Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Orihashi

Nobuyuki Orihashi 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: 11807126
    Abstract: A server manages demand and supply of electric power between a power network and at least one vehicle which is electrically connected to the power network and available as a power adjustment resource of the power network. The at least one vehicle includes a FCEV. The server includes: an acquisition unit that obtains an operation plan of the FCEV and information on a remaining hydrogen level that is available for the FCEV; and a determination unit that determines whether the FCEV is available for a DR request, based on the operation plan and the remaining hydrogen level information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigeki Kinomura, Tamaki Ozawa, Chiaki Kanda
  • Patent number: 11710966
    Abstract: A server that manages energy of a power grid by using a plurality of energy storage resources includes a loss obtaining unit and a selector. The loss obtaining unit obtains for each of the plurality of energy storage resources, energy loss including retention loss and input and output loss, the energy loss being caused in storing energy in each energy storage resource. When surplus electric power occurs in the power grid, the selector selects at least one energy storage resource for storing surplus electric power from among the plurality of energy storage resources based on the energy loss caused in storing surplus electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigeki Kinomura, Tamaki Ozawa, Chiaki Kanda
  • Publication number: 20220242271
    Abstract: A controller of an EMS server determines whether it has received a supply and demand request from a power transmission and distribution utility server. When having received the supply and demand request, the controller determines whether the supply and demand request is for requesting an increase in power demand or for requesting an increase in power demand. The controller decomposes the supply and demand request into first to third requests. The controller creates a negawatt DR execution plan or a posiwatt DR execution plan based on a determination result of S3. The controller allocates power adjustment resources to the first to third requests in consideration of responsiveness of each of the power adjustment resources. The controller transmits the first to third request signals to target power adjustment resources in accordance with the execution plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Shigeki KINOMURA, Tamaki OZAWA, Chiaki KANDA
  • Publication number: 20220247179
    Abstract: A server that manages energy of a power grid by using a plurality of energy storage resources includes a loss obtaining unit and a selector. The loss obtaining unit obtains for each of the plurality of energy storage resources, energy loss including retention loss and input and output loss, the energy loss being caused in storing energy in each energy storage resource. When surplus electric power occurs in the power grid, the selector selects at least one energy storage resource for storing surplus electric power from among the plurality of energy storage resources based on the energy loss caused in storing surplus electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Shigeki KINOMURA, Tamaki OZAWA, Chiaki KANDA
  • Publication number: 20220245737
    Abstract: A retention amount management system includes a detector that detects an amount of retention and a server that adjusts an amount of production of hydrogen in a production facility such that the amount of retention of hydrogen retained in a retention facility for a predetermined period attains to a target amount of retention. The server sets the target amount of retention such that an amount of hydrogen ? corresponding to an amount of surplus electric power during a preparation period during which electric power generated per prescribed period by using renewable energy is higher than a threshold value is larger than an amount of hydrogen ? corresponding to the amount of surplus electric power during an ordinary period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Shigeki KINOMURA, Tamaki OZAWA, Chiaki KANDA
  • Publication number: 20220246958
    Abstract: A retention amount management system includes a detector that detects an amount of retention and a server that adjusts an amount of production of hydrogen in a production facility such that the amount of retention of hydrogen retained in the retention facility for a predetermined period attains to a target amount of retention. The server sets the target amount of retention such that a first amount of hydrogen a corresponding to an amount of surplus electric power during a stable period during which electric power generated per prescribed period by using renewable energy is higher than a threshold value is larger than a second amount of hydrogen ? corresponding to the amount of surplus electric power during an ordinary period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Shigeki KINOMURA, Tamaki OZAWA, Chiaki KANDA
  • Publication number: 20220246955
    Abstract: A CEMS server obtains meteorological information and hydrogen station information. The CEMS server predicts a power demand of a microgrid after a designated period. When the power demand of the microgrid after the designated period exceeds contract power and when an amount of electric power to be reduced exceeds a prescribed value, the CEMS server generates a hydrogen addition notification and transmits the generated hydrogen addition notification to an FCEV and/or a communication terminal. The amount of electric power to be reduced is a difference between the contract power and the power demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Shigeki KINOMURA, Tamaki OZAWA, Chiaki KANDA
  • Patent number: 11387472
