The present invention relates to a power supply system for underwater vehicles, in particular to a power supply system for autonomous underwater vehicles, to underwater vehicles equipped with such power supply systems and to a method of operating an underwater vehicle. The power supply system for underwater vehicles comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, which on the one hand is in fluid contact with a metal hydride storage tank, and on the other hand, with a membrane module that is capable of extracting dissolved oxygen from water. By combining the above mentioned components, the energy necessary to support the AUV operation and the operation of its sensors can be provided, replacing in an efficient and sustainable way the currently employed battery energy systems. For the operation of gliders, a weight compensating mechanism could also be implemented.

A lighter-than-air craft including an envelope. A mixture of helium and hydrogen disposed within the envelope. The mixture having a ratio of helium to hydrogen such that the mixture is nonflammable during operating conditions for the lighter-than-air craft. The mixture provides buoyancy for the lighter-than-air craft. A hydrogen fuel cell fluidically coupled with the mixture and configured to utilize the mixture to generate electricity. A propulsion system is coupled to the envelope, and the propulsion system is configured to provide propulsion for the lighter-than-air craft. The propulsion system is electrically coupled with the hydrogen fuel cell and receives electricity generated by the hydrogen fuel cell. The propulsion system is configured to utilize the electricity in providing the propulsion to the lighter-than-air craft.

A method and a system for the coproduction of hydrogen, electrical power, and heat energy. An exemplary method includes desulfurizing a feed stream to form a desulfurized feed stream, reforming the desulfurized feed stream to form a methane rich gas, and providing the methane rich gas to a membrane separator. A hydrogen stream is produced in a permeate from the membrane separator. A retentate stream from the membrane separator is provided to a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Electrical power is produced in the SOFC from the retentate stream.

Provided is a hydrogen supply system that supplies hydrogen. The hydrogen supply system includes: a dehydrogenation reaction unit that subjects a raw material including a hydride to a dehydrogenation reaction to obtain a hydrogen-containing gas; a hydrogen purification unit that removes a dehydrogenation product from the hydrogen-containing gas obtained in the dehydrogenation reaction unit to obtain a purified gas including high-purity hydrogen; and a degassing unit that removes an inorganic gas contained in the raw material on an upstream side of the dehydrogenation reaction unit in a flow of the raw material.

The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell arranged to receive ambient air at a cathode inlet, and a tank arrangement fluidly connectable to the cathode inlet. The fuel cell system is configured to supply oxygen based fluid from the tank arrangement when a toxic substance level of the ambient environment is above the predetermined threshold limit.

An apparatus for separating oxygen from a gas mixture includes an oxide layer having ion transport channels therein, which facilitate the migration of oxygen ions from a first side to a second side of the layer. Molecular oxygen is decomposed into oxygen ions at the first side, whereas oxygen ions recombine into molecular oxygen at the second side. A first chamber into which a gas mixture (e.g., air) is admitted is located on the first side of the oxide layer. A second chamber receives oxygen from the oxide layer, and is located on the second side of the oxide layer; the second chamber has a polarizable medium that is in contact with the oxide layer. A gate electrode in contact with the polarizable medium applies an electric field to the second side of the oxide layer, thereby driving oxygen ions across the oxide layer.

A sorbent bed assembly of a fuel cell system, including a first sorbent bed, a second sorbent bed and at least one third sorbent bed, the second sorbent bed disposed between the first sorbent bed and the at least one third sorbent bed, a cover plate on the plurality of sorbent beds and configured to connect the sorbent beds to one another, a fuel inlet connector on the cover plate and configured to receive a fuel, a manifold having a first fluid conduit configured to transport fuel between the first sorbent bed and at least one third sorbent bed, and a second fluid conduit configured to transport fuel between at least one third sorbent bed and the second sorbent bed, and a fuel outlet connector on the cover plate and configured to receive fuel that has passed through each of the sorbent beds.

An open-cathode-type fuel cell system includes hollow fiber membranes, through which moisture contained in unreacted hydrogen discharged from a fuel cell stack is transferred to air flowing into the fuel cell stack, and an aerial vehicle using the same. The open-cathode-type fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured to generate electricity through a reverse electrolysis reaction using hydrogen and air supplied from the outside, a humidifying structure disposed on one side of the fuel cell stack in order to transfer moisture included in unreacted hydrogen, discharged from the fuel cell stack, to air flowing into the fuel cell stack, and a cooling fan disposed on the other side of the fuel cell stack in order to discharge unreacted air, discharged from the fuel cell stack, and cooling air to the outside. Accordingly, the performance of the air-cooled fuel cell system may be improved.

Disclosed is a method of controlling an air supply system for a fuel cell. The air supply system includes a fuel cell stack, an air channel to supply air to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, a gas adsorption unit disposed on the air channel and configured to adsorb oxygen contained in air introduced into the air channel. In particular, the method includes: determining whether a power generation operation of the fuel cell stack is resumed; when the power generation operation of the fuel cell stack is resumed, controlling a voltage source to apply a voltage to the gas adsorption unit; and supplying air to the fuel cell stack through the air channel in a state in which the voltage is applied to the gas adsorption unit.

A natural gas fueling system supplies methane gas to an engine and includes a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a gas inlet configured to receive inlet gas and a methane permeable filter configured to separate methane gas and first contaminant gases from the inlet gas. The natural gas fueling system also includes a reformer apparatus configured to convert the first contaminant gases into a reformed gas stream including methane gas. The reformed gas is supplied to the gas inlet and is recirculated through the filter assembly to extract the methane gas from the reformed gas stream.