Patents by Inventor Ryan Hallum
Ryan Hallum 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: 11952967Abstract: Various embodiments of a vortex hybrid motor are described herein. In some embodiments, the vortex hybrid motor may include a housing with a solid propellant positioned within the housing, and an injector ring positioned at a proximal end of the housing. The injector ring can include a plurality of angled injector units each including a first injector and a second injector angled towards an impingement point. A first fluid stream of a liquid propellant dispensed from the first injector can collide with a second fluid stream of the liquid propellant dispensed from the second injector to atomize the liquid propellant and form a spray fan formation. At least one of the first injector and the second injector can be positioned at an injection angle relative to the sidewall to create a swirl flow of the atomized injector fluid.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Sierra Space CorporationInventors: Brian Richard Pomeroy, Martin John Chiaverini, Jesse Morgan Warrick, William Zach Hallum, Nicholas Ryan Walker
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Patent number: 9142845Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fuel cell stack heat treatment. An eductor may be used to recycle air into the air inlet stream or to recycle fuel into the fuel inlet stream. An eductor may also be used to exhaust air away from the furnace. The stack heat treatment may include stack sintering or conditioning. The conditioning may be conducted without using externally supplied hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Matthias Gottmann, Stephen Couse, James McElroy, Ryan Hallum, Jakob Hilton, Kurt Risic, Ram Ramanan, Michael Gasda
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Patent number: 9059455Abstract: Methods for refurbishing components, such as interconnects of a fuel cell stack, include singulating the stack and removing the electrolyte, seals and oxide layer using non-mechanical methods. The various methods of may be used either singly or in combination.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Gasda, Matthias Gottmann, Neil Ide, Ryan Hallum, Dien Nguyen
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Patent number: 9059449Abstract: Methods of heat treating at least one component of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The method includes heating the at least one component with a rapid thermal process, wherein the rapid thermal process heats at least a portion of the component at a rate of approximately 50° C./sec or more.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan Hallum, Michael Gasda, Arne Ballantine, Ravi Oswal
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Publication number: 20140004448Abstract: Methods for refurbishing components, such as interconnects of a fuel cell stack, include singulating the stack and removing the electrolyte, seals and oxide layer using non-mechanical methods. The various methods of may be used either singly or in combination.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Michael Gasda, Matthias Gottmann, Neil Ide, Ryan Hallum, Dien Nguyen
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Publication number: 20130252119Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fuel cell stack heat treatment. An eductor may be used to recycle air into the air inlet stream or to recycle fuel into the fuel inlet stream. An eductor may also be used to exhaust air away from the furnace. The stack heat treatment may include stack sintering or conditioning. The conditioning may be conducted without using externally supplied hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Matthias Gottmann, Stephen Couse, James McElroy, Ryan Hallum, Jakob Hilton, Kurt Risic, Ram Ramanan, Michael Gasda
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Patent number: 8535841Abstract: Methods for refurbishing components, such as interconnects of a fuel cell stack, include singulating the stack and removing the electrolyte, seals and oxide layer using non-mechanical methods. The various methods of may be used either singly or in combination.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Michael Gasda, Matthias Gottmann, Neil Ide, Ryan Hallum, Dien Nguyen
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Publication number: 20120244448Abstract: Methods of heat treating at least one component of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The method includes heating the at least one component with a rapid thermal process, wherein the rapid thermal process heats at least a portion of the component at a rate of approximately 50° C./sec or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ryan Hallum, Michael Gasda, Arne Ballantine, Ravi Oswal
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Patent number: 7332236Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John W. Parks, Dustan L. Skidmore
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Patent number: 7285346Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John W. Parks, Dustan L. Skidmore
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Patent number: 7276307Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John W. Parks, Dustan L. Skidmore
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Publication number: 20070128476Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2006Publication date: June 7, 2007Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John Parks, Dustan Skidmore
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Patent number: 7166379Abstract: A technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes providing a fuel flow to the stack, changing the fuel flow and observing a response of at least one cell voltage of the stack to the change in the fuel flow. An efficiency of the stack is regulated based on the observation.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Ryan Hallum, Eric Kueckels, Richard J. Graham, Adam Solodow, Mark Torpey, Arne Ballantine, Chris Comi
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Patent number: 7166378Abstract: A technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes providing a fuel flow to the stack, changing the fuel flow and observing a response of at least one cell voltage of the stack to the change in the fuel flow. An efficiency of the stack is regulated based on the observation.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Ryan Hallum, Eric Kueckels, Richard J. Graham, Adam Solodow, Mark Torpey, Arne Ballantine, Chris Comi
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Publication number: 20060177714Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell incorporating a thermal management scheme and associated methods of operation. In one aspect, a fuel cell system includes a frame enclosing a fuel cell, a coolant flow circuit and a heat exchanger. The frame has at least one external panel mounted thereon to enclose the fuel cell, a coolant circuit and heat exchanger. The coolant flow circuit is adapted to circulate a coolant through the heat exchanger and across a surface of the fuel cell to provide heat transfer between the fuel cell and the heat exchanger. An inlet orifice and an outlet orifice are coupled to the frame and to the heat exchanger, and are adapted to provide an export flow circuit from the inlet orifice through the heat exchanger to the outlet orifice. An insulating material is fixed to a surface of the external panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2006Publication date: August 10, 2006Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ryan Hallum
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Patent number: 7026065Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell incorporating a thermal management scheme and associated methods of operation. In one aspect, a fuel cell system includes a frame enclosing a fuel cell, a coolant flow circuit and a heat exchanger. The frame has at least one external panel mounted thereon to enclose the fuel cell, a coolant circuit and heat exchanger. The coolant flow circuit is adapted to circulate a coolant through the heat exchanger and across a surface of the fuel cell to provide heat transfer between the fuel cell and the heat exchanger. An inlet orifice and an outlet orifice are coupled to the frame and to the heat exchanger, and are adapted to provide an export flow circuit from the inlet orifice through the heat exchanger to the outlet orifice. An insulating material is fixed to a surface of the external panel.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Ryan Hallum
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Publication number: 20060014058Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2005Publication date: January 19, 2006Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John Parks, Dustan Skidmore
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Publication number: 20060003199Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2005Publication date: January 5, 2006Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John Parks, Dustan Skidmore
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Publication number: 20050287403Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John Parks, Dustan Skidmore
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Patent number: 6939635Abstract: A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Plug Power Inc.Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Ryan Hallum, John W. Parks, Dustan L. Skidmore