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an energy management system capable of improving energy efficiency. The energy management system includes: a fuel cell configured to supply energy used in a facility; a first hydrogen supply unit configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell by causing a power generation apparatus that uses renewable energy to perform water electrolysis; a second hydrogen supply unit configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell by reforming natural gas supplied via a pipeline; and a control unit configured to determine a ratio between hydrogen supplied from the first hydrogen supply unit to the fuel cell and hydrogen supplied from the second hydrogen supply unit to the fuel cell. The control unit determines the ratio in accordance with a percentage of heat energy and energy other than the heat energy with respect to the energy used in the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Nakamuta, Hideshi Mizutani, Keisuke Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Orihashi, Tomio Yamanaka, Atsushi Nakajima, Shinichi Yatsuzuka, Masayuki Suzuki, Hiroshi Toge
  • Publication number: 20220194252
    Abstract: A server manages demand and supply of electric power between a power network and at least one vehicle which is electrically connected to the power network and available as a power adjustment resource of the power network. The at least one vehicle includes a FCEV. The server includes: an acquisition unit that obtains an operation plan of the FCEV and information on a remaining hydrogen level that is available for the FCEV; and a determination unit that determines whether the FCEV is available for a DR request, based on the operation plan and the remaining hydrogen level information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Shigeki KINOMURA, Tamaki OZAWA, Chiaki KANDA
  • Publication number: 20210119231
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an energy management system capable of improving energy efficiency. The energy management system includes: a fuel cell configured to supply energy used in a facility; a first hydrogen supply unit configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell by causing a power generation apparatus that uses renewable energy to perform water electrolysis; a second hydrogen supply unit configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell by reforming natural gas supplied via a pipeline; and a control unit configured to determine a ratio between hydrogen supplied from the first hydrogen supply unit to the fuel cell and hydrogen supplied from the second hydrogen supply unit to the fuel cell. The control unit determines the ratio in accordance with a percentage of heat energy and energy other than the heat energy with respect to the energy used in the facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei NAKAMUTA, Hideshi MIZUTANI, Keisuke KIKUCHI, Nobuyuki ORIHASHI, Tomio YAMANAKA, Atsushi NAKAJIMA, Shinichi YATSUZUKA, Masayuki SUZUKI, Hiroshi TOGE
  • Patent number: 8916306
    Abstract: It is prevented that when a system is left unused, carried carbon ion a cathode-side catalyst to lower a power generation performance. The molar quantities of hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel gas supply/discharge system and an oxidizing gas supply/discharge system with respect to a fuel cell are calculated, and control is performed so that the molar ratio of hydrogen and oxygen which can chemically be reacted in a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas during the stop of the fuel cell is 2 or more. Hydrogen is preferably supplied in accordance with the magnitude of a cell voltage in the fuel cell so as to maintain the molar ratio. Moreover, a gas passage in the oxidizing gas supply/discharge system is preferably provided with an inlet valve and an outlet valve for sealing the oxidizing gas in the gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Masahiro Takeshita, Hiroyuki Yumiya, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8603689
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a measurement unit which measures an impedance of a fuel cell in a predetermined frequency region, and a regulation unit which regulates an amount of a gas to be supplied to the fuel cell based on a measured value of the impedance in the predetermined frequency region. According to such a constitution, the impedance of the fuel cell in the predetermined frequency region (e.g., a low frequency region) is measured, and the amount of the gas (e.g., an amount of an oxidizing gas) to be supplied to the fuel cell is regulated based on this measured value of the impedance. Here, since the impedance of the fuel cell in the predetermined frequency region largely differs with a fuel supply state (see FIG. 2), the amount of the gas to be supplied to the fuel cell can be regulated based on the measured value of the impedance to realize a highly efficient and stable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigetaka Hamada, Masahiro Shige
  • Patent number: 8431277
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of accurately and precisely determining the wet condition inside a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell having a stack structure. The fuel cell is connected to an air supply system, a hydrogen gas supply system, an output system, and a control unit. The control unit receives flow rates of air and hydrogen gas which flow into the fuel cell, their pressures when exhausted, and a generated current measurement signal. The control unit calculates the amounts of water exhausted from the fuel cell as a gas component and as a liquid component and determines the water balance in the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Orihashi
  • Patent number: 8415063
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, anode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of an anode gas supplied to the fuel cell, and cathode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of a cathode gas supplied to the fuel cell. The system further includes pressure control means that sets the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied when starting the fuel cell higher than the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied during power generation in the fuel cell, and controls the anode gas pressure adjusting means and the cathode gas pressure adjusting means so that a cathode gas pressure increase is started in accordance with the start of an anode gas pressure increase when the pressure of the anode gas is increased to the set pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Tsunemasa Nishida, Hitoshi Hamada, Kenichi Tokuda, Junji Nakanishi, Tsutomu Ochi, Shinji Matsuo, Takahiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 8034498
