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A system for generating hydrogen gas utilizes a volume exchange housing for the storage of a fuel material that reacts to generate hydrogen gas and a hydrogen separation chamber. The system includes a gas permeable membrane or membranes that allow hydrogen gas to pass through the membrane while prev

A system for generating hydrogen gas utilizes a volume exchange housing for the storage of a fuel material that reacts to generate hydrogen gas and a hydrogen separation chamber. The system includes a gas permeable membrane or membranes that allow hydrogen gas to pass through the membrane while preventing aqueous solutions from passing therethrough. The system is orientation independent. A throttle valve is also used to self regulate the reaction generating the hydrogen gas.

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We claim: 1. A hydrogen generator comprising: a fuel storage chamber configured to contain a fuel material capable of reacting to generate hydrogen gas; a hydrogen separation chamber; and a catalyst chamber configured to contain a catalyst capable of promoting reaction of the fuel material to gener

We claim: 1. A hydrogen generator comprising: a fuel storage chamber configured to contain a fuel material capable of reacting to generate hydrogen gas; a hydrogen separation chamber; and a catalyst chamber configured to contain a catalyst capable of promoting reaction of the fuel material to generate hydrogen gas and discharged fuel; wherein the catalyst chamber is in fluid communication with the fuel storage chamber and the hydrogen separation chamber such that the fuel material can exit the fuel storage chamber and enter the catalyst chamber, and the hydrogen gas and discharged fuel can exit the catalyst chamber and enter the hydrogen separation chamber; and wherein the fuel storage chamber has a gas permeable membrane capable of allowing hydrogen gas to pass from the chamber while preventing the fuel material from passing therethrough. 2. The hydrogen generator of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen separation chamber has a gas permeable membrane. 3. The hydrogen generator of claim 1, further comprising an outer housing and wherein both of the fuel storage chamber and the hydrogen separation chamber are within the housing. 4. The hydrogen generator of claim 3, further comprising a partition within the housing and wherein the fuel storage chamber and the hydrogen separation chamber are separated from each other by the partition. 5. The hydrogen generator of claim 3, further comprising at least a first hydrogen gas outlet, proximate the hydrogen separation chamber, for discharging hydrogen gas from the housing. 6. The hydrogen generator of claim 5, further comprising a second hydrogen gas outlet, proximate the fuel storage chamber. 7. The hydrogen generator of claim 4, wherein the partition is flexible. 8. The hydrogen generator of claim 4 wherein the partition is configured to allow hydrogen gas from the gas permeable membrane in the fuel storage chamber to combine with hydrogen gas from the hydrogen separation chamber in a space between at least one of the fuel storage chamber or the hydrogen separation chamber and the housing. 9. The hydrogen generator of claim 8, further comprising a hydrogen gas outlet configured to pass the combined hydrogen gas out of the housing. 10. The hydrogen generator of claim 1, wherein the fuel storage chamber and the hydrogen separation chamber are located in a housing and are separated from each other by a movable partition. 11. The hydrogen generator of claim 1, wherein the fuel storage chamber comprises a first flexible bag for containing the fuel material and the hydrogen separation chamber comprises a second flexible bag for containing the discharged fuel. 12. The hydrogen generator of claim 11, wherein the at least one gas permeable membrane is located in a wall of at least one of the flexible bags. 13. The hydrogen generator of claim 11, wherein the at least one gas permeable membrane is located in a wall of at least one of the flexible bags. 14. The hydrogen generator of claim 12, wherein each of the flexible bags comprises a wall having a gas permeable membrane. 15. A hydrogen gas generator, comprising a housing containing a fuel storage area and a hydrogen separation area, wherein each area is bounded by at least one wall comprising a hydrogen permeable membrane configured to permit hydrogen gas to pass through the respective wall; at least a first hydrogen gas outlet configured to pass hydrogen gas from the housing; a reaction chamber; a fuel conduit capable of conveying fuel from the fuel storage area to the reaction chamber; a discharged fuel conduit capable of conveying discharged fuel and hydrogen gas from the reaction chamber to the hydrogen separation area. 16. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen permeable membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon rubber, fluoropolymers, and hydrogen permeable metals. 17. The hydrogen generator of claim 15, wherein at least one of the hydrogen separation and fuel storage areas is bounded by a flexible bag. 18. The hydrogen generator of claim 17, wherein each of the areas is bounded by a flexible bag. 19. The hydrogen generator of claim 17, wherein the respective areas are located side by side within the housing. 20. The hydrogen generator of claim 15, wherein the respective areas are separated by a movable partition within the housing. 21. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 20, wherein the partition is flexible. 22. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 20, wherein the partition is configured such that hydrogen gas can pass from one side of the partition within the housing to the other side of the partition. 23. The hydrogen generator of claim 15, further comprising a space between at least one of the areas and the housing, wherein the space is capable of containing hydrogen gas from at least one of the respective areas before the gas passes through the hydrogen gas outlet. 24. The hydrogen generator of claim 15, further comprising a space between at least one of the areas and the housing, wherein the space is capable of containing hydrogen gas from both of the respective areas before the gas passes through the hydrogen gas outlet. 25. The hydrogen generator of claim 15, wherein the reaction chamber comprises a supported catalyst capable of enhancing the generation of hydrogen from fuel stored in the fuel storage area. 26. A hydrogen gas generator comprising: a housing containing a fuel storage area and a hydrogen separation area, wherein each area is bounded by at least one wall comprising a hydrogen permeable membrane configured to permit hydrogen gas to pass through the respective wall and wherein each area is separated by a movable partition within the housing, wherein the partition is configured such that hydrogen gas can pass from one side of the partition within the housing to the other side of the partition; at least a first hydrogen gas outlet configured to pass hydrogen gas from the housing; a reaction chamber; a fuel conduit capable of conveying fuel from the fuel storage area to the reaction chamber; and a discharged fuel conduit capable of conveying discharged fuel and hydrogen gas from the reaction chamber to the hydrogen separation area. 27. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 26, wherein the partition comprises a gas permeable membrane. 28. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 27, wherein the hydrogen permeable membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon rubber, fluoropolymers, and hydrogen permeable metals. 29. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 26, wherein the partition comprises a hydrogen gas permeable material. 30. A hydrogen gas generator comprising: a housing containing a fuel storage area and a hydrogen separation area, wherein each area is bounded by at least one wall comprising a hydrogen permeable membrane configured to permit hydrogen gas to pass through the respective wall; at least a first hydrogen gas outlet configured to pass hydrogen gas from the housing; a reaction chamber; a fuel conduit capable of conveying fuel from the fuel storage area to the reaction chamber; a discharged fuel conduit capable of conveying discharged fuel and hydrogen gas from the reaction chamber to the hydrogen separation area; and further comprising a space between at least one of the areas and the housing, wherein the space is capable of containing hydrogen gas from both of the respective areas before the gas passes through the hydrogen gas outlet. 31. The hydrogen generator of claim 30, wherein each of the areas is bounded by a flexible bag. 32. The hydrogen generator of claim 30, wherein the respective areas are located side by side within the housing. 33. The hydrogen generator of claim 30, wherein the respective areas are separated by a movable partition within the housing. 34. The hydrogen gas generator of claim 30, further comprising a second hydrogen gas outlet.