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The capacity of an electro-chemical power source having an initial amount of an oxidizable material and an initial amount of a reducible material, is adjusted to a target capacity by altering the initial amount of one or both of the oxidizable material and the reducible material available to partici

The capacity of an electro-chemical power source having an initial amount of an oxidizable material and an initial amount of a reducible material, is adjusted to a target capacity by altering the initial amount of one or both of the oxidizable material and the reducible material available to participate in the source by a technique selected from the group consisting of adding, removing and isolating a known fraction of the initial amount from the power source.

대표청구항 ▼

The capacity of an electro-chemical power source having an initial amount of an oxidizable material and an initial amount of a reducible material, is adjusted to a target capacity by altering the initial amount of one or both of the oxidizable material and the reducible material available to partici

The capacity of an electro-chemical power source having an initial amount of an oxidizable material and an initial amount of a reducible material, is adjusted to a target capacity by altering the initial amount of one or both of the oxidizable material and the reducible material available to participate in the source by a technique selected from the group consisting of adding, removing and isolating a known fraction of the initial amount from the power source. processor exhaust stream prior to the entry of said fuel processor exhaust stream into one or more chambers of said multi-chamber expander. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said flow control devices include one or more first proportional valves connected to said multi-chamber compressor, said one or more proportional valves enabling a variation in the number of compression chambers connected to said fuel cell stack and/or said fuel processor; and one or more second proportional valves connected to said multi-chamber expander, said one or more proportional valves enabling a variation in the number of expander chambers connected to said fuel cell stack and/or said fuel processor. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one water line includes a first water line connected to inject water into an operatively generated fuel cell stack exhaust stream prior to the entry of said fuel cell stack exhaust stream into one or more chambers of said multi-chamber expander. 9. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one water line includes a second water line connected to inject water into an operatively generated fuel processor exhaust stream prior to the entry of said fuel processor exhaust stream into one or more chambers of said multi-chamber expander. 10. The system of claim 7 wherein said at least one water line includes a first water line connected to inject water into an operatively generated fuel cell stack exhaust stream prior to the entry of said fuel cell stack exhaust stream into one or more chambers of said multi-chamber expander; and a second water line connected to inject water into an operatively generated fuel processor exhaust stream prior to the entry of said fuel processor exhaust stream into one or more chambers of said multi-chamber expander. 11. The system of claim 1 further including a drive motor and a drive shaft connected to said drive motor, said compressor and said expander both driven from said drive shaft. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein said multi-chamber compressor is comprised of a first compressor apparatus connected to said fuel cell stack; and a second compressor apparatus connected to said fuel processor. 13. The system of claim 12 further including a differential drive system connected to said drive shaft and to one of said first compressor apparatus or said second compressor apparatus to provide a speed differential between the first and second compressors. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein said differential drive is a variable speed drive. 15. The system of claim 2 further including a drive motor and a drive shaft connected to said drive motor, said compressor and said expander both driven from said drive shaft. 16. The system of claim 15 wherein said multi-chamber compressor is comprised of a first compressor apparatus connected to said fuel cell stack; and a second compressor apparatus connected to said fuel processor. 17. The system of claim 16 further including a differential drive system connected to said drive shaft and to one of said first compressor apparatus or said second compressor apparatus to provide a speed differential between the first and second compressors. 18. The system of claim 17 wherein said differential drive is a variable speed drive. 19. The system of claim 1 wherein said flow control devices include one or more by-pass valves to connect the outlet of a compression chamber to an inlet of said compressor. 20. The system of claim 1 wherein said flow control devices include one or more throttling valves connected to said compressor. 21. The system of claim 1 wherein said flow control devices include one or more venting valves connected to said compressor. 22. The system of claim 1 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 23. The system of claim 2 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 24. The system of claim 14 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 25. The system of claim 15 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 26. The system of claim 17 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 27. The system of claim 18 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 28. The system of claim 19 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 29. The system of claim 20 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 30. The system of claim 21 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 31. A fuel cell powering system comprising a fuel cell stack; a fuel processor connected to said fuel cell stack for delivery of fuel to said stack; a first compressor connected to supply a first gaseous stream to said fuel processor; a second compressor connected to supply a second gaseous stream to said fuel cell stack; a drive motor and a drive shaft connected to said drive motor, said first compressor and said second compressor both driven from said drive shaft; and a differential drive system connected to said drive shaft and to one of said first compressor and said second compressor to provide a speed differential between the first and second compressors. 