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a fuel cell, measurement means for measuring impedances of the fuel cell in two kinds or more of frequency regions, and first judgment means for judging two or more parameters concerned with an internal state of the fuel cell based on measurement results of the impedances in the respective frequency regions. According to such a constitution, the impedances in the two or more types of frequency regions (a high frequency region, a low frequency region and the like) are measured to judge two or more parameters such as a wet state of an electrolytic film of the fuel cell and a supply state of a fuel gas, which are concerned with the internal state of the fuel cell based on this measurement result. Since such judgment is performed, as compared with the conventional technology, the internal state of the fuel cell can accurately be grasped, and highly efficient and highly robust control of the fuel cell system can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Mikio Kizaki, Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigetaka Hamada, Masahiro Shige
  • Publication number: 20100266915
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, anode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of an anode gas supplied to the fuel cell, and cathode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of a cathode gas supplied to the fuel cell. The system further includes pressure control means that sets the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied when starting the fuel cell higher than the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied during power generation in the fuel cell, and controls the anode gas pressure adjusting means and the cathode gas pressure adjusting means so that a cathode gas pressure increase is started in accordance with the start of an anode gas pressure increase when the pressure of the anode gas is increased to the set pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Tsunemasa Nishida, Hitoshi Hamada, Kenichi Tokuda, Junji Nakanishi, Tsutomu Ochi, Shinji Matsuo, Takahiro Nitta
  • Publication number: 20090169934
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a fuel cell, measurement means for measuring impedances of the fuel cell in two kinds or more of frequency regions, and first judgment means for judging two or more parameters concerned with an internal state of the fuel cell based on measurement results of the impedances in the respective frequency regions. According to such a constitution, the impedances in the two or more types of frequency regions (a high frequency region, a low frequency region and the like) are measured to judge two or more parameters such as a wet state of an electrolytic film of the fuel cell and a supply state of a fuel gas, which are concerned with the internal state of the fuel cell based on this measurement result. Since such judgment is performed, as compared with the conventional technology, the internal state of the fuel cell can accurately be grasped, and highly efficient and highly robust control of the fuel cell system can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Mikio Kizaki, Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigetaka Hamada, Masahiro Shige
  • Publication number: 20090155651
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of accurately and precisely determining the wet condition inside a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell having a stack structure. The fuel cell is connected to an air supply system, a hydrogen gas supply system, an output system, and a control unit. The control unit receives flow rates of air and hydrogen gas which flow into the fuel cell, their pressures when exhausted, and a generated current measurement signal. The control unit calculates the amounts of water exhausted from the fuel cell as a gas component and as a liquid component and determines the water balance in the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Orihashi
  • Publication number: 20090110985
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a measurement unit which measures an impedance of a fuel cell in a predetermined frequency region, and a regulation unit which regulates an amount of a gas to be supplied to the fuel cell based on a measured value of the impedance in the predetermined frequency region. According to such a constitution, the impedance of the fuel cell in the predetermined frequency region (e.g., a low frequency region) is measured, and the amount of the gas (e.g., an amount of an oxidizing gas) to be supplied to the fuel cell is regulated based on this measured value of the impedance. Here, since the impedance of the fuel cell in the predetermined frequency region largely differs with a fuel supply state (see FIG. 2), the amount of the gas to be supplied to the fuel cell can be regulated based on the measured value of the impedance to realize a highly efficient and stable operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Kota Manabe, Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigetaka Hamada, Masahiro Shige
  • Publication number: 20090092868
    Abstract: It is prevented that when a system is left unused, carried carbon ion a cathode-side catalyst to lower a power generation performance. The molar quantities of hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel gas supply/discharge system and an oxidizing gas supply/discharge system with respect to a fuel cell are calculated, and control is performed so that the molar ratio of hydrogen and oxygen which can chemically be reacted in a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas during the stop of the fuel cell is 2 or more. Hydrogen is preferably supplied in accordance with the magnitude of a cell voltage in the fuel cell so as to maintain the molar ratio. Moreover, a gas passage in the oxidizing gas supply/discharge system is preferably provided with an inlet valve and an outlet valve for sealing the oxidizing gas in the gas passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Masahiro Takeshita, Hiroyuki Yumiya, Takashi Yamamoto