Patents Examined by Olatunji Godo
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Patent number: 11866395Abstract: A method of producing petrochemicals using a hydrocarbon fuel cell includes the steps of operating the fuel cell to produce electricity, thermal energy, and one or more exhaust stream, the one or more exhaust stream comprising at least a carbon-containing gas and water, reacting at least a portion of the exhaust stream with the reactant stream of natural gas to produce one or more petrochemical streams in a reactor, and heating one or more reactants using at least a portion of at least one of the electricity and the thermal energy.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
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Patent number: 11870115Abstract: To provide an air-cooled fuel cell system configured to suppress thermal runaway. An air-cooled fuel cell system, wherein the reaction air supply flow path comprises a first valve in a region downstream of the reaction air supplier and upstream of the reaction air inlet of the fuel cell; wherein the reaction air discharge flow path comprises a second valve downstream of the reaction air outlet of the fuel cell; wherein the fuel gas supply flow path comprises a third valve upstream of the fuel gas inlet of the fuel cell; wherein the fuel off-gas discharge flow path comprises a fourth valve downstream of the fuel gas outlet of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Nobuaki Nonoyama
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Patent number: 11870049Abstract: A thermal storage device for batteries is provided. In some examples, the thermal storage device is provided for a battery pack that includes one or more rechargeable battery cells. In some examples, the lithium ion battery cells are used. The thermal storage device is in thermal contact with the battery cell. The thermal storage device is made of a material that absorbs heat that is given off by battery cells during discharge. In some examples, the thermal storage device is made of a plastic material. The material has a relatively low thermal conductivity but a relatively high specific heat capacity, allowing heat energy to be stored in the thermal storage device. The thermal storage device prevents the battery pack from overheating during use. The thermal storage device defines one or more cell receiving volumes. In some examples, an axially extending relief volume is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Brian Algot Hanson, Paul Frederick Koltz, Robert Luke Anderson, Adam Burghardt Stroud
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Patent number: 11870114Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode pipeline, a cathode pipeline, an anode discharge valve, a cathode supply valve, a cathode discharge valve, an anode pressure sensor, a cathode pressure sensor, and a control device. The control device determines whether a cross leak that is permeation abnormality of fuel gas or oxidant gas between an anode and a cathode on the basis of a pressure difference, which is difference between a pressure of the fuel gas and a pressure of the oxidant gas detected by the anode pressure sensor and the cathode pressure sensor in a stopped state of electric power generation of the plurality of fuel cell stacks, or a change in the pressure difference.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Seiji Sugiura
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Patent number: 11862832Abstract: A modular fuel cell subsystem includes multiple rows of modules, where each row comprises a plurality of fuel cell power modules and a power conditioning module containing a DC to AC inverter electrically connected the power modules. In some embodiments, a single gas and water distribution module is fluidly connected to multiple rows of power modules, and a single mini power distribution module is electrically connected to each of the power conditioning module in each row of modules. In some embodiments, each row of modules further includes a fuel processing module located on an opposite side of the plurality of fuel cell power modules from the power conditioning module. Fuel and water connections may enter each row from the side of the row containing the fuel processing module, and electrical connections may enter each row from the side of the row containing the power conditioning module.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Srihari Raghavan, David Trevisan, Richard Leitch, Armando Gomez, Aaron Ells, Jessica Mahler
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Patent number: 11848465Abstract: An integrated cooling module of a fuel cell stack is attached to a housing of the fuel cell stack, and the integrated cooling module is connected to a plurality of components constituting a thermal management system of a fuel cell. In particular, the integrated cooling module includes: a first injection member defining flow paths guiding coolant into one or more components of the thermal management system of the fuel cell, and at least one second injection member coupled to the first injection member, and the coolants going through the components flow into the fuel cell stack through any one of the flow paths defined by the integrated cooling module.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATIONInventors: Sun Ae Park, Jin Hun Lee, Hun Woo Park
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Patent number: 11843111Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/2 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Navitas Systems, LLCInventors: Pu Zhang, Peter Aurora, Michael Wixom
