Patents Assigned to FuelCell Energy, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11211625
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having a first anode and a first cathode, wherein the first anode is configured to output a first anode exhaust gas. The system further includes a first oxidizer configured to receive the first anode exhaust gas and air from a first air supply, to react the first anode exhaust gas and the air in a preferential oxidation reaction, and to output an oxidized gas. The system further includes a second fuel cell configured to act as an electrochemical hydrogen separator. The second fuel cell includes a second anode configured to receive the oxidized gas from the first oxidizer and to output a second anode exhaust gas, and a second cathode configured to output a hydrogen stream. The system further includes a condenser configured to receive the second anode exhaust gas and to separate water and CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Patent number: 11205795
    Abstract: A reinforced electrolyte matrix for a molten carbonate fuel cell includes a porous ceramic matrix, a molten carbonate salt provided in the porous ceramic matrix, and at least one reinforcing structure comprised of at least one of yttrium, zirconium, cerium or oxides thereof. The reinforcing structure does not react with the molten carbonate salt. The reinforced electrolyte matrix separates a porous anode and a porous cathode in the molten carbonate fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Surendranath, Abdelkader Hilmi, Chao-Yi Yuh
  • Patent number: 11201337
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode configured to output an anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and water; and a membrane dryer configured to receive the anode exhaust stream, remove water from the anode exhaust stream, and output a membrane dryer outlet stream. The membrane dryer includes a first chamber configured to receive the anode exhaust stream; a second chamber configured to receive a purge gas; and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first chamber and the second chamber. The semi-permeable membrane is configured to allow water to diffuse therethrough, thereby removing water from the anode exhaust stream. The membrane dryer may further be configured to remove hydrogen from the anode exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Jolly, Frank J. Chimbole, Jr., Fred C. Jahnke, Jonathan Malwitz, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Patent number: 11094952
    Abstract: A system for removing carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas that has been compressed to form pressurized anode exhaust vapor includes a feed/effluent heat exchanger configured to cool the anode exhaust vapor to a first predetermined temperature and partially condense carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust vapor; a first vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/effluent heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide from uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a feed/refrigerant heat exchanger configured to receive the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor from the first vapor-liquid separator, cool the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor to a second predetermined temperature, and condense carbon dioxide in the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a second vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/refrigerant heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide to form hydrogen rich, uncondensed anode exhaust vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Anthony M. Leo
  • Patent number: 11043684
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture system for removing carbon dioxide from a flue gas produced by a combustion power plant. The system includes an electrolyzer cell configured to receive a flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and output a first exhaust stream comprising an enriched flue gas comprising carbon dioxide. The system further includes a fuel cell configured to receive the first exhaust stream and output a second exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide. The second exhaust stream contains a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than the first exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 11035628
    Abstract: A system for draining an airfan heat exchanger includes an airfan heat exchanger including a housing, a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the airfan heat exchanger and configured to hold a purging gas at a predetermined pressure, and a controller configured to control delivery of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger. The pressurized gas source is configured to provide a flow of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger and thereby drain water held in the airfan heat exchanger. The purging gas to the airfan will cause the airfan to drain quickly avoiding potential damage to the airfan from freezing of the water during cold weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Jeffrey Brown
  • Patent number: 11011772
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells positioned between opposing end plates, an anode manifold configured to direct anode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, a cathode manifold configured to direct cathode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, and at least one truss attached to an external surface of at least one of the cathode manifold or the anode manifold. The at least one truss is configured to reinforce the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Daniela Nedu, Doan Hoang, Robert S. Fournier
  • Patent number: 11005115
    Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Yun Wang, Mohammad Farooque, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Chao-Yi Yuh, April Corpuz
  • Patent number: 10985384
    Abstract: A cathode current collector is made from a composite material including a first metallic layer made of a first metal and a second metallic layer made of a second metal different from the first metal. The first metallic layer is cladded with the second metallic layer. The first metallic layer is configured to form a conductive oxide corrosion layer in the presence of oxygen, molten carbonate electrolyte, or a combination thereof. The second metallic layer is corrosion resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ling Chen, Chao-Yi Yuh
  • Patent number: 10957918
    Abstract: A method of making an electrolyte matrix includes: preparing a slurry comprising a support material, a coarsening inhibitor, an electrolyte material, and a solvent; and drying the slurry to form an electrolyte matrix. The support material comprises lithium aluminate, the coarsening inhibitor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of MnO2, Mn2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, Fe2O3, LiFe2O3, and mixtures thereof, and the coarsening inhibitor has a particle size of about 0.005 ?m to about 0.5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Arun Surendranath, Chao-Yi Yuh, Mohammad Farooque
  • Patent number: 10923757
