Patents by Inventor Timothy C. Geary
Timothy C. Geary 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: 20240072287Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell structures are provided that include a structural mesh support layer at the interface between the surface of the cathode and the cathode current collector. The structural mesh layer can have a mesh open area of 25% to 45%. In addition to providing structural support, the structural mesh layer can reduce or minimize ohmic resistance at the interface between the cathode and the cathode current collector.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Abdelkader HILMI, Chao-Yi YUH, Timothy C. GEARY, Aaron SATTLER, William C. HORN, William A. LAMBERTI, Gabor KISS
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Patent number: 11888187Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are operated to provide enhanced CO2 utilization. This can increase the effective amount of carbonate ion transport that is achieved. The enhanced CO2 utilization is enabled in part by operating an MCFC under conditions that cause transport of alternative ions across the electrolyte. The amount of alternative ion transport that occurs during enhanced CO2 utilization can be mitigated by using a more acidic electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignees: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Timothy A. Barckholtz, Jonathan Rosen, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, Carl A. Willman, Chao-Yi Yuh, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh, Timothy C. Geary
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Patent number: 11888199Abstract: An elevated target amount of electrolyte is used to initially fill a molten carbonate fuel cell that is operated under carbon capture conditions. The increased target electrolyte fill level can be achieved in part by adding additional electrolyte to the cathode collector prior to start of operation. The increased target electrolyte fill level can provide improved fuel cell performance and lifetime when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high current density with a low-CO2 content cathode input stream and/or when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high CO2 utilization.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignees: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, William A. Lamberti, William C. Horn, Anding Zhang, Timothy C. Geary, Adam Franco, Abdelkader Hilmi
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Publication number: 20230246215Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of molten carbonate fuel cells that include cathode current collector structures that have reduced contact area with the cathode in order to create increased cathode open surface area. Molten carbonate fuel cells that have cathode collectors with reduced contact area with the cathode can have an increased tendency to suffer structural difficulties during operation, such as formation of gaps between electrolyte and one or both electrodes. Use of a sintered anode in such a fuel cell can reduce or minimize the impact of such structural difficulties. The sintered anode can provide higher pore volume and/or a more stable pore structure and/or increased structural stability in a fuel cell that includes a cathode collector that has a reduced contact area with the cathode. This can maintain a more stable interface between the cathode and electrolyte and/or between the anode and the electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Jonathan S. ROSEN, Gabor KISS, Timothy A. BARCKHOLTZ, Lu HAN, William A. LAMBERTI, William C. HORN, Abdelkader HILMI, Timothy C. GEARY, Carl A. WILLMAN, Adam W. FRANCO
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Patent number: 11695122Abstract: A layered cathode structure for a molten carbonate fuel cell is provided, along with methods of forming a layered cathode and operating a fuel cell including a layered cathode. The layered cathode can include at least a first cathode layer and a second cathode layer. The first cathode layer can correspond to a layer that is adjacent to the molten carbonate electrolyte during operation, while the second cathode layer can correspond to a layer that is adjacent to the cathode collector of the fuel cell. The first cathode layer can be formed by sintering a layer that includes a conventional precursor material for forming a cathode, such as nickel particles. The second cathode layer can be formed by sintering a layer that includes a mixture of particles of a conventional precursor material and 1.0 vol % to 30 vol % of particles of a lithium pore-forming compound.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignees: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Gabor Kiss, Rodrigo F. Blanco Gutierrez, Timothy C. Geary, Ethan L. Demeter, Chao-Yi Yuh
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Patent number: 11616248Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are operated at elevated pressure to provide increased operating voltage and/or enhanced CO2 utilization with a cathode input stream having a low CO2 content. It has been discovered that increasing the operating pressure of a molten carbonate fuel cell when using a low CO2-content cathode input stream can provide unexpectedly large increases in operating voltage while also reducing or minimizing the amount of alternative ion transport and/or enhancing CO2 utilization.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignees: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Eric B. Shen, Timothy C. Geary
