Patents by Inventor Michael S. Hsu
Michael S. Hsu 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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Publication number: 20170130582Abstract: A clean energy system, a renewable energy system or a zero emission energy system (ZEES) to utilize CO2 waste. The energy system may include a fuel processor, an energy catalytic reactor, and a power generator. The fuel processor may catalytically convert the CH4 component in the natural gas, biogas or syngas into a reformate including H2, CO, CO2 and H2O species. The energy reactor may convert the reformate in gas form into a liquid fuel. The power generator may generate power using an output of the fuel processor and/or an output of the energy reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventor: Michael S. HSU
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Publication number: 20160060537Abstract: The invention provides an energy system comprising a fuel processor for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and for catalytically converting the hydrocarbon fuel into a reformate, an electric heating apparatus coupled to the fuel processor for providing thermal energy to the fuel processor, an energy source coupled to the electric heating apparatus for providing power thereto, and a catalytic reactor for processing the reformate and for converting the reformate into a liquid fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventor: Michael S. HSU
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Publication number: 20140165569Abstract: A clean energy system, a renewable energy system or a zero emission energy system (ZEES) to utilize CO2 waste. The energy system may include a fuel processor, an energy catalytic reactor, and a power generator. The fuel processor may catalytically convert the CH4 component in the natural gas, biogas or syngas into a reformate including H2, CO, CO2 and H2O species. The energy reactor may convert the reformate in gas form into a liquid fuel. The power generator may generate power using an output of the fuel processor and/or an output of the energy reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: ZTEK CORPORATIONInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Patent number: 7910250Abstract: A power supply system for powering an electric motor (16) in an electric vehicle includes a metal-air converter (12) connected to the motor (16) for driving the motor (16) and a generator (10) connected to the metal-air converter (12) for recharging the metal-air converter (12). The generator (10) may also directly provide electricity to the motor (16) simultaneously with the metal-air converter (12). The system further includes a structure for providing a supply of fuel to the generator (10) that in turn converts the fuel to electricity.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Patent number: 7311986Abstract: An energy system including a converter disposed within a collection vessel for collecting exhaust generated by the converter for delivery, if desired, to a bottoming device, such as a gas turbine assembly. The converter can be operated as a reformer. The chemical converter may also be operated as an electrochemical device. When the converter is operated as a fuel cell, electrical energy is generated when supplied with hydrogen or a hydrocarbon fuels. When operated as an electrolytic cell, the electrical energy is consumed for the production of chemical feed stocks or media for storage. The energy system can also include or be used as a thermal plant for producing pressurized, superheated vapor, or a hot thermal fluid or gas medium for commercial, industrial or power generation uses.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Patent number: 7140328Abstract: A miniature vaporizer for effectively vaporizing a process fluid (e.g., a liquid media) in small energy system applications, such as systems employing chemical reformers and fuel cells. The vaporizer of the present invention can employ a heating medium, such as a hot exhaust generated by a power system, as the heating source for generating steam or for evaporating a fluid (e.g., liquid chemicals or fuels). The vaporizer of the invention can optionally be configured to vaporize water thereby functioning as a miniature steam generator, to evaporate a process fluid thereby functioning as a miniature evaporator or heat exchanger, or to evaporate a process fluid and mix the fluid with another medium. This evaporator/mixer configuration can be used in reformer plants where a liquid chemical or fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, methanol, etc.) needs to be first evaporated and mixed with steam prior to the introduction of the resultant mixture to a converter (e.g., reformor or fuel cell).Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Publication number: 20040091764Abstract: A turbine power system that includes a compressor for compressing a first medium, and an electrochemical converter in communication with the compressor and adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium. The converter is configured to allow an electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums, thereby generating electricity and producing exhaust having a selected elevated temperature. The power system further includes a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive the converter exhaust, such that the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy and electricity. The system can further include a steam generator and a steam turbine that produces electricity. The electrochemical converter is utilized herein as an electrochemical combustor-replacement (ECCR) or as a fuel cell for combustor-replacement (FCCR).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2003Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Michael S. Hsu, Ethan D. Hoag
