fuel cell system monitoring system, fuel cell fuel source, method for monitoring a fuel source condition, optical sensor

摘要

MONITORING SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM, FUEL SOURCE FOR FUEL CELL, METHOD FOR MONITORING A FUEL SOURCE CONDITION, OPTICAL SENSOR. A fuel cell (9) includes a replaceable and removable fuel source (12) having fuel disposed in it. A system for monitoring various fuel parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and dissolved oxygen levels is provided. A plurality of sensors (30) is arranged on the side of the fuel source that is capable of communicating with a controller (18) and memory (13) on the side of the fuel cell. In another embodiment, at least one sensor to measure a fuel systems parameter communicates with an RFID tag (50) remotely or via an alambic link. The sensor and / or the RFID tag can be coated with a substance impervious to caustic fuel. An RFID reader station collects the data. The controller can even include itself to use real-time data to change system parameters, such as pumping or bleeding rates, or to trigger a signal, such as notifying a user of an empty fuel source. In another embodiment, an optical sensor (61, 102) can be used.