Sealed Cartridge Encapsulating Heating Element And Fuel

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are provided in which a replaceable cartridge is utilized to generate heat energy. The replaceable cartridge is a sealed, unitary body that encloses both fuel and a ceramic body in which the energy-generating reaction takes place. Such devices and systems are re-fueled by replacement of the spent replaceable cartridge, the contents of which can be recovered and recycled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for use in a heat generating device, comprising:
 a fuel species that is responsive to a control field;   a porous ceramic element configured to permit a flow of the fuel species through at least a portion of the element; and   a sealed, unitary housing configured to enclose the fuel species and the ceramic element and to prevent a flow of matter to and from the interior of the sealed housing.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic element further comprises a dopant. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the dopant is in the form of one or more nanocrystals. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, and a transition element. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the control field comprises a magnetic field. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the control field comprises an electrical field. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel is a hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         8 . A heat generating device comprising:
 a field generator configured to generate a control field;   a cartridge interface configured to reversibly secure a sealed cartridge within the control field, wherein the sealed cartridge encloses a fuel species and a porous ceramic element; and   a controller that is communicatively coupled to the field generator and that is configured to modulate the control field.   
     
     
         9 . The heat generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the control field comprises a magnetic field. 
     
     
         10 . The heat generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the control field comprises an electrical field. 
     
     
         11 . The heat generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the fuel is a hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         12 . The heat generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the porous ceramic element comprises a dopant. 
     
     
         13 . The heat generating device of  claim 8 , further comprising a pre-heating unit. 
     
     
         14 . An energy generating system, comprising:
 a field generator configured to generate a control field,
 a cartridge interface configured to reversibly secure a sealed cartridge within the control field, wherein the sealed cartridge encloses a porous ceramic element and a fuel species that is responsive to the control field; 
 a controller that is communicatively coupled to the field generator and that is configured to modulate the control field; and 
 a temperature sensor that is in thermal communication with the sealed cartridge when the sealed cartridge is engaged with the cartridge interface and that is communicatively coupled with the controller, 
 wherein the controller comprises a processor that is configured to transmit a signal to the field generator to modulate the control field in response to temperature data transmitted to the controller from the temperature sensor. 
   
     
     
         15 . The energy generating system of  claim 14 , further comprising a pre-heating unit, wherein the pre-heating unit is in thermal communication with the sealed cartridge when the sealed cartridge is engaged with the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         16 . The energy generating system of  claim 15 , wherein the pre-heating system is communicatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The energy generating system of  claim 14 , further comprising a heat engine that is in thermal communication with the sealed cartridge when the sealed cartridge is engaged with the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         18 . A method of generating heat energy, comprising:
 providing a first sealed cartridge that encloses a porous ceramic element and a fuel species;   engaging the sealed cartridge with a cartridge interface, wherein the cartridge interface is positioned to place at least a portion of the engaged sealed cartridge within at least a portion of a control field produced by a field generator, and wherein the fuel species is responsive to the control field; and   modulating the control field to induce a flow of the fuel species through at least a portion of the porous ceramic element.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising removing the first sealed cartridge and replacing with a second fuel cartridge when at least a portion of the fuel species enclosed in the first sealed cartridge is exhausted. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising recovering a product species from the first sealed cartridge, wherein the product species is derived from the fuel species.