32. The system of claim 31 further including one or more flow control devices connected to at least one of said compressors to control mass flow and pressure therefrom. 33. The system of claim 32 wherein said flow control devices include a by-pass valve to connect the outlet of one of the compressors to an inlet of the same compressor. 34. The system of claim 32 wherein said flow control devices include one or more throttling valves connected to at least one of the compressors. 35. The system of claim 32 wherein said flow control devices include one or more venting valves connected to at least one of the compressors. 36. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one of said compressors is a multi-chamber compressor, each compression chamber operatively connected to deliver gaseous output separate from the output of the other compression chambers. 37. The system of claim 36 wherein said flow control devices include one or more proportional valves connected to said multi-chamber compressor, said one or more proportional valves enabling a variation in the number of chambers connected to supply said fuel cell stack and/or said fuel processor. 38. The system of claim 31 wherein said differential drive system is a variable speed drive. 39. The system of claim 38 further including one or more flow control devices connected to at least one of said compressors to control mass flow and pressure therefrom. 40. The system of claim 39 wherein said flow control devices include a by-pass valve to connect the outlet of one of the compressors to an inlet of the same compressor. 41. The system of claim 39 wherein said flow control devices include one or more throttling valves connected to at least one of the compressors. 42. The system of claim 39 wherein said flow control devices include one or more venting valves connected to at least one of the compressors. 43. The system of claim 39 wherein at least one of said compressors is a multi-chamber compressor, each compression chamber operatively connected to deliver gaseous output separate from the output of the other compression chambers. 44. The system of claim 39 wherein said flow control devices include one or more proportional valves connected to said multi-chamber compressor, said one or more proportional valves enabling a variatio n in the number of chambers connected to supply said fuel cell stack and/or said fuel processor. 45. The system of claim 31 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 46. The system of claim 32 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 47. The system of claim 38 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 48. The system of claim 39 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 49. A fuel cell powering system comprising a fuel cell stack; a fuel processor connected to said fuel cell stack for delivery of fuel to said stack; a multi-chamber compressor, each compression chamber operatively connected to deliver fluid output separate from the output of the other compression chambers, a first portion of said compression chambers connected to supply said fuel processor and a second portion of said compression chambers connected to supply said fuel cell stack; and one or more proportional valves connected to said compressor enabling a variation in the number of compression chambers connected to supply at least one of said fuel cell stack and said fuel processor. 50. The system of claim 49 further including a servo system connected to control at least one element of said fuel cell powering system. 51. A fuel cell powering system comprising a fuel cell stack operatively producing a first exhaust stream; a fuel processor connected to said fuel cell stack for delivery of fuel to said stack, said fuel processor operatively producing a second exhaust stream; a multi-chamber expander, each expansion chamber having an inlet separate from the inlet of the other expansion chambers, a first portion of the expansion chambers connected to receive said first gaseous exhaust stream, and a second portion of the expansion chambers connected to receive said second gaseous exhaust stream; and at least one water supply line connected to inject water into at least one of the said exhaust streams prior to expansion. 52. A method of supplying motive power to a fuel pump/compressor and a gaseous fluid compressor from a common motive source in a fuel cell powering system comprising providing a drive shaft connected to said common motive source; providing a fuel supply comprising said fuel pump/compressor connected to said drive shaft; providing a gaseous fluid supply comprising said gaseous fluid compressor connected to said drive shaft; providing a differential drive system connected to said drive shaft and interposed between said drive shaft and one of said fuel pump/compressor and said gaseous fluid compressor to provide a speed differential drive system therebetween; providing a fuel cell stack; and providing a connection between said gaseous fluid compressor and said fuel cell stack and providing a connection between said fuel pump/compressor and said fuel cell stack to provide oxidizing agent and oxidant to said stack. 53. The method of claim 52 further including providing a variable speed mechanism within said differential drive system to enable different speed ratios between the fuel supply and the gaseous fluid supply to further enable dynamic changes in the fuel/gaseous fluid ratio during operation of said fuel cell powering system. 54. The method of claim 52 further including providing a controller connected to said common motive source to supply power to said motive source; and providing a servo system connected to said controller for controlling the power supplied to said common motive source and thereby control the speed of said fuel pump/compressor and said gaseous fluid compressor. 55. The method of claim 53 further including providing a controller connected to said common motive source to supply power to said motive sourc