Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising first and second thermoformed plates. The thermoformed plates comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer. The method includes providing film cast resin mixture and forming it into a substantially flat sheet having first and second opposing major surfaces. The sheet may be preheated to a predetermined temperature and thermoformed thereby creating separator plates of a desired size and shape. First and second plates are joined to form an integral bipolar plate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2007
Date of Patent:
June 23, 2015
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Michael K. Budinski, Timothy J. Fuller, Beba T. Dobulis
Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for preventing deformation of a plastic battery pack case for a vehicle, in which the side of the battery pack case is subjected to reverse deformation to absorb the deformation occurring after compression molding and to ensure the dimensions of a mounting portion of various components including battery packs, thereby ensuring an internal space of the battery pack case. To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus for preventing deformation of a plastic battery pack case for a vehicle, the apparatus including: a base having a case insertion space; a fixing portion for fixing a battery pack case inserted into the case insertion space; and a deformation producing portion inserted into the battery pack case and preventing the case from being deformed by pressing the inside of the case to be reversely deformed in the lateral direction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2015
Assignees:
Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
Inventors:
Hyun Min Kang, Chi Hoon Choi, Cheol Choi, Tae Min Park, Myeong Gi Kim, Soo Kil Shim
Abstract: A secondary battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate; a case, the case accommodating the electrode assembly; a first current collector and a second current collector electrically connected to the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate of the electrode assembly, respectively; and a short inducing member disposed between the first current collector and the second current collector, the short inducing member being configured to electrically short-circuit the first current collector and the second current collector when a shape of the case is changed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 18, 2010
Date of Patent:
May 12, 2015
Assignees:
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
Inventors:
Sang-Won Byun, Soo-Kyoung Yoo, Heung-Tack Shim, Min-Yeol Han
Abstract: Diffusion media for fuel cell is made by preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising a powder resin, a binder material, and a fiber material comprising carbon fibers, of these; forming a layer of the dispersion on a support; removing water from the layer to form a fiber layer; molding the fiber layer; and carbonizing or graphitizing the molded layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 17, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Chunxin Ji, Mark Mathias, Margaret Fleming
Abstract: This device comprises an enclosure and electric connections for connection, in a power supply circuit, with either one of two interchangeable electric power sources, as required. The enclosure delineates a housing accommodating either two primary cells together or a storage battery. A contact for connecting a terminal of one of the primary cells to a terminal of the other primary cell comprises a clamp that is deformable between a first configuration in which each one of two facing branches of the contact is positioned to connect one of said terminals by penetrating into an accommodating volume for accommodating the storage battery, and a second configuration in which the two branches are placed outside said accommodating volume which is left free.
Abstract: A battery housing portion S includes regulating members 30 adapted to fit grooves of a battery pack having a T-shape cross section, so that the battery pack can be housed in the battery housing portion S in the state that the both regulating members 30 fit the grooves. The regulating members 30 regulate housing orientation of the battery pack 20, so that misjudgment about orientation of the battery pack 20 is prevented. In addition, if the orientation has been misjudged, an operator can notice such misjudgment immediately, thereby improving the operability during mounting the battery pack 20.
Abstract: Ultra-high purity zinc bromide and quaternary ammonium bromides suitable for use in zinc-bromine batteries, and methods for making same, are provided.
Abstract: A positive active material for a lithium secondary battery comprises a core comprising a compound that can reversibly intercalate and deintercalate lithium; and a compound attached to the surface of the core and represented by Chemical Formula 1: Li1+xM(I)xM(II)2?xSiyP3?yO12,??[Chemical Formula 1] wherein M(I) and M(II) are selected from the group consisting of Al, Zr, Hf, Ti, Ge, Sn, Cr, Nb, Ga, Fe, Sc, In, Y, La, Lu, and Mg, and 0<x?0.7, 0?y?1.
Abstract: A fuel cell constructed with single layer bipolar plates, water damming layers and membrane electrode assembly with gas diffusion layers locally impregnated with water transporting materials, which has reactant gas flow fields placed on both sides of the single layer plates, while cooling liquid flow fields are integrated at least on one side of the plates. Disclosed novel configuration of the fuel cell provides a united means for humidifying reactant gases, hydrating membrane, removing generated water and cooling cells.
Abstract: A lithium rechargeable battery, and more particularly, a lithium rechargeable battery having a multidirectional lead-tab structure is provided. The lithium rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly in which a separator and an electrode plate having a current collector, an active material, and a tab are alternately stacked; a lead electrically connected to the tab; and a battery case, wherein the lead is divided into a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, and at least one positive electrode lead and at least one negative electrode lead are provided. The lithium rechargeable battery is appropriate for using a high current even while using a conventional lead-tab size.
Abstract: A modular fuel cell stack assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of the stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between the stack faces, wherein the plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of the fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from the cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of the fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from the anode side, and wherein at least one of the cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to said fuel cell stacks, the containment structure including at least one sealed chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating at least one open face.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 5, 2009
Date of Patent:
February 24, 2015
Assignee:
FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Inventors:
Zhiwen Ma, Mohammad Farooque, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Michael Cramer, Alan Barlow
Abstract: A direct-electrochemical-oxidation fuel cell and method for generating electrical energy from a solid-state organic fuel. The fuel cell includes a cathode provided with an electrochemical-reduction catalyst that promotes formation of oxygen ions from an oxygen-containing source at the cathode, an anode provided with an electrochemical-oxidation catalyst that promotes direct electrochemical oxidation of the solid-state organic fuel in the presence of the oxygen ions to produce electrical energy, and a solid-oxide electrolyte disposed to transmit the oxygen ions from the cathode to the anode. The electrochemical oxidation catalyst can optionally include a sulfur resistant material.