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Patent number: 11831059Abstract: According to the present embodiment, a fuel cell stack comprises a cell stack having a plurality of unit cells stacked therein, each of the unit cells including an electrolyte membrane, a fuel-electrode porous passage plate, and an oxidant-electrode porous passage plate, wherein in the cell stack, at least a part of one main surface of a conductive fuel-electrode porous passage plate is in contact with one main surface of a conductive oxidant-electrode porous passage plate, and a capillary force of water contained in a hydrophilic micropores of the conductive fuel-electrode porous passage plate and the conductive oxidant-electrode porous passage plate prevents an oxidant gas in an oxidant-electrode passage and a fuel gas in a fuel-electrode passage from directly mixing together.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Yuma Kato, Akira Maekawa
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Patent number: 11831046Abstract: Disclosed are a system and a method for fuel supply control for a fuel cell. The system includes a fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve, a base duty calculator configured to estimate a required supply amount of a fuel gas required for the fuel supply line on the basis of a power generation state of the fuel cell and to calculate a base duty instruction to open the fuel supply valve on the basis of the estimated required supply amount, and a valve controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATIONInventors: Jae Won Jung, Sang Wook Han
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Patent number: 11820240Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide modular battery assemblies for micro-mobility fleet vehicles. A modular battery assembly for a micro-mobility fleet vehicle includes a battery assembly enclosure including an assembly retention interface configured to physically secure the assembly enclosure to a subframe assembly of the micro-mobility fleet vehicle, a battery cell assembly disposed within the battery assembly enclosure, and an enclosure lid mounted to the assembly enclosure. The modular battery assembly may include an arched floorboard panel configured to provide a floor board surface for the micro-mobility fleet vehicle. The battery cell assembly may include a honeycomb battery cell holder and a collector board atop the battery cell holder to provide wire bond interconnects between the battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Michael Reimer, Adam Christopher Bender, Neil Richard Anthony Saldanha, Timothy Rex Martin, Jared Mitchell Kole, Andrea Claude Ramos Santos
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Patent number: 11817603Abstract: A fuel cell system that raises temperature of fuel cells by supplying heated air to the fuel cells during starting up period. The fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells, a fuel supply path connected parallelly to the fuel cells to provide fuel thereto, an air supply path connected serially to the fuel cells to provide air thereto, a heat exchanger arranged in the fuel supply path to heat air or fuel, an air heat exchanger arranged in the air supply path to heat air; and a connection path connecting a position of the air supply path upstream to the air heat exchanger with a position of the fuel supply path upstream to the heat exchanger. A first control valve is arranged in the air supply path for controlling the air flowing into to the air heat exchanger. A second control valve arranged in the connection path for controlling the air flowing into the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Bryan Ikeguchi, Hayato Chikugo
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Patent number: 11811117Abstract: An air supply system, comprising at least two air blowers and at least two communication valves; wherein one air blower is connected to a main air passage through the corresponding communication valve; and at least one other is connected to a reformer air passage and a stack air passage through at least one other communication valve, respectively. At least two air blowers are provided to connect the at least two communication valves.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Inventors: Changming Hu, Youpeng Chen, Xiaowen Sun, Xiao Yu
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Patent number: 11811100Abstract: A cell module includes a plurality of battery cells each having a safety valve at a first end in a height direction, a first current collector plate including a main body having a through hole that at least partly overlaps the safety valve when viewed along the height direction and a lead extending into the through hole from the main body and being electrically connected to a first terminal of each of the battery cells, an exhaust duct disposed over a surface of the first current collector plate remote from the battery cells, and an insulating film being made of an insulating material and covering an area of the first current collector plate facing the exhaust duct. The safety valve opens when an internal pressure of any of the battery cells reaches or exceeds a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya Motokawa, Daisuke Kishii, Keisuke Shimizu, Akira Takano
