| US 7,470,484 B2 | ||
| Fuel sources, fuel cells and methods of operating fuel cells | ||
| Javit A. Drake, Waltham, Mass. (US); Anna Maria Bofinger, Nashua, N.H. (US); Andrew G. Gilicinski, Westborough, Mass. (US); and In Tae Bae, Wrentham, Mass. (US) | ||
| Assigned to The Gillette Company, Boston, Mass. (US) | ||
| Filed on Oct. 04, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/957,935. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0073371 A1, Apr. 06, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. H01M 2/02 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 429—34 | 23 Claims |
| 1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte; and
a fuel source configured provide fuel in vapor form to the fuel cell, the fuel source comprising a collapsible housing, and
a fuel selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, and hydrocarbons within the housing,
wherein the housing has an exterior surface area and includes a membrane that is permeable to the fuel in vapor form and that
defines at least 25% of the exterior surface area of the housing,
wherein during operation of the fuel cell system the fuel passes through the membrane in vapor form and is provided to the
fuel cell, and
wherein as the fuel in vapor form passes through the membrane the housing collapses.
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