Recycling Unconsumed Reactant Patents (Class 429/415)
  • Patent number: 11958620
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen electric hybrid power plant for a hovercar. The hydrogen electric hybrid power plant comprises a first-stage duct, a transition duct and a second-stage duct. An air outlet end of the first-stage duct is connected to the second-stage duct through the transition duct. A hydrogen reactor is arranged in the first-stage duct, and the hydrogen reactor is fixed with the first-stage duct through a plurality of supporting pieces A. A primary filter screen is arranged at a front end of the first-stage duct and fixed on the first-stage duct through a hoop, so that low-altitude sundries and dust are prevented from entering the reactor. A return pipe is arranged, and the problems of oxygen supply, heat dissipation and cooling and the like of the hydrogen reactor are solved through ducted airflow. A motor power supply requirement of a ducted fan is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: HANGZHOU CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Xinfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11862825
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to, at the time of starting the fuel cell system, purge gas other than fuel gas from the fuel electrodes of a fuel cell stack in a short time. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack, an ejector set, a fuel gas supplier, a circulation flow path, a mixed gas supply flow path, a pressure detector which detects pressure information of a fuel electrode side of the fuel cell stack, a fuel off-gas discharger which discharges the fuel off-gas, in which a concentration of the fuel gas is a predetermined concentration or less, to the outside, and a controller, wherein the ejector set includes a first ejector and a second ejector in parallel, the first ejector being an ejector which supplies first mixed gas to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack, and the second ejector being an ejector which supplies second mixed gas, in which a content ratio of the circulation gas is larger than the first mixed gas, to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11799098
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to suppress the occurrence of partial fuel gas deficiency in a fuel cell. A fuel cell system wherein at least one injector selected from the group consisting of a first injector and a second injector is driven by duty ratio control to maintain a fuel gas pressure to the fuel cell within a predetermined range, in accordance with an output current value; wherein a controller determines whether or not the output current value is larger than a predetermined first threshold; and wherein, when the controller determines that the output current value is larger than the predetermined first threshold, the controller drives the first injector by duty ratio control, and the controller drives the second injector by duty ratio control to open a valve of the second injector at least while a valve of the first injector is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Kasahara, Masayuki Ito, Satoshi Andoh
  • Patent number: 11799109
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell arranged for a reformation of a hydrocarbon and a hydrocarbon generation unit connected to an anode outlet of the fuel cell for generating the hydrocarbon from carbon monoxide and hydrogen included in a partially unconverted exhaust stream of the anode outlet of the fuel cell, where the fuel cell is thermally decoupled from the hydrocarbon generation unit so that the exothermal hydrocarbon generation reaction and the endothermal reformation reaction proceed without one reaction thermally interfering the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Stephan Herrmann, Hartmut Spliethoff, Matthias Gaderer
  • Patent number: 11791483
    Abstract: A method for starting a fuel cell device having a plurality of fuel cells under frost starting conditions is provided, which comprises: establishing the presence of frost starting conditions for the fuel cell device, anode-side supplying of a hydrogen-containing reactant and cathode-side supplying of an oxygen-containing reactant in a sub-stoichiometric ratio with an oxygen deficit, maintaining the supply of the reactants in a sub-stoichiometric ratio for a given interval of time, after elapsing of the interval of time, causing the complete discharging of the fuel cells in a discharge phase, and then converting the fuel cell device to a normal mode with the supplying of the reactants according to the requirements for the given operating state and the power demand. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle are also provided for carrying out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Leonard Liphardt, Sebastian Disson, Keigo Suematsu, Francisco Javier Valbuena Encinas
  • Patent number: 11769890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an SOEC system (1), comprising a fuel cell stack (2) having a gas side (3) and an air side (4), and an ejector (5) for supplying a process fluid to a gas inlet (6) on the gas side (3), wherein the ejector (5) comprises a primary inlet (7), for introducing a water-containing primary process fluid through a primary line (8) of the SOEC system (1) into a primary portion (9) of the ejector (5), and a secondary inlet (10), for introducing recirculated secondary process fluid through a recirculation line (11) of the SOEC system (1) from a gas outlet (12) on the gas side (3) into a secondary portion (13) of the ejector (5), wherein the SOEC system (1) further comprises a control gas supply portion (14) for supplying control gas into the primary portion (9) and into the secondary portion (13) in order to control a pressure and/or mass flow in the primary portion (9) and in the secondary portion (13), and wherein the control gas supply portion (14) comprises a valve arrangement (19, 20
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: David Reichholf, Rene Buchgraber, Franz Koberg
  • Patent number: 11710837
