Patents by Inventor Luis Yamarte
Luis Yamarte 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).
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Patent number: 8709674Abstract: A plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells are embedded in a solid phase porous foam matrix that serves as a support structure for the fuel cells. The foam matrix has multiple regions with at least one property differing between at least two regions. The properties include porosity, electrical conductivity, and catalyst loading.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Mark Richardson, Luis Yamarte
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Patent number: 8349510Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises a dense electrolyte layer; at least one reticulated electrode matrix (REM) of ion-conducting material partially sintered on the gas impermeable electrolyte layer, and electrode material located substantially within the REM. The REM has a majority of pores with an average pore size of less than micron. The REM can also have a porosity of 5 to 80%, thickness at or below 3.00 microns, and a mean grain size of 0.01 to 3.00 microns.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2008Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Alberta Innovates—Technology FuturesInventors: Partha Sarkar, Mark Lewis Richardson, Luis Yamarte, Lorne Johanson
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Patent number: 7892684Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and a heat exchanger wrapped around the stack. The fuel cell stack comprises a fuel cell that operates at high elevated temperatures, such as a solid oxide fuel cell; the fuel cell can have a tubular configuration and comprise a pair of concentrically arranged electrode layers sandwiching a concentrically arranged electrolyte layer. The heat exchanger wraps around the fuel cell stack and comprises a flexible, thermally conductive first layer and an overlapping flexible, thermally conductive second layer spaced from the first layer. The first and second layers define adjacent annular oxidant supply and oxidant exhaust channels when wrapped around the stack.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Alberta Innovates - Technology FuturesInventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary Kovacik
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Patent number: 7732076Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one longitudinally extending tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a longitudinally extending heater mounted in thermal proximity to the fuel cell to provide heat to the fuel cell during start up and during operation as needed. The heater and fuel cell can be encased within a tubular thermal casing; the inside of the casing defines a first reactant chamber for containing a first reactant, such as oxidant. The fuel cell comprises a ceramic solid state electrolyte layer and inner and outer electrode layers concentrically arranged around and sandwiching the electrolyte layer. The outer electrode layer is fluidly communicable with the first reactant, and the inner electrode layer is fluidly isolated from the first reactant and fluidly communicable with a second reactant, such as fuel.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Rong Zheng, Gary Kovacik, Hongsang Rho, Partho Sarkar, Luis Yamarte, Mark L. Richardson
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Publication number: 20080286625Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises a dense electrolyte layer; at least one reticulated electrode matrix (REM) of ion-conducting material partially sintered on the gas impermeable electrolyte layer, and electrode material located substantially within the REM. The REM has a majority of pores with an average pore size of less than micron. The REM can also have a porosity of 5 to 80%, thickness at or below 3.00 microns, and a mean grain size of 0.01 to 3.00 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.Inventors: Partha Sarkar, Mark Lewis Richardson, Luis Yamarte, Lorne Johanson
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Patent number: 7452622Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-supported tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell, and a fuel cell made from such method. The method comprises the steps of coating a wooden substrate member with a conductive substrate layer, coating the substrate layer with an inner electrode layer, coating the inner electrode layer with an electrolyte layer, drying and sintering the coated substrate member such that the substrate member combusts, coating the electrolyte layer with an outer electrode layer, and then drying and sintering the layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson, Luis Yamarte
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Publication number: 20070243444Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one longitudinally extending tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a longitudinally extending heater mounted in thermal proximity to the fuel cell to provide heat to the fuel cell during start up and during operation as needed. The heater and fuel cell can be encased within a tubular thermal casing; the inside of the casing defines a first reactant chamber for containing a first reactant, such as oxidant. The fuel cell comprises a ceramic solid state electrolyte layer and inner and outer electrode layers concentrically arranged around and sandwiching the electrolyte layer. The outer electrode layer is fluidly communicable with the first reactant, and the inner electrode layer is fluidly isolated from the first reactant and fluidly communicable with a second reactant, such as fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2005Publication date: October 18, 2007Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL, INC.Inventors: Rong Zheng, Gary Kovacik, Hongsang Rho, Partho Sarkar, Luis Yamarte, Mark Richardson
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Patent number: 7258936Abstract: This invention relates to controlling a load-following solid oxide fuel cell system such that the fuel cells in the system are operating within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency. The system has a controller that is programmed to detect a load change on a fuel cell stack, and when the load decreases, reduces the fuel flow rate to the stack or deactivates one or more fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range corresponding to the decreased load; and when the load increases, the controller increases the fuel flow rate to the stack or activates fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within the acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Alberta Research Council, Inc.Inventors: Rong Zheng, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary J. Kovacik, Partha Sarkar
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Publication number: 20070003806Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and a heat exchanger wrapped around the stack. The fuel cell stack comprises a fuel cell that operates at high elevated temperatures, such as a solid oxide fuel cell; the fuel cell can have a tubular configuration and comprise a pair of concentrically arranged electrode layers sandwiching a concentrically arranged electrolyte layer. The heat exchanger wraps around the fuel cell stack and comprises a flexible, thermally conductive first layer and an overlapping flexible, thermally conductive second layer spaced from the first layer. The first and second layers define adjacent annular oxidant supply and oxidant exhaust channels when wrapped around the stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary Kovacik
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Publication number: 20060246337Abstract: A plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells are embedded in a solid phase porous foam matrix that serves as a support structure for the fuel cells. The foam matrix has multiple regions with at least one property differing between at least two regions. The properties include porosity, electrical conductivity, and catalyst loading.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2005Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Mark Richardson, Luis Yamarte
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Publication number: 20060051643Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-supported tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell, and a fuel cell made from such method. The method comprises the steps of coating a wooden substrate member with a conductive substrate layer, coating the substrate layer with an inner electrode layer, coating the inner electrode layer with an electrolyte layer, drying and sintering the coated substrate member such that the substrate member combusts, coating the electrolyte layer with an outer electrode layer, and then drying and sintering the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2003Publication date: March 9, 2006Applicant: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson, Luis Yamarte
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Publication number: 20050112419Abstract: This invention relates to controlling a load-following solid oxide fuel cell system such that the fuel cells in the system are operating within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency. The system has a controller that is programmed to detect a load change on a fuel cell stack, and when the load decreases, reduces the fuel flow rate to the stack or deactivates one or more fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range corresponding to the decreased load; and when the load increases, the controller increases the fuel flow rate to the stack or activates fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within the acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Inventors: Rong Zheng, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary Kovacik, Partho Sarkar