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Publication number: 20220352535Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are operated at elevated pressure to provide increased operating voltage and/or enhanced CO2 utilization with a cathode input stream having a low CO2 content. It has been discovered that increasing the operating pressure of a molten carbonate fuel cell when using a low CO2-content cathode input stream can provide unexpectedly large increases in operating voltage while also reducing or minimizing the amount of alternative ion transport and/or enhancing CO2 utilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Eric B. Shen, Timothy C. Geary
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Patent number: 11424469Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are operated at elevated pressure to provide increased operating voltage and/or enhanced CO2 utilization with a cathode input stream having a low CO2 content. It has been discovered that increasing the operating pressure of a molten carbonate fuel cell when using a low CO2-content cathode input stream can provide unexpectedly large increases in operating voltage while also reducing or minimizing the amount of alternative ion transport and/or enhancing CO2 utilization.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignees: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Eric B. Shen, Timothy C. Geary
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Publication number: 20220173421Abstract: An elevated target amount of electrolyte is used to initially fill a molten carbonate fuel cell that is operated under carbon capture conditions. The increased target electrolyte fill level can be achieved in part by adding additional electrolyte to the cathode collector prior to start of operation. The increased target electrolyte fill level can provide improved fuel cell performance and lifetime when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high current density with a low-CO2 content cathode input stream and/or when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high CO2 utilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, William A. Lamberti, William C. Horn, Anding Zhang, Timothy C. Geary, Adam Franco, Abdelkader Hilmi
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Patent number: 11335937Abstract: An elevated target amount of electrolyte is used to initially fill a molten carbonate fuel cell that is operated under carbon capture conditions. The increased target electrolyte fill level can be achieved in part by adding additional electrolyte to the cathode collector prior to start of operation. The increased target electrolyte fill level can provide improved fuel cell performance and lifetime when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high current density with a low-CO2 content cathode input stream and/or when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high CO2 utilization.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignees: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, William A. Lamberti, William C. Horn, Anding Zhang, Timothy C. Geary, Adam Franco, Abdelkader Hilmi
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Patent number: 11211621Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells to allow for periodic regeneration of the fuel cells while performing elevated CO2 capture. In some aspects, periodic regeneration can be achieved by shifting the location within the fuel cells where the highest density of alternative ion transport is occurring. Such a shift can result in a new location having a highest density of alternative ion transport, while the previous location can primarily transport carbonate ions. Additionally or alternately, periodic regeneration can be performed by modifying the input flows to the fuel cell and/or relaxing the operating conditions of the fuel cell to reduce or minimize the amount of alternative ion transport.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignees: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Timothy A. Barckholtz, Jonathan Rosen, Carla S. Pereira, Rodrigo F. Blanco Gutierrez, Frank Hershkowitz, Carl A. Willman, Timothy C. Geary
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Publication number: 20210159531Abstract: An elevated target amount of electrolyte is used to initially fill a molten carbonate fuel cell that is operated under carbon capture conditions. The increased target electrolyte fill level can be achieved in part by adding additional electrolyte to the cathode collector prior to start of operation. The increased target electrolyte fill level can provide improved fuel cell performance and lifetime when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high current density with a low-CO2 content cathode input stream and/or when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at high CO2 utilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, William A. Lamberti, William C. Horn, Anding Zhang, Timothy C. Geary, Adam Franco, Abdelkader Hilmi
