
     
         24 . The cartridge of  claim 22  wherein the rigid outer container comprises a fluid access port that holds the sealing structure at a particular orientation.  
     
     
         25 . An alcohol container comprising a rigid outer container, a closed flexible inner container, and a fluid comprising alcohol enclosed within the inner container, the flexible inner container comprising a sealing structure comprising a resealable closure that interfaces with a releasable fastening structure of the rigid outer container to hold the sealing structure at an opening in the rigid outer container.  
     
     
         26 . A method for replenishing a fuel supply of a fuel cell, the method comprising: 
 removing a cartridge from the fuel cell, wherein the cartridge comprises a rigid outer container and an enclosed flexible inner container wherein the rigid container providers for the removal of the flexible inner container without disassembling the outer container;    replacing the inner container of the cartridge with a suitable inner container containing a fluid comprising a fuel without disassembling the rigid outer container; and    inserting the cartridge back within the fuel cell to provide the fluid from the inner container to the fuel cell.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the fuel comprises alcohol.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the fuel comprises methanol.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the fuel comprises jet fuel.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the flexible inner container further comprises a sealing structure adapted to engage a corresponding structure, and wherein the corresponding structure can unseal the sealing structure upon engagement of the sealing structure with the corresponding structure.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein inserting the cartridge into the fuel cell engages the mechanical sealing structure with the corresponding structure and unseals the sealing structure.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein removing the cartridge from the fuel cell disengages the sealing structure from the corresponding structure and seals the sealing structure.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the outer container comprises alignment structures adapted to couple with corresponding alignment structures on the fuel cell to properly align the cartridge within the fuel cell.