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Patent number: 11811112Abstract: The fuel cell control system includes: a reactor; an air compressor, wherein the air compressor has a compressing cavity, the compressing cavity has a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a rotatable pressure wheel is disposed inside the compressing cavity, and the gas outlet is in communication with the reactor; a control flow channel, wherein a first end of the control flow channel is in communication with the gas-intake side of the pressure wheel, a second end of the control flow channel is in communication with the wheel-back side of the pressure wheel, and the control flow channel is provided with a return valve for regulating the flow rate of the control flow channel; and a central control unit, wherein the central control unit is communicatively connected to the return valve to control the opening degree of the return valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: GREAT WALL MOTOR COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Pengfei Niu, Gaoxia Zhao, Haifeng Tang, Zeyu Zhang, Xin Jin, Peiming Wu, Xiangjun Wang, Haichao Yu, Zhengyu Wang, Yang Feng, Minglong Kang, Lei Gao, Hongshui Du, Xiaolong Ma, Ruyi Yang
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Patent number: 11804612Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system (100), having a fuel cell stack (20) with a plurality of fuel cells (110) each having at least one cathode portion (K) and at least one anode portion (A), a compressor (10) for conveying air into the cathode portions (K), a pressure-sustaining valve (40), and a control device (50), the at least one cathode portion (K) being arranged downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor (10) and upstream of and in fluid communication with the pressure-sustaining valve (40), the fuel cell system (100) having a high-pressure region (HDB) between the compressor (10) and the pressure-sustaining valve (40). The invention further relates to a control device (50) and to a fuel cell system (100).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Mark Hellmann, Sergei Hahn
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Patent number: 11804610Abstract: A fuel cell system having a direct liquid fuel cell that uses a liquid containing a formic acid or an alcohol as a fuel includes: a fuel tank that stores the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell; a fuel supply device that supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the fuel cell; and a bubbling device that blows an inert gas into the fuel stored in the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KANAZAWA UNIVERSITYInventors: Takuya Tsujiguchi, Yasuhide Takeda, Atsushi Kubo, Akihiro Takazato, Toshiyuki Saito, Motoo Nakai, Yusuke Ueda
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Patent number: 11796503Abstract: A voltage applying unit of a water detecting device applies, to a pair of electrodes, a voltage changing within an application range that includes a first voltage which is smaller than an electrolysis voltage of water and a second voltage which is larger than the electrolysis voltage of the water. A judging unit judges presence or absence of the water based on change in electric current measured by a current measuring unit when the voltage changing within the application range is applied to the pair of electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetoshi Utsumi, Takehiro Fukushima, Shunsuke Konishi, Yuichi Hori, Hodaka Tsuge
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Patent number: 11784336Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first converter to convert power, which is output from a fuel cell stack or a battery, into power in a specific level, a second converter to convert power which is input to or output from the battery, a power relay assembly to control power flow between a super capacitor and the first converter, and a controller to control outputs of the first converter and the second converter, depending on a starting state or an operating state of the fuel cell system, and to control an operation of the power relay assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventors: Se Hoon Song, Young Hwang Kim, Jae Sung Choi
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Patent number: 11777119Abstract: In a tubular body mounting step, a tubular body is connected to a first end constituting member and a second end constituting member of a fuel cell stack, respectively. At this time, a first opening and a second opening formed at both ends of the tubular body are closed by the first end constituting member and the second end constituting member, respectively. Accordingly, the fuel cell stack is surrounded by the tubular body. A gap is formed between the outer wall of unit cells of the fuel cell stack and the inner wall of the tubular body. In a determination step, a test gas is supplied into the fuel cell stack. Further, whether the test gas exists in the gap is determined.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takahiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 11777122Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes a gasifier, upon receiving steam and methane, configured to convert the methane and steam into hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and a carbon trap, operatively connected to the gasifier, configured to capture carbon from the carbon monoxide and allow the hydrogen to pass therethrough. The carbon trap includes iron and a heat source.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventor: Clarke G. Homan