Reforming Process Patents (Class 429/423)
  • Patent number: 11973205
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes an energy storage component. It further includes heat generating electronics. It further includes a fluid circulator that transfers fluid between the energy storage component and the heat generating electronics. The circulator is controlled to alternatively transfer fluid from the battery to the heat generating electronics or from the heat generating electronics to the energy storage component based at least in part on a thermal state of the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lunar Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Bozhi Yang, Tanner Bruce DeVoe, Tahina Christine Felisca, Kevin Richard Fine, Mark Daniel Goldman, Mark Holveck, Erica Viola Lewis, Conrad Xavier Murphy, Ian Gregory Spearing
  • Patent number: 11936075
    Abstract: Disclosed are a separator for fuel cells capable of minimizing the volume of a system and the use of sealants, and a stack for fuel cells, more particularly, a stack for solid oxide fuel cells, including the same. Specifically, by adding a metal sheet having a specific shape, position and size to the separator, the stress applied to the sealant can be uniformized, and thus the oxidizing agent and fuel can be separated and electrically isolated using only a piece of sealant. Therefore, the stack for fuel cells is characterized in that there is no variation in temperature, reactant concentration, power, or the like between respective unit cells, so delamination and microcracks do not occur, the volume is minimized, and the power density per unit volume is very high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jong Ho Lee, Kyung Joong Yoon, Ji Won Son, Seong Kook Oh, Sang Hyeok Lee, Dong Hwan Kim, Min Jun Oh
  • Patent number: 11862831
    Abstract: A container for a fuel cell system includes a system frame configured to house one or more components of a fuel cell system. The container also includes a plurality of fuel cells supported by the system frame and configured to provide power to an external unit. The container also includes a raised floor configured to support the plurality of fuel cells. The container also includes a cooling system. The cooling system includes a central cooling pipe located underneath the raised floor, a plurality of fuel cell cooling pipes connected to the central cooling pipe and to each fuel cell, and a cooling pipe valve configured to regulate the pressure of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew K. McClory, Daniel Charles Folick, Dakota Kelley
  • Patent number: 11862824
    Abstract: Proposed are a fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes: a hydrogen supply unit connected to a hydrogen inlet side of a fuel cell stack, with a supply valve and a sensor being provided in the hydrogen supply unit; a hydrogen discharge unit connected to a hydrogen outlet side of the fuel cell stack, with a water trap and a purge valve being provided in the hydrogen discharge unit; and a controller configured to calculate an amount of hydrogen discharged through the purge valve from an amount of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack and an amount of hydrogen consumed therein, and to perform compensation control of the supply valve when the amount of the discharged hydrogen is at or above a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Won Jung, Hak Yoon Kim, Jun Young Park, Seong Cheol Jeong
  • Patent number: 11862832
    Abstract: A modular fuel cell subsystem includes multiple rows of modules, where each row comprises a plurality of fuel cell power modules and a power conditioning module containing a DC to AC inverter electrically connected the power modules. In some embodiments, a single gas and water distribution module is fluidly connected to multiple rows of power modules, and a single mini power distribution module is electrically connected to each of the power conditioning module in each row of modules. In some embodiments, each row of modules further includes a fuel processing module located on an opposite side of the plurality of fuel cell power modules from the power conditioning module. Fuel and water connections may enter each row from the side of the row containing the fuel processing module, and electrical connections may enter each row from the side of the row containing the power conditioning module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Srihari Raghavan, David Trevisan, Richard Leitch, Armando Gomez, Aaron Ells, Jessica Mahler
  • Patent number: 11853398
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for determining an abnormity of a detection device of natural gas. The method comprises: obtaining a first detection data set collected by the detection device of the natural gas, determining whether the detection device is abnormal based on the first detection data set and a first historical detection data set, and sending a determination result to a terminal. The first detection data set and the first historical detection data set include a composition of natural gas, a temperature of natural gas, and a pressure of natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CHENGDU QINCHUAN IOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zehua Shao, Haitang Xiang, Yaqiang Quan, Bin Liu
  • Patent number: 11831047
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell capable of simplifying a fuel cell system and miniaturizing the fuel cell system by performing humidification by moisture exchange and cooling by heat exchange in one membrane humidifier, and a fuel cell system comprising same. The membrane humidifier for a fuel cell of the present invention comprises both a humidification module and a heat exchange module in a housing part, and distributes a first fluid to the humidification module and the heat exchange module at a variable distribution ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Do Woo Kim, Kyoung Ju Kim, Na Hyeon An