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Publication number: 20040058230Abstract: An energy system including a converter disposed within a collection vessel for collecting exhaust generated by the converter for delivery, if desired, to a bottoming device, such as a gas turbine assembly. The bottoming device extracts energy from the waste heat generated by the converter yielding an improved efficiency energy system. The converter can be operated as a reformer, such as a steam reformer, and a partial oxidation or an autothermal reformer of hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas, kerosene, methanol, propane, gasoline, or diesel fuel and other chemicals. The chemical converter may also be operated as an electrochemical device. When the converter is operated as a fuel cell, electrical energy is generated when supplied with hydrogen or a hydrocarbon fuels. When operated as an electrolytic cell, the electrical energy is consumed for the production of chemical feed stocks or media for storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Publication number: 20040031388Abstract: The trend in personal and light commercial transportation vehicle choices is heading toward electric or fuel cell vehicles capable of zero emission. Their demand for electricity to re-charge batteries or hydrogen to operate fuel cells can best be met by onsite production of electricity and hydrogen from conventional transportation fuel by an on-site energy supply system employing a conversion device. This approach can result in minimum changes in the present day infrastructure of the automobile and truck service station industry and can avoid any disturbances to the normal operation of the electric power industry. The onsite hydrogen/electricity hybrid conversion device is a reformer and/or a fuel cell. The output of the system can be varied to either meet the demand of hydrogen fuel for fuel cell vehicles or to provide electricity for charging batteries used on the electrical vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2001Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Patent number: 6649289Abstract: A power supply system for enhancing the economic viability of different modes of transportation that incorporate fuel cells to generate electricity. For example, the power supply system of the present invention provides for the off-board use of the electric power generated by an on-board power plant, such as a fuel cell, of a mobile vehicle power system, such as an electric car. Off-board use, or use remote from the vehicle, of the electrical power includes the delivery of power to a remote site. Off-board stations are provided for delivery of fuel to the vehicle and/or for receiving the electrical power generated by the fuel cell. The off-board station and the vehicle are appropriately equipped for quick and easy interconnection such that electrical power is drawn from the fuel cell for off-board use.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventors: Michael S. Hsu, Robin Y. P. Ong
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Publication number: 20030167689Abstract: A miniature vaporizer for effectively vaporizing a process fluid (e.g., a liquid media) in small energy system applications, such as systems employing chemical reformers and fuel cells. The vaporizer of the present invention can employ a heating medium, such as a hot exhaust generated by a power system, as the heating source for generating steam or for evaporating a fluid (e.g., liquid chemicals or fuels). The vaporizer of the invention can optionally be configured to vaporize water thereby functioning as a miniature steam generator, to evaporate a process fluid thereby functioning as a miniature evaporator or heat exchanger, or to evaporate a process fluid and mix the fluid with another medium. This evaporator/mixer configuration can be used in reformer plants where a liquid chemical or fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, methanol, etc.) needs to be first evaporated and mixed with steam prior to the introduction of the resultant mixture to a converter (e.g., reformor or fuel cell).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Applicant: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Publication number: 20030059654Abstract: A power supply system for enhancing the economic viability of different modes of transportation that incorporate fuel cells to generate electricity. For example, the power supply system of the present invention provides for the off-board use of the electric power generated by an on-board power plant, such as a fuel cell, of a mobile vehicle power system, such as an electric car. Off-board use, or use remote from the vehicle, of the electrical power includes the delivery of power to a remote site. Off-board stations are provided for delivery of fuel to the vehicle and/or for receiving the electrical power generated by the fuel cell. The off-board station and the vehicle are appropriately equipped for quick and easy interconnection such that electrical power is drawn from the fuel cell for off-board use.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 1999Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: MICHAEL S. HSU, ROBIN Y. P. ONG