Abstract: A battery having high output voltage, high energy density and excellent charge and discharge cycle characteristics is achieved through the use of one of the following negative electrode base members as a negative electrode base member for lithium ion secondary batteries: a negative electrode base member where a metal film is formed on a support having an organic film; such a negative electrode base member where the surface layer of the organic film is covered with a metal oxide film; a negative electrode base member where a metal film is formed on a support having a composite film formed from a composite film-forming material containing an organic component and an inorganic component; and a negative electrode base member where a silica coating is formed, on a support having a photoresist pattern, from a silica film-forming coating liquid and a metal film is formed on the support after removing the photoresist pattern.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 17, 2013
Date of Patent:
January 6, 2015
Assignees:
Kanto Gakuin School Corporation, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Koichi Misumi, Koji Saito, Mitsuhiro Watanabe, Hideo Honma
Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for hydrogen production from water, known as a photoelectrochemical system. The system integrates a semiconductor material and a water electrolyzing material inside a monolithic design, to produce hydrogen directly from water. Natural or synthetic light is used as the main or sole source of energy. The water electrolyzing material is melanins, melanin precursors or melanin derivatives, melanin variants, melanin analogues, natural or synthetic, pure or mixed with organic or inorganic compounds, metals, ions, drugs. The system or light absorbing compound generates enough energy to start, lead and complete the photoelectrolysis reaction. The system can generate hydrogen, oxygen and high energy electrons, and can synthesize water from the union of hydrogen and oxygen, thereby generating electricity. The system can also be coupled to other processes, generating a multiplication effect, and can be used for the reduction of carbon dioxide, nitrates, sulphates and the like.
Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger.
Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a permeable fuel electrode configured to support a metal fuel thereon, and an oxidant reduction electrode spaced from the fuel electrode. An ionically conductive medium is provided for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A charging electrode is also included, selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant reduction electrode, (b) a separate charging electrode spaced from the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, and (c) a portion of the permeable fuel electrode. The charging electrode is configured to evolve gaseous oxygen bubbles that generate a flow of the ionically conductive medium. One or more flow diverters are also provided in the electrochemical cell, and configured to direct the flow of the ionically conductive medium at least partially through the permeable fuel electrode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 25, 2012
Date of Patent:
December 9, 2014
Assignee:
Fluidic, Inc.
Inventors:
Cody A Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Grant Friesen, Joel Hayes
Abstract: A protective circuit module and a rechargeable battery including the same, the protective circuit module including a circuit board main body having an electrode terminal tab configured to electrically connect to an electrode terminal of a bare cell, a chip-type PTC device on the circuit board main body, and a heat transfer member connected to the chip-type PTC device and the electrode terminal tab.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 2009
Date of Patent:
November 11, 2014
Assignee:
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Bongyoung Kim, Inkyu Park, Heongsin Kim
Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of extending the time period over which a minimum rated output power can be maintained while restraining the advance of fuel cell module degradation. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell (1), having a fuel cell module (2), a fuel supply device (38), an oxidant gas supply device (45), and a controller (110); wherein the controller is furnished with a degradation determining circuit for determining degradation (110a) and a fuel correction circuit for correcting operating condition (110b); in which the fuel correction circuit executes a correction to reduce rated output power so that the fuel supply amount is reduced when a determination is made that the fuel cell module has degraded, and when degradation of the fuel cell module advances and predetermined correction switching condition is satisfied, the fuel correction circuit corrects the fuel supply amount supplied to the fuel cell module so as to maintain the reduced rated output power.
Abstract: Technologies are described herein for conditioning fluids stored in an underwater cryogenic storage vessel designed for use in a fuel system of an underwater vehicle. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a fuel system includes a fuel cell and a storage vessel, which stores a first fluid that is supplied to the fuel cell and a second fluid that is produced by the fuel cell. The fuel system also includes a thermal conditioning module that receives the first fluid from the storage vessel and receives the second fluid from the fuel cell. The first fluid stored in the storage vessel is conditioned by absorbing heat from the second fluid, such that the fuel cell receives the conditioned first fluid. The second fluid received from the fuel cell is in gaseous state and is converted to a liquid. The liquid second fluid is stored in the storage vessel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 1, 2009
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2014
Assignee:
The Boeing Company
Inventors:
Edwin C. Cady, Daniel A. Watts, Gary D. Grayson
Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that allows reversible charge and discharge to be carried out and can be used for a long period because of a stable non-aqueous electrolyte used therein. The invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material and capable of storing and releasing sodium, a negative electrode capable of storing and releasing sodium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and the positive electrode active material includes sodium, nickel, manganese, and a transition metal that can exist in a hexavalent state. An example of the transition metal that can exist in a hexavalent state may include tungsten (W). An example of the negative electrode may include a sodium metal capable of storing and releasing sodium ions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 4, 2006
Date of Patent:
October 7, 2014
Assignee:
C/O Intellectual Property H.Q., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.