Patents by Inventor Yasunori Yoshimoto

Yasunori Yoshimoto 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: 11920808
    Abstract: An energy management system is configured to calculate a percentage of satisfied based on the report data for each of the plurality of buildings; create, for each of the plurality of buildings, a plan for operating each of the air-conditioning facilities based on the percentage of satisfied and a predetermined target percentage of satisfied; calculate a first energy consumption amount based on the first piece of data; calculate a second energy consumption amount based on the second piece of data, the third piece of data, and the fourth piece of data, the second energy consumption amount being obtained when the each of the air-conditioning facilities is operated after a lapse of a predetermined time period; and control, when the first energy consumption amount is larger than the second energy consumption amount, the operation of the each of the air-conditioning facilities so as to achieve the second energy consumption amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshimoto, Yasunori Akashi, Shinichi Warisawa, Jongyeon Lim, Shohei Miyata
  • Patent number: 8715869
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20130288141
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Takaaki MATSUBAYASHI, Mitsuo KARAKANE, Yasunori YOSHIMOTO, Akira HAMADA
  • Patent number: 8563181
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell having plural membrane-electrode assemblies and plates, fuel and oxidant humidifiers and heater exchanger. Heat exchange between a supply inlet and discharge outlet is carried out between first and second heat exchange mediums. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are directed to flow parallel to each other in the fuel cell. A circulation path is established through the fuel and oxidant humidifiers and the heat exchanger by interconnection among discharge outlet, heat exchanger, fuel and oxidant humidifiers, and inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 8268500
    Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the one plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water as a heat medium is supplied from a heat medium supply manifold hole to a heat medium inlet header. Water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels by heating the gas inlet header by heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 8221926
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack. Gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 8206866
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120088166
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell having plural membrane-electrode assemblies and plates, fuel and oxidant humidifiers and heater exchanger. Heat exchange between a supply inlet and discharge outlet is carried out between first and second heat exchange mediums. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are directed to flow parallel to each other in the fuel cell. A circulation path is established through the fuel and oxidant humidifiers and the heat exchanger by interconnection among discharge outlet, heat exchanger, fuel and oxidant humidifiers, and inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki MATSUBAYASHI, Mitsuo KARAKANE, Yasunori YOSHIMOTO, Akira HAMADA
  • Publication number: 20120082908
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack. Gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120077103
    Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the one plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water as a heat medium is supplied from a heat medium supply manifold hole to a heat medium inlet header. Water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels by heating the gas inlet header by heat conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki MATSUBAYASHI, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120021318
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki MATSUBAYASHI, Mitsuo KARAKANE, Yasunori YOSHIMOTO, Akira HAMADA
  • Patent number: 8067126
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 7285352
    Abstract: An objective of this invention is to provide a separator for a fuel cell whereby a fuel, air or cooling water can be evenly and efficiently fed. In a separator for a fuel cell comprising fuel channels 105 in one side and cooling water channels 106 in the other side, the regions where the fuel channels 105 and the cooling water channels 106 are formed rectangular. The fuel gas is fed from a first fuel-feeding manifold 107 and discharged from a first fuel-discharging manifold 109 to the outside of the cell. The cooling water is fed from a first cooling-water-feeding manifold 111 and discharged from a first cooling-water-discharging manifold 113 to the outside of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada, Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Takashi Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 7094491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell devised to uniformly distribute and supply a reformed gas (or an oxidant or a coolant) while minimizing the increase in parts number, without making the construction complicated. The present invention has a gist of providing a fuel cell 5, piling up, by way of separators, multiple cells 1, and providing, in the stack 2, inner manifolds for distributing (or supplying or discharging) to these cells 1 a fuel, an oxidant or a coolant, wherein: a cylindrical/tubular piercing member 4 is provided in at least one inner manifold 6, and a proper gap is provided between the piercing member 4 and an inner wall of the inner manifold 6. The reformed gas supplied to the inner manifold 6, before being distributed to each cell 1, is flow-regulated by the piercing member 4. Thus, the reformed gas is distributed uniformly to each cell 1, a stable power generation is done, and performance of the fuel cell can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Elecrtric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Yoshimoto, Takashi Yasuo, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 7060383
    Abstract: In a fuel cell provided with a pair of separators sandwiching a cell that includes an electrolyte and a fuel electrode and an air electrode provided on respective sides of the electrolyte, gas passages in a separator adjacent to the fuel electrode are opposite to flat surfaces of a separator adjacent to the air electrode. Also, gas passages in the separator adjacent to the air electrode are opposite to flat surfaces of the separator adjacent to the fuel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Yoshimoto, Hirokazu Izaki, Akira Hamada, Yugo Fukami
  • Publication number: 20050112422
    Abstract: A pair of separators sandwiches an electrode assembly of fuel cell including an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes provides on respective sides of the electrolyte. The separator facing a fuel electrode is provided with a coolant introduction passage on the back of a fuel introduction passage and a second manifold for fuel supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Yasunori Yoshimoto, Hirokazu Izaki, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20050095493
    Abstract: In a fuel cell provided with a pair of separators sandwiching a cell that includes an electrolyte and a fuel electrode and an air electrode provided on respective sides of the electrolyte, gas passages in a separator adjacent to the fuel electrode are opposite to flat surfaces of a separator adjacent to the air electrode. Also, gas passages in the separator adjacent to the air electrode are opposite to flat surfaces of the separator adjacent to the fuel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Yasunori Yoshimoto, Hirokazu Izaki, Akira Hamada, Yugo Fukami
  • Publication number: 20040180248
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20040157111
    Abstract: A fuel cell is capable of suppressing the deterioration and instability in the performance which result from the plugging of water in separators as well as the reduction of the service life of cell units, and further the single fuel cell is capable of preventing the reactant gas from flowing into the adjacent gas flow channels via gas diffusion layers, so that the reaction uniformly takes place in the surface of electrodes, thereby enabling a rated electric power to be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Shigeru Sakamoto, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Yoshihiro Ikoma
  • Publication number: 20040110057
    Abstract: An objective of this invention is to provide a separator for a fuel cell whereby a fuel, air or cooling water can be evenly and efficiently fed. In a separator for a fuel cell comprising fuel channels 105 in one side and cooling water channels 106 in the other side, the region where the fuel channels 105 and the cooling water channels 106 are formed is rectangular. The fuel gas is fed from a first fuel-feeding manifold 107 and discharged from a first fuel-discharging manifold 109 to the outside of the cell. The cooling water is fed from a first cooling-water-feeding manifold 111 and discharged from a first cooling-water-discharging manifold 113 to the outside of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada, Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Takashi Kawanabe