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a first fuel cell performing power generation using a fuel gas; a separation membrane separating at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor from an anode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell; a second fuel cell disposed in the downstream of the separation membrane and performing power generation using the anode off gas, the anode off gas having at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor separated therefrom; and a distribution channel disposed on a permeation side of the separation membrane and distributing any of the following: a raw material gas serving as the fuel gas to be reformed and used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, a cathode gas including oxygen to be used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, an anode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, a cathode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell and to be supplied to the second fuel cell, or a cathode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, in which at least one of per
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO GAS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei Taku, Kazuo Nakamura, Tatsuki Dohkoh
  • Patent number: 11705560
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that generates electricity by causing reaction of a fuel component contained in fuel gas, a supply path, a control valve, an ejector, a return path, and a controller. The control valve is provided on the supply path. The ejector is provided in a section on the supply path between the control valve and the fuel cell. The return path is connected between an exhaust port of the fuel cell and the ejector, and returns off-gas discharged from the exhaust port to the supply path by suction force generated by the ejector. The controller selectively executes a normal operation and a particular operation. In the particular operation, the control valve is continuously or intermittently opened to a second opening degree smaller than a first opening degree, when the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell at a first supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suganuma, Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11705565
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply path, an injector, an ejector, a circulation path, a pressure difference detection unit that detects a pressure difference between an ejector inlet port pressure and an ejector outlet port pressure, and a control device. The control device calculates a required circulation flow rate that is required for a fuel off gas supplied from the fuel cell stack to the ejector, based on a required load for the fuel cell stack, calculates an estimated circulation flow rate that is an estimated flow rate of the fuel off gas supplied from the fuel cell stack to the ejector, based on the required load and the pressure difference, and increases the flow rate of a fuel gas supplied from the injector to the fuel cell stack when the estimated circulation flow rate is lower than the required circulation flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobukazu Mizuno, Shigeki Hasegawa, Miyu Haga, Seiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11703186
    Abstract: Multiply redundant safety system(s) that protects humans and assets while fueling vehicles, and/or transferring/fueling/tank exchanging of on road/off road, marine, aircraft, spacecraft, rockets, and all other vehicles/vessels utilizing Compressed and/or Liquefied Gas Fuels/compound(s), utilizing Hydrogen and/or Natural Gas Chemical Family of Natural Gas/Propane/Butane/ethane/ammonia/and/or any/all compound(s)/mixtures along with and/or without, oxidizer(s), such as Liquefied Oxygen, Oxygen Triplet (O3)/ozone/hydrogen peroxide/peroxide/solid oxidizer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Daniel McNicholas
  • Patent number: 11641034
    Abstract: A fuel cell system installed in a vehicle, the system comprising: a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a system temperature acquirer for acquiring a temperature of an inside of the fuel cell system, and a controller, wherein, when the system temperature is a predetermined first temperature or less, the controller charges the secondary cell until a state-of-charge value of the secondary cell reaches a predetermined first threshold value, and the controller carries out a first pattern purge on the fuel cell, and wherein, when the system temperature exceeds the predetermined first temperature, the controller charges the secondary cell until the state-of-charge value of the secondary cell reaches a predetermined second threshold value that is larger than the predetermined first threshold value, and the controller carries out a second pattern purge having a shorter purge time than the first pattern purge on the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11631880
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell system and a method for controlling a fuel cell stack, which can reduce obstruction of reactive gas fluid channels caused by freezing of retained water, while allowing size to be reduced. The fuel cell stack of the disclosure comprises water storage units that are formed between every two adjacent fuel cell unit cells, surrounded by the adjacent separators, the wall members and the gaskets, and that communicate with the reactive gas discharge manifold via the gaps of the wall members. The fuel cell system of the disclosure controls either or both the valve and compressor in a reactive gas supply channel and/or the valve in a reactive gas discharge channel, to cause liquid water retained in the water storage units to be discharged out of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jin Tomatsu, Koro Fujio, Hikaru Tsutsui, Masaya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11581605