  • Patent number: 11799104
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply channel, a fuel gas circulation channel, a circulating pump that is driven by a pump motor having no rotation detecting sensor, and an ECU. When a method for operating the fuel cell system determines that the circulating pump is frozen in a low-temperature environment, the method performs a first step of performing a brake mode to limit the rotation of the pump motor while passing current to the pump motor, to thereby heat the pump motor. The method further performs a second step of, after rotating the pump motor, determining that the circulating pump has unfrozen if the rotational speed of the pump motor exceeds a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Masaoki Inamoto, Hideo Numata
  • Patent number: 11764376
    Abstract: An incorporated air supplying apparatus for a fuel cell stack and a method for controlling an air flow using the same are described. The apparatus includes an air supply part supplying air to a plurality of fuel cell stacks, a plurality of pipes configured to transmit the air supplied from the air supply part to each of the fuel cell stacks, a flowmeter and a valve installed at each pipe, and a controller controlling an opening degree of each of the valves, based on information on the measured flow. The controller controls the opening degree of the valve installed at each pipe, thus enabling the air flow for each pipe to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Min Su Hyeon
  • Patent number: 11728536
    Abstract: A storage battery container is provided with an air supply part having an air supply port provided to the bottom surface, a variable heat dissipation device that balances accumulated heat inside the storage battery, and an air discharge part of a rear surface having an air discharge port correspondingly provided to a heat release part of the variable heat dissipation device. The air supply part puts the air supply port in an open state when power is being supplied, and puts the air supply port in a closed state when the power supply stops. The air discharge part puts the air discharge port in an open state when the variable heat dissipation device is actuated, and puts the air discharge port in a closed state when the actuation of the variable heat dissipation device stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Motohiro Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11697108
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for fabricating catalysts for ammonia decomposition. The method may comprise (a) subjecting a catalyst support to one or more physical or chemical processes to optimize one or more pores, morphologies, and/or surface chemistry or property of the catalyst support; (b) depositing a composite support material on the catalyst support, wherein the composite support material comprises a morphology or surface chemistry or property; and (c) depositing one or more active metals on at least one of the composite support material and the catalyst support, wherein the one or more active metals comprise one or more nanoparticles configured to conform to the morphology of the composite support material and/or catalyst support material, thereby optimizing one or more active sites on the nanoparticles for ammonia processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: AMOGY Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Sheludko, Junyoung Cha, Young Suk Jo
  • Patent number: 11695122
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: 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
  • Patent number: 11621430
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a controller that controls actions of the fuel cell system. The controller includes a freezing presence-absence determination unit that performs freezing presence-absence determination, a temperature raising execution unit that performs temperature raising processing for raising a temperature of an exhaust and drain valve, and a thawing presence-absence determination unit. In the freezing presence-absence determination, freezing determination is made when the exhaust flow rate of gas is equal to or lower than a first threshold. In the thawing presence-absence determination, thawing determination indicating that the exhaust and drain valve is thawed is made when the exhaust flow rate of gas is higher than a second threshold. The second threshold shows a flow rate higher than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomio Yamanaka, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Shinji Asou, Tsuyoshi Maruo
  • Patent number: 11563224
    Abstract: A method for preparing a fuel cell system in a vehicle for starting, for which purpose a starting preparation routine is carried out after the vehicle has been shut down depending on a temperature limit value. In the method, in the event that the fuel cell had not reached its normal operating temperature during the previous operation and a temperature falls below the predetermined temperature limit value, the fuel cell system is operated until it has reached its normal operating temperature and after which the starting preparation routine is subsequently carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Pere Antoni Pastor Nigorra, Sven Schmalzriedt, Hans-Joerg Heidrich
  • Patent number: 11542840
    Abstract: A hybrid powerplant can include a fuel cell cycle system configured to generate a first power using a fuel and an oxidizer. The powerplant can also include a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycle system operatively connected to the fuel cell cycle to receive heat from the fuel cell cycle to cause the sCO2 cycle system to generate a second power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm Macdonald, Ram Ranjan