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Publication number: 20200176784Abstract: A layered cathode structure for a molten carbonate fuel cell is provided, along with methods of forming a layered cathode and operating a fuel cell including a layered cathode. The layered cathode can include at least a first cathode layer and a second cathode layer. The first cathode layer can correspond to a layer that is adjacent to the molten carbonate electrolyte during operation, while the second cathode layer can correspond to a layer that is adjacent to the cathode collector of the fuel cell. The first cathode layer can be formed by sintering a layer that includes a conventional precursor material for forming a cathode, such as nickel particles. The second cathode layer can be formed by sintering a layer that includes a mixture of particles of a conventional precursor material and 1.0 vol % to 30 vol % of particles of a lithium pore-forming compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Gabor Kiss, Rodrigo F. Blanco Gutierrez, Timothy C. Geary, Ethan L. Demeter, Chao-Yi Yuh
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Publication number: 20200176787Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that include one or more baffle structures within the cathode gas collection volume. The baffle structures can reduce the unblocked flow cross-section of the cathode gas collection volume by 10% to 80%. It has been discovered that when operating a molten carbonate fuel cell under conditions for elevated CO2 utilization, the presence of baffles can provide an unexpected benefit in the form of providing increased transference and/or increased operating voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Timothy C. Geary, Timothy A. Barckholtz, Jonathan Rosen, Sandipan K. Das, Carl A. Willman, Abdelkader Hilmi, Chao-Yi Yuh
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Publication number: 20200176789Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are operated to provide enhanced CO2 utilization. This can increase the effective amount of carbonate ion transport that is achieved. The enhanced CO2 utilization is enabled in part by operating an MCFC under conditions that cause transport of alternative ions across the electrolyte. The amount of alternative ion transport that occurs during enhanced CO2 utilization can be mitigated by using a more acidic electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Timothy A. Barckholtz, Jonathan Rosen, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, Carl A. Willman, Chao-Yi Yuh, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh, Timothy C. Geary
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Publication number: 20200176793Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells to allow for periodic regeneration of the fuel cells while performing elevated CO2 capture. In some aspects, periodic regeneration can be achieved by shifting the location within the fuel cells where the highest density of alternative ion transport is occurring. Such a shift can result in a new location having a highest density of alternative ion transport, while the previous location can primarily transport carbonate ions. Additionally or alternately, periodic regeneration can be performed by modifying the input flows to the fuel cell and/or relaxing the operating conditions of the fuel cell to reduce or minimize the amount of alternative ion transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Timothy A. Barckholtz, Jonathan Rosen, Carla S. Pereira, Rodrigo F. Blanco Gutierrez, Frank Hershkowitz, Carl A. Willman, Timothy C. Geary
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Publication number: 20200176791Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are operated at elevated pressure to provide increased operating voltage and/or enhanced CO2 utilization with a cathode input stream having a low CO2 content. It has been discovered that increasing the operating pressure of a molten carbonate fuel cell when using a low CO2-content cathode input stream can provide unexpectedly large increases in operating voltage while also reducing or minimizing the amount of alternative ion transport and/or enhancing CO2 utilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Eric B. Shen, Timothy C. Geary
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Publication number: 20200176783Abstract: Cathode collector structures and/or corresponding cathode structures are provided that can allow for improved operation for a molten carbonate fuel cell when operated under conditions for elevated CO2 utilization. A cathode collector structure that provides an increased open area at the cathode surface can reduce or minimize the amount of alternative ion transport that occurs within the fuel cell. Additionally or alternately, grooves in the cathode surface can be used to increase the open area.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Timothy A. Barckholtz, Heather A. Elsen, Gabor Kiss, Lu Han, Thomas M. Smith, Sandipan K. Das, Chao-Yi Yuh, Carl A. Willman, Timothy C. Geary, Keith E. Davis, Abdelkader Hilmi, Lawrence J. Novacco
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Patent number: 4811817Abstract: A hidden ladder unit for mounting in the stern of a boat hull that includes a horizontally disposed housing affixed to the transom that has an open front wall and a solid back wall. The housing is equipped with a mounting flange that is fastened securely to the transom. A foldable ladder is secured in the back wall of the housing which, when folded, is fully contained within the housing, and when extended, hangs downwardly from the transom to the waterline of the hull. The opening formed in the front wall of the housing is closed by means of a door that is hingedly mounted in said housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1988Date of Patent: March 14, 1989Inventor: Timothy C. Geary