    Abstract: A battery housing for a drive battery, comprising at least one housing shell, wherein the housing shell is formed at least partially or fully from a thermoplastic, wherein the housing shell has a receiving region for insertion of a drive battery, wherein the housing shell has a wall, wherein the wall has a two-layer or multi-layer sandwich structure, wherein at least a first layer of the sandwich structure, at least in some sections, is distanced from a second layer of the sandwich structure such that a wall cavity is formed between the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the wall cavity is designed to store a cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Eulitz
  • Patent number: 11545680
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a plurality of injectors capable of adjusting a flow rate of anode gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, and an ECU causing the plurality of injectors to operate. The plurality of injectors include a main injector, and a BP injector that operates when power that exceeds a prescribed power generation amount is generated. The ECU performs an operational check of causing the BP injector to operate at least once and judging whether the BP injector is normal or abnormal, during a period from when the fuel cell system is activated to when the fuel cell system stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Hamachi, Masaoki Inamoto
  • Patent number: 11495806
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode configured to receive a portion of a hhydrocarbon feed and to output an anode exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water; and an electrolyzer cell having a cathode and an anode. The anode of the electrolyzer cell is configured to receive a first portion of the anode exhaust stream and another portion of the hydrocarbon feed, and to generate a hydrogen stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 11489181
    Abstract: A pressure control system of a fuel cell stack includes: an air supply control unit for controlling a revolutions per minute (RPM) of an air compressor for supplying air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack based on a required output of the fuel cell stack; a hydrogen supply control unit for controlling a pressure at an anode side of the fuel cell stack with a target pressure based on the required output of the fuel cell stack; and a differential pressure control unit for controlling the air supply control unit or the hydrogen supply control unit to calculate a differential pressure between the anode side and the cathode side of the fuel cell stack, and to modify the target pressure or the RPM of the air compressor based on the calculated differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeong Kyu Park, Seung Yoon Lee, Sae Byeok Seung, Sang Chui Yeom
  • Patent number: 11469427
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generating electric power by a reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, an injector supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell, a discharge line in which an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, an ejector recirculating the off-gas flowing in the discharge line to the fuel cell using a flow of the fuel gas from the injector, a discharge valve discharging the off-gas flowing in the discharge line to the outside, and a control device controlling supply of the fuel gas by the injector and opening and closing of the discharge valve. When supply of the fuel gas by the injector is stopped, the control device opens the discharge valve while the off-gas is recirculated to the fuel cell and closes the discharge valve before supply of the fuel gas by the injector is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11454138
    Abstract: A sublimation generator including a sublimation tank configured to receive ice including at least carbon dioxide. The sublimation generator also includes a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the sublimation tank. The first heat exchanger being configured to expel heat from a coolant into the sublimation tank to sublimate the carbon dioxide into a gaseous state. The sublimation generator also includes a gas turbine generator fluidly connected to the sublimation tank and configured to receive the carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel Anderson, Julie Strickland, Jake Rohrig
  • Patent number: 11456472
    Abstract: A method for generating electrical energy by a fuel cell system operated with a reformate gas is provided. According to this method, a fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system has a first reactor and a second reactor. A gas separation unit is also provided. A portion of a first fuel gas is fed to the gas separation unit. A target gas including N2 or CO2 is separated by the gas separation unit. The separated target gas is fed into a protective housing of the fuel cell system. An H2-enriched tail gas formed in the gas separation unit is fed as a second fuel gas for operation of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DIEHL AEROSPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Tichy, Bernd Speth, Eduard Harwardt
  • Patent number: 11444293
    Abstract: Provided is a flow passage structure that is employed in a fuel cell system and includes a hydrogen gas pipe, a hydrogen off-gas pipe, a supply pipe, a lead-out pipe, and a plurality of junctions. The lead-out pipe includes a first wall located between an inner wall and a central axis of the supply pipe, a second wall connected to the first wall and located between the first wall and the central axis, and a first region surrounded by the first wall and the second wall, and is configured such that a second region between the inner wall and the first wall and a third region on the side of the central axis from the second wall communicate with each other. At the junctions, the first region and a leading end part of the hydrogen gas pipe communicate with and connect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi Onishi, Yugo Ichida, Taichi Edo
  • Patent number: 11437630
