Patents by Inventor Delphine Drouhault

Delphine Drouhault has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9337500
    Abstract: A fuel cell including at least two stacks of electrochemical cells, a heat management system including a circuit for flowing a coolant into each of the stacks fed in parallel, and an outside circuit for flowing the coolant outside the stacks. The outside circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to an inlet of the inside circuit, and controlling valves for controlling flow of the coolant toward either or both subcircuits as a function of temperature of the coolant at an output of each of the stacks. The second outside subcircuit includes a mechanism increasing its head loss such that it is close or equal to that of the first outside subcircuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Delphine Drouhault, Pierre Nivelon
  • Patent number: 9184453
    Abstract: A fuel cell including a stack of electrochemical cells and end plates applying a tightening strain onto the electrochemical cells, a thermal management system formed by a heat transfer fluid flow circuit in the stack, and a heat transfer fluid flow circuit external to the stack. The heat transfer flow circuit and the external circuit are connected in one of the end plates. The external circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to the inlet of the internal circuit. A thermostatic valve Is integrated in the end plate to control the heat transfer fluid flow in one and/or the other of the subcircuits as a function of temperature of the fluid at the outlet of the internal circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat á l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Delphine Drouhault, Daniel Levrard, Philippe Manicardi, Pierre Nivelon
  • Publication number: 20140106253
    Abstract: A fuel cell including at least two stacks of electrochemical cells, a heat management system including a circuit for flowing a coolant into each of the stacks fed in parallel, and an outside circuit for flowing the coolant outside the stacks. The outside circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to an inlet of the inside circuit, and controlling valves for controlling flow of the coolant toward either or both subcircuits as a function of temperature of the coolant at an output of each of the stacks. The second outside subcircuit includes a mechanism increasing its head loss such that it is close or equal to that of the first outside subcircuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Commissariat a I'energie atomique et aux ene alt
    Inventors: Delphine Drouhault, Pierre Nivelon
  • Publication number: 20140045088
    Abstract: A fuel cell including two stacks of electrochemical cells, a thermal management system including a coolant circulation circuit in the stacks, each stack of electrochemical cells being squeezed by a first end plate common to the two stacks and a second end plate, each stack including at least one coolant circulation channel, two pumps being provided for circulating the coolant in the channels, and a chamber formed in the common end plate, the two pumps and the channels passing through the stacks being connected to this chamber. There are valves between each pump and the chamber, communication with a pump being interrupted if there is no coolant flow from this pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux ene alt
    Inventors: Delphine Drouhault, Pierre Nivelon
  • Publication number: 20140017581
    Abstract: A fuel cell including a stack of electrochemical cells and first and second end plates, an inside circuit for flowing deionized water inside the stack connected to an outside circuit for flowing deionized water outside the stack, the deionized water forming a coolant, a circuit for supplying hydrogen to the cells and a circuit for supplying air to the cells, and a casing mounted to the first end plate and forming a tight volume at least partially filled with water where the inside circuit emerges for flowing the coolant. The circuits for supplying air and hydrogen pass through the tight volume and are dipped into the deionized water to exchange heat with the deionized water. A portion of the supply circuit enables air to be humidified with water contained in the tight volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Ene ALt
    Inventors: Delphine Drouhault, Pierre Nivelon
  • Publication number: 20120107710
    Abstract: A fuel cell including a stack of electrochemical cells and end plates applying a tightening strain onto the electrochemical cells, a thermal management system formed by a heat transfer fluid flow circuit in the stack, and a heat transfer fluid flow circuit external to the stack. The heat transfer flow circuit and the external circuit are connected in one of the end plates. The external circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to the inlet of the internal circuit. A thermostatic valve is integrated in the end plate to control the heat transfer fluid flow in one and/or the other of the subcircuits as a function of temperature of the fluid at the outlet of the internal circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux ene alt
    Inventors: Delphine Drouhault, Daniel Levrard, Philippe Manicardi, Pierre Nivelon