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Publication number: 20030012997Abstract: An electrochemical converter is disposed within a pressure vessel that collects hot exhaust gases generated by the converter for delivery to a cogeneration bottoming device, such as a gas turbine. The bottoming device extracts energy from the waste heat generated by the converter, such as a fuel cell for the generation of electricity, yielding an improved efficiency energy system. Bottoming devices can include, for example, a gas turbine system or an heating, ventilation or cooling (HVAC) system. The pressure vessel can include a heat exchanger, such as a cooling jacket, for cooling the pressure vessel and/or preheating an input reactant to the electrochemical converter prior to introduction of the reactant to the converter. In one embodiment, a compressor of a gas turbine system assembly draws an input reactant through the pressure vessel heat exchanger and delivers the reactant under pressure to a fuel cell enclosed therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Publication number: 20030008183Abstract: The trend in personal and light commercial transportation vehicle choices is heading toward electric or fuel cell vehicles capable of zero emission. Their demand for electricity to re-charge batteries or hydrogen to operate fuel cells can best be met by variable onsite production of electricity and hydrogen from conventional transportation fuel by an on-site energy supply system employing a conversion device. This approach can result in minimum changes in the present day infrastructure of the automobile and truck service station industry and can avoid any disturbances to the normal operation of the electric power industry. The onsite hydrogen/electricity hybrid conversion device is a reformer and/or a fuel cell. The output of the system can be varied to either meet the demand of hydrogen fuel for fuel cell vehicles or to provide electricity for charging batteries used on the electrical vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2001Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Patent number: 6458477Abstract: A system and method for producing electricity with a fuel cell power system. The power system includes an assembly of fuel cell stacks that operate at different temperatures, which vary between two or more of the fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stack can have multiple temperature regions formed axially along the stack, or a plurality of spatially separated fuel cell stacks can be employed to heat a reactant from an input temperature to a desired temperature. The fuel cell stacks have operating temperatures in the range between about 20° C. and about 2000° C.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2000Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Publication number: 20020102188Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: Ztek CorporationInventors: Michael S. Hsu, Ethan D. Hoag
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Patent number: 6380637Abstract: A mobile vehicle power supply system and an electricity exchanging system enhance the economic viability of different modes of transportation that incorporate generators, such as electric motors and fuel cells, to generate electricity. The power supply system provides for the off-board use of the electric power generated by the generator of a mobile vehicle, such as an electric car. Off-board use, or use remote from the vehicle, of the electrical power includes the delivery of power to a remote site. Off-board stations are provided for delivery of fuel to the vehicle and/or for receiving the electrical power generated by the fuel cell. The off-board station and the vehicle are appropriately equipped for quick and easy interconnection such that electrical power can be exchanged between the vehicle and off-board station and the electricity exchanging system.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventors: Michael S. Hsu, Robin Y. P. Ong
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Patent number: 6183703Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventors: Michael S. Hsu, Ethan D. Hoag
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Patent number: 6083636Abstract: A system and method for producing electricity with a fuel cell power system. The power system includes an assembly of fuel cell stacks that operate at different temperatures, which vary between two or more of the fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stack can have multiple temperature regions formed axially along the stack, or a plurality of spatially separated fuel cell stacks can be employed to heat a reactant from an input temperature to a desired temperature. The fuel cell stacks have operating temperatures in the range between about 20.degree. C. and about 2000.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1998Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventor: Michael S. Hsu
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Patent number: 6054229Abstract: An energy system that couples or integrates an electrochemical converter, such as a fuel cell for the production of electricity, with a Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) system, is disclosed. Waste heat generated by the fuel cell is radiatively, convectively, or conductively directed to a thermal component, such as a heat-actuated chiller or a boiler, of an HVAC system. The HVAC system receives the waste heat to produce a conditioned fluid, e.g. heated or cooled air or water, or steam, for heating, cooling, or industrial uses. The invention provides an improved efficiency energy system capable of providing electricity, heating and cooling, such as for a commercial facility or for residences. Also disclosed in an interface exchange element for convectively coupling an electrochemical converter to the HVAC system.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Ztek CorporationInventors: Michael S. Hsu, Robin Y. Ong