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell (2) comprising at least one membrane/electrode unit (10) comprising a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22), which electrodes are separated from one another by a membrane (18), and comprising at least one bipolar plate (40) which comprises a first distribution region (50) for distributing a fuel to the first electrode (21) and a second distribution region (60) for distributing an oxidation agent to the second electrode (22). A distribution unit (30) is provided in at least one of the distribution regions (50, 60) and has at least one flat woven fabric (80), wherein the flat woven fabric (80) is deformed in such a way that raised portions (32) of the woven fabric (80) touch one of the electrodes (21, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Berner, Jan Hendrik Ohs, Stefan Schoenbauer
  • Patent number: 11424469
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Rosen, Eric B. Shen, Timothy C. Geary
  • Patent number: 11411229
    Abstract: A water removing system and method of a fuel cell vehicle using impedance are provided. The system measures measure the low frequency impedance of a fuel cell stack when a fuel cell system is stopped in a low temperature condition, and adjusts the air supply amount and supply time for removing the water supercharged into the fuel cell stack using the measured low frequency impedance. Thus, air is prevented from being unnecessarily supercharged into the fuel cell stack and at the same time, the water remaining in the fuel cell stack is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gun Hyung Park, Kyung Won Suh
  • Patent number: 11404711
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for an aircraft includes a hydrogen burner, an oxidizing agent, and a fuel cell. The hydrogen burner has a first inlet suitable for receiving a first oxidizing agent, a second inlet capable of receiving at least hydrogen, and an outlet suitable for delivering a second oxidizing agent and heat. The oxidizing agent conditioning system has an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being suitable for receiving the second oxidizing agent and heat, said outlet being capable of delivering the conditioned second oxidizing agent. The fuel cell has an anode and a cathode, the cathode has a cathode inlet connected to the outlet of the oxidizing agent conditioning system, the cathode inlet receiving the conditioned second oxidizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AEROTECHNICS
    Inventors: Charles Foncin, Sébastien Filangi, Julien D'Arbigny
  • Patent number: 11380928
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to energy storage devices, and more particularly to redox batteries. In one aspect, a redox battery comprises a first half cell and a second half cell. The first half cell comprises a positive electrolyte reservoir comprising a first electrolyte contacting a positive electrode and has dissolved therein a first redox couple configured to undergo a first redox half reaction. The second half cell comprises a negative electrolyte reservoir comprising a second electrolyte contacting a negative electrode and has dissolved therein a second redox couple configured to undergo a second redox half reaction. The redox battery additionally comprises an ion exchange membrane separating the positive electrolyte reservoir and the negative electrolyte reservoir. The first half cell, the second half cell and the ion exchange membrane define a redox battery cell that is sealed in a casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Standard Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Dongyoung Lee, Bugi Kim, Dongheun Kim, Sanghyun Park, Kangyeong Choe
  • Patent number: 11309563
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one topping fuel cell module including a topping anode portion configured to output a topping anode exhaust, and a topping cathode portion configured to output a topping cathode exhaust; at least one bottoming fuel cell module including a bottoming anode portion configured to output a bottoming anode exhaust, and a bottoming cathode portion configured to output a bottoming cathode exhaust; and an electrochemical hydrogen separation unit configured to receive at least a portion of the topping anode exhaust, to output a hydrogen-rich stream, and to output a CO2-rich stream. The bottoming anode portion is configured to receive the CO2-rich stream from the electrochemical hydrogen separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Mohammad Farooque
  • Patent number: 11302943
    Abstract: A fuel cell, in particular for an aeronautical application, comprising a central module comprising a plurality of cells for generating electricity, a first end plate and a second end plate, at least one of the end plates comprising at least one outlet pipe. The fuel cell comprises a pressure-regulating device fluidly connected to the outlet pipe, the pressure-regulating device comprising at least one arm fluidly connected to the outlet pipe, at least one member for opening/closing the arm, at least one member for measuring the pressure in the outlet pipe and at least one member for controlling the opening/closing member according to the measured pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN POWER UNITS
    Inventors: Matthieu Baron, Mathieu Baudy, Théophile Horde
  • Patent number: 11289718
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system and a correspondingly configured fuel cell system, comprising a fuel cell stack, an anode supply with a hydrogen reservoir, an anode supply path connecting the hydrogen reservoir to the fuel cell stack, a recirculation path connecting a fuel cell outlet to the anode supply path, and a conveying device for conveying recirculated anode exhaust gas. The method provides for a tank mass flow supplied from the hydrogen reservoir to the anode circuit to be determined by balancing the material flows supplied to and discharged from the anode circuit, wherein the tank mass flow enters the balancing as a material flow supplied to the anode circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hable, Christian Lucas
  • Patent number: 11264620