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks; a manifold configured to provide process gases to and receive process gases from the plurality of fuel cell stacks; and a module housing enclosing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the manifold. Each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks is individually installable onto the manifold by lowering the fuel cell stack onto the manifold, and is individually removable from the manifold by raising the fuel cell stack from the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Davis, Stephen Jolly, Michael L. Quatannens, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10897055
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system for generating hydrogen and electrical power includes a power supply, a reformer-electrolyzer-purifier (REP) assembly including at least one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, at least one low temperature fuel cell, and a hydrogen storage. The at least one fuel cell is configured to receive a reverse voltage supplied by the power supply and generate hydrogen-containing gas in the anode of the at least one fuel cell. The at least one low temperature fuel cell is configured to receive the hydrogen-containing gas output from the REP assembly. The at least one low temperature fuel cell is configured to selectably operate in a power generation mode in which the hydrogen-containing gas is used to generate electrical power and a power storage mode in which the hydrogen-containing gas is pressurized and stored in the hydrogen storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10892507
    Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Pinakin Patel, Mohammad Farooque, Chao-Yi Yuh
  • Patent number: 10862155
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one modular enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that connect the top wall and the bottom wall and close off the modular enclosure on all sides; at least one fuel cell stack disposed within the at least one modular enclosure; at least one piping manifold configured to supply at least one process gas to the at least one fuel cell stack and to receive at least one exhaust process gas from the at least one fuel cell stack; and at least one process gas seal configured to seal the at least one piping manifold. The at least one process gas seal is effected via a static force from a weight of the at least one fuel cell stack or a weight of the at least one piping manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Matthew Lambrech, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 10854898
    Abstract: A load leveling system includes a fuel cell inverter, a direct current (DC) load bank, and a controller. The fuel cell inverter is configured to receive DC power generated by a fuel cell assembly. The DC load bank is connected to the fuel cell assembly in parallel with the fuel cell inverter. The controller is in communication with the fuel cell inverter and the DC load bank. The controller is configured to identify a reduction in a load being drawn by the fuel cell inverter. Responsive to the identification of the reduction of the load, the controller is also configured to divert the DC power generated by the fuel cell assembly from the fuel cell inverter to the DC load bank to prevent load cycling of the fuel cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: George P. Berntsen, Lincoln Vitalis
  • Patent number: 10847823
    Abstract: A duct for a fuel cell module includes an upper duct hood having an inlet configured to receive reactant gas from a supply duct, the upper duct hood defining a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion. The duct further includes a lower duct hood fluidly coupled to the upper duct hood, the lower duct hood defining at least one outlet. In a side view, the second tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction. In a top view, the first tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction, and the second tapered portion is tapered outwardly moving downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, William Snyder, Quan Jin, Robert S. Fournier
  • Patent number: 10840530
    Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping fuel cell assembly including a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; a carbon dioxide separation unit that receives at least a portion of an anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion and separates the portion of the anode exhaust stream into a carbon dioxide stream and a carbon dioxide depleted stream; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly including a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion. The bottoming anode portion receives the carbon dioxide depleted stream output from the carbon dioxide separation unit. The carbon dioxide depleted stream being richer in hydrogen than the portion of the anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Mohammad Farooque
  • Patent number: 10826093
    Abstract: A method for addressing electrical grid frequency changes by a fuel cell system includes measuring, by a frequency sensor, a frequency of an electrical grid, determining that the frequency of the electrical grid differs from a normal frequency of the electrical grid by a threshold, determining, based at least in part on the measured frequency, an AC power setpoint bias, applying a magnitude limit, a rate-of-change limit, and a duration limit to the determined AC power setpoint bias to generate a limited power setpoint bias, generating a frequency adjusted power setpoint based on the limited power setpoint bias, and providing the frequency adjusted power setpoint to one or more control modules of the fuel cell system such that the fuel cell system adjusts a power output based on a difference between the measured frequency and the normal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: George P. Berntsen, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10797332
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for removing CO2 from anode exhaust gas includes a fuel cell having an anode that outputs anode exhaust including H2, CO, CO2, and water; a shift reactor that receives a first portion of the anode exhaust and performs a water-gas shift reaction to produce an output stream primarily including H2 and CO2; an anode gas oxidizer (AGO); and an absorption system including an absorber column that absorbs the CO2 from the output stream in a solvent and outputs a resultant gas including H2 and a hydrocarbon that is at least partially recycled to the anode, and a stripper column that regenerates the solvent and outputs a CO2-rich stream. The AGO is configured to oxidize at least a portion of the CO2-rich stream and an AGO input stream that includes one of a second portion of the anode exhaust or a portion of the output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew A. Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10790521
    Abstract: A caulk composition includes at least one powder component and at least one binder component, such that the powder component has a particle size distribution in the range of 95% less than 25 ?m and 90% greater than 1 ?m. A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) includes a fuel cell stack, a manifold, and the caulk composition disposed in between the fuel cell stack and the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Snider, Chao-yi Yuh