  • Patent number: 11491889
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular a logistics vehicle, includes a frame and a housing component secured in place thereon. An insert part on the housing component is insertable into a space region of the vehicle, and a first or a second energy store module is situated on the insert part and a DC/DC converter which is electrically connected to the energy store module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Christopher Blickle
  • Patent number: 11491894
    Abstract: A vehicle powered by a fuel cell power plant to conserve water includes a fuel cell to generate electricity and at least one of water or water vapor. The vehicle further includes one or more electric motors operatively coupled to the fuel cell to receive the electricity and propel the vehicle and an auxiliary system operatively coupled to the fuel cell to utilize the at least one of the water or water vapor generated by the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Anderson Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Kory Anderson, Daniel Ewert, Joel Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 11469432
    Abstract: To suppress the generation of condensed water and suppress the flow of the condensed water into a fuel cell stack. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack, an elector set, a fuel gas supplier which supplies fuel gas to the ejector set, a circulation flow path, a mixed gas supply flow path, a temperature detector which detects a temperature of the fuel gas, and a controller, wherein the ejector set includes at least two ejectors in parallel, which are a first ejector that supplies first mixed gas to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack, and a second ejector that supplies second mixed gas, in which a content ratio of the circulation gas is smaller than the first mixed gas, to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11398634
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and method for using a peak shaving gas, the system including: a fuel inlet configured to receive fuel from a fuel source; a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOx) reactor configured to at least partially oxidize the fuel during startup of the system; a blower configured to provide air to the CPOx reactor; a gas analyzer configured to determine a composition of fuel provided to the CPOx reactor from the fuel inlet; an oxidation catalyst configured to reduce an O2 content of fuel received from the CPOx reactor; a reforming catalyst configured to partially reform fuel received from the oxidation catalyst; and a stack of fuel cells configured to generate electricity using fuel received from the reforming catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Fisher, Jayakumar Krishnadass, David Weingaertner, Laxmikant Girwalkar, Shraddesh Malviya
  • Patent number: 11380923
    Abstract: A device includes a container having a top plate containing an array of oxygen limiting pinholes and a chamber to hold a chemical hydride fuel, a fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly supported within the container between the top plate and the chamber, a first gas diffusion layer supported between the fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly and the top plate, and a second gas diffusion layer supported between the fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff, Jeffrey Michael Klein, Jason Wiebesick
  • Patent number: 11374241
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one fuel cell stack, a water reservoir housed higher than the at least one fuel cell stack, a first water pump, a second water pump and a control module. The at least one fuel cell stack is operable to generate electrical energy and water. The water reservoir is operable to store water. The first water pump is operable to pump water from the at least one fuel cell stack into the water reservoir against gravity. The second water pump is operable to dispense water from the water reservoir under assistance from gravitational potential energy of water in the water reservoir. The control module is configured to operate the second water pump on an on-demand basis, and operate the first water pump on a time-selective basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Luke A. Rippelmeyer, Daniel Charles Folick
  • Patent number: 11338270
    Abstract: Methods for autothermal reforming over a modified red mud catalyst composition, one method including providing a methane feed with oxygen and carbon dioxide to react over the modified red mud catalyst composition at increased temperature and increased pressure to produce synthesis gas comprising H2 and CO, the composition comprising red mud material produced from an alumina extraction process from bauxite ore; nickel oxide, the nickel oxide present at between about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the modified red mud catalyst composition; and a Periodic Table Group VIB metal oxide, the Group VIB metal oxide present at between about 1 wt. % and about 30 wt. % of the modified red mud catalyst composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bandar A. Fadhel, Bandar H. Alsolami, Rami Bamagain, Mohammed A. Albuali
  • Patent number: 11318447
    Abstract: Ceramic compositions with catalytic activity are provided, along with methods for using such catalytic ceramic compositions. The ceramic compositions correspond to compositions that can acquire increased catalytic activity by cyclic exposure of the ceramic composition to reducing and oxidizing environments at a sufficiently elevated temperature. The ceramic compositions