    Abstract: A PEM fuel or electrolysis cell with an extended lifetime, improved performance and uniform and stable operation is disclosed wherein a membrane electrode assembly is provided with a gradient of one or more properties in combination with a modification of one or more control parameters of the cell during its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: POLITECNICO DI MILANO
    Inventors: Andrea Casalegno, Claudio Rabissi, Laila Grahl-Madsen
  • Patent number: 11245143
    Abstract: An exemplary electrochemical cell incorporates at least a first battery electrode, such as a zinc electrode, at least a second battery electrode, such as a reversible metal electrode such as nickel, and at least an oxidant reduction electrode, such as an air cathode. The oxidant reduction electrode(s) is configured in a cell housing such that it is essentially orthogonal to the first and second electrodes. The cell housing contains electrolyte therein and the electrodes are immersed, at least partially, in the electrolyte. The positioning of the oxidant reduction electrode(s) on the side of the cell and relatively perpendicular to the first and second (metal) electrodes, allows for more consistent ionic resistance across all the metal electrodes. Optionally, a fourth or oxygen evolving electrode may be provided in the cell housing, horizontal, orthogonal, and below the first and second electrodes to provide oxygen bubbles for mixing the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Joel Ryan Hayes, Todd Trimble
  • Patent number: 11245122
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell in which at least one of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode with an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween from both sides contains a radical inhibitor; a purging device which performs a purging process of purging water in the fuel cell by supplying a purging gas into the fuel cell after a power generation stop request of the fuel cell is issued; and a purging control unit which sets a purging condition of the purging process so as to increase a purging power in stages or continuously as a correlation value correlated with an accumulated amount of the radical inhibitor accumulated in the electrolyte membrane changes with an increase in the accumulated amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Jomori, Yasushi Araki
  • Patent number: 11211631
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that can prevent impurities from intensively collecting near inlets of fuel cells. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack formed by stacking fuel cells, each fuel cell having a power generation portion, a stack manifold with a fuel gas inlet communication hole disposed at an end of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction of the fuel cells, a mixed gas supply channel communicating with the fuel gas inlet communication hole for supplying a mixed gas of a fuel gas and fuel off-gas to the fuel cell stack, a stirring mixer for swirling the mixed gas provided in the mixed gas supply channel, and a guide rib provided on the inner wall of the fuel gas inlet communication hole of the stack manifold, on the side opposite to the side of the power generation portions of the fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji Kurita, Yushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11201340
    Abstract: A hydrogen supply control system for a fuel cell is provided. The system includes a fuel cell stack that generates electricity using supplied hydrogen and air and a recirculation line that supplies hydrogen discharged from an outlet of the fuel cell stack back to an inlet of the fuel cell stack. A purge valve is disposed at an outlet side of the fuel cell stack of the recirculation line and discharges hydrogen in the recirculation line to the outside as the outlet is opened. A recirculation determining processor determines a recirculation state of the recirculation line and a concentration estimator estimates a purge amount for each gas, which is purged by the purge valve, based on the determined recirculation state and estimates a concentration of hydrogen in the recirculation line based on the estimated purge amount for each gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Soon Woo Kwon, Joon Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11177488
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a stack of electrochemical cells forming a fuel cell with an ion-exchange polymer membrane and a fuel gas supply circuit connecting a fuel gas reservoir to the anode of the fuel cell, the system being characterized in that it comprises: a hydrogen purge valve (305) installed on the anode outlet of the stack, a receiver (310) of the purged hydrogen, and means for redirecting the purged hydrogen to the anode inlet of the fuel cell. There is also an associated control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Gino Paganelli
  • Patent number: 11171346
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas liquid separator and a valve device. The gas liquid separator separates water from a fuel off gas discharged from a fuel cell stack. The valve device is provided in a discharge channel for discharging water separated from the gas liquid separator. The valve device includes a fluid inlet for guiding fluid at least containing water in the gas liquid separator toward the valve main body. A heating device is provided at an inner hole of the fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11133512
    Abstract: A bipolar plate includes a substrate and a coating film that is formed at least on a part of a surface of the substrate. The coating film includes a phosphide having a composition represented by M2?xTixP, where M is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn and Cr, and 0.1?x?1.9. The coating film preferably includes two kinds or more of the metal elements M, and preferably has a thickness ranging from 0.05 ?m or greater to 100 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Hiroaki Wakayama, Nobuaki Suzuki, Hajime Murata, Kiyoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11121385
    Abstract: A fuel cell purge system includes a primary fuel cell in fluid communication with a purge cell. Fuel and oxidant purged with inert gas impurities from the primary fuel cell react in the purge cell, thereby decreasing the volume of purged gases and facilitating storage while maintaining fuel cell electrochemical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TELEDYNE ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert K. Wynne, Patrick Scott Ferguson, Robert Christopher Utz
  • Patent number: 11088384
    Abstract: A fuel cell module is equipped with a fuel cell stack having a stack body in which a plurality of flat plate-shaped fuel cells adapted to generate electrical power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are stacked, and a start-up combustor adapted to generate a combustion gas for raising a temperature of the fuel cells. In the fuel cell module, the start-up combustor is arranged in the vicinity of oxygen-containing gas introduction ports through which the oxygen-containing gas in the interior of the fuel cell stack is introduced into the fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideichi Yamamura, Shigeru Toda
  • Patent number: 11018361
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cell stack device that is applicable to miniaturization of the device and does not require a pipe for discharging off-gas up to a combustion section. A fuel cell stack device including: a first manifold 2a for supplying fuel gas supplied from a reformer 12 to a plurality of fuel cells provided in a first cell stack from above, the first manifold being connected to upper ends of the plurality of fuel cells provided in the first cell stack 10a; and a second manifold 2b for recovering fuel gas discharged from the first cell stack, and supplying the recovered fuel gas to the plurality of fuel cells provided in the second cell stack from below, the second manifold being connected to lower ends of the plurality of fuel cells provided in the second cell stack 10b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MORIMURA SOFC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Watanabe, Toshiharu Otsuka, Akira Kawakami, Fumio Tsuboi, Takuya Matsuo, Takuya Hoshiko, Shuhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10991962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system (100, 1) comprising: at least one fuel cell (200) which has a cathode (230) with a cathode chamber and has an anode chamber of an anode (210), which anode chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by a membrane, wherein the cathode chamber is connected to a cathode gas source via at least one first fluid connection (240) and the anode chamber is connected to an anode gas source via at least one second fluid connection; and comprising a first electrical connection (3) to a DC/DC converter (450) that electrically connects the anode (210) and the cathode (230) to an energy system (400), wherein in a shut-down phase of the fuel cell system (100, 1), residual energy present in the fuel cell (200) can be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helerson Kemmer, Werner Belschner
  • Patent number: 10991963
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell stack having an anode and a cathode, an anode recirculation loop including the anode, a fuel supply device for providing a fuel gas via a fuel feed path, an air supply device for providing air to the cathode, an anode blower and a switching element. The loop has a first path and a second path, and the anode is arranged in the second path. During normal operation of the system, the fuel feed path and the first path are combined to form the second path, and the second path is split into the first path and a fuel exhaust path. The anode blower is configured for driving circulation through the loop. The switching element is located in at least one of the first path and the combining point and is configured to force the fuel gas to flow through the second path to the fuel exhaust path in the event of failure of the anode blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Andrew Philip Shapiro
  • Patent number: 10985392
    Abstract: This specification describes a system and method for controlling the voltage produced by a fuel cell. The system involves providing a bypass line between an air exhaust from the fuel cell and an air inlet of the fuel cell. At least one controllable device is configured to allow the flow rate through the bypass line to be altered. A controller is provided to control the controllable device. The method involves varying the rate of recirculation of air exhaust to air inlet so as to provide a desired change in fuel cell voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte
  • Patent number: 10930946
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode gas supply device configured to supply an anode gas to a fuel cell and an ejector configured to merge an anode discharged gas, discharged from the fuel cell; with the anode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes an actuator configured to supply the anode discharged gas to the ejector and a cathode gas supply device configured to supply a cathode gas to the fuel cell. A control method for A fuel cell system includes a cathode gas control step of controlling a pressure of the cathode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell according to a magnitude of a load that is required of the fuel cell, and an anode gas control step of increasing a differential pressure between the pressure of the cathode gas and a pressure of the anode gas by the anode gas supply device when the load is low compared to when the load is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Chikugo, Yousuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 10930947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a supply circuit of the cathode (250) of at least one electrochemical cell (200) of the PEMFC type, which further comprises a membrane (290) separating an anode (210) and said cathode (250), with this circuit comprising: a supply channel (220) comprising an inlet (282) and making it possible to convey a fluid (90) in contact with the cathode (250); a discharge channel (280) that makes it possible to remove gases from the cell, a recirculation channel (100, 100?), comprising: a first opening (102) connected to the outlet (284) of the discharge channel (280); a second opening (104) connected to the inlet (282) of the supply channel (280), by the intermediary of a connector (80); a third opening (106) and means for removing (140) that allow at least one portion of the fluid (90) to be removed from the recirculation channel by the third opening (106), the recirculation channel (100, 100?) and/or the supply channel further comprising at least one compressor (C1, C2), which makes it p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SYMBIOFCELL
    Inventor: Luc Rouveyre
  • Patent number: 10930955
    Abstract: Provided are a fuel cell capable of favorably generating power while suppressing leakage of gas and preventing the solenoid valve from being frozen with a simple configuration; a control method for the fuel cell; and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium recording a computer program. The fuel cell includes a stack configured to generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen, an exhaust valve (or a drain valve) which is a solenoid valve discharging gas (or water) discharged from the stack to the outside, and a control unit configured to control energization of the exhaust valve (or drain valve). The exhaust valves are aligned in a gas discharging direction whereas the drain valves are aligned in a water discharging direction. If there is a risk of any solenoid valve being frozen, the control unit performs energization processing of energizing other solenoid valves in the state where at least one of the aligned solenoid valves is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 10865709
    Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 reforming apparatus provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce a combustible reformate containing H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. For this generator, one or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into the reformate over Pt group metal catalysts, and the produced reformate is then cooled, compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. The reformate from the storage vessels is used either as the sole fuel or is mixed with other fuels as the fuel mixture for a lean burn engine/gas turbine. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate flow output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 10854899
    Abstract: Power generation systems and associated methods for generating electric power using a cascaded fuel cell are provided. The power generation system may include a first fuel cell, a second fuel cell, a splitting mechanism, a first fuel path, and a second fuel path. The First fuel cell is configured to generate first anode and first cathode tail gas streams. The splitting mechanism is configured to split the first anode tail gas stream into first and second portions. The first fuel path is configured to receive hydrocarbon fuel stream downstream of splitting mechanism, mix with the first portion to form a mixed stream, and circulate the mixed stream to the first fuel cell. The second fuel path is configured to feed the second portion to the second fuel cell. The first and second fuel cells are configured to generate electric power by using the mixed stream and the second portion respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Irfan Saif Hussaini
  • Patent number: 10840535
    Abstract: A modular fuel cell system includes a base, at least four power modules arranged in a row on the base, and a fuel processing module and power conditioning module arranged on at least one end of the row on the base. Each power module includes a separate cabinet which contains at least one fuel cell stack located in a hot box. The power modules are electrically and fluidly connected to the at least one fuel processing and power conditioning modules through the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Gilbert Richards, David Trevisan, Michael Lee, Jessica Mahler, Ross Parker, Alex Clarabut, Chad Pearson, Arne Ballantine, David Weingaertner, Jason Hixson, Fred Mitlitsky
  • Patent number: 10826096
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system for preventing carbon deposition in a fuel cell stack to be supplied with reformed gas. A fuel cell system 10A of the present invention includes a partial oxidation reformer 22 for partially oxidizing raw fuel to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a shift reactor 23 for shift reacting the carbon monoxide with steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a fuel cell stack 20 for generating electric power by electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and the hydrogen which is produced in at least one of the partial oxidation reformer 22 and the shift reactor 23, and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe P6 for supplying steam contained in exhaust gas of the fuel cell stack 20 to the shift reactor 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Mizuno, Shigeru Toda, Keiji Tsukamoto, Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 10811709
    Abstract: A method of controlling purge of a fuel cell system for a vehicle is provided. The method determines whether a purge function is normally performed in controlling purge of discharging nitrogen, hydrogen, and vapor within an anode of a fuel cell system. Particularly, the method confirms whether purge is performed by measuring a duty or a current applied to a hydrogen supply valve and measuring a change in the duty before and after an application of a purge valve operation command while adjusting a pressure inside the anode, which supplies hydrogen, to be uniform. Further, a hydrogen supply amount supplied into an anode is estimated and a change rate of a hydrogen supply amount supplied to the anode and a hydrogen amount consumed during a generation of the fuel cell system are estimated during a purge function, to determine whether purge is actually performed based on the estimated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Se Kwon Jung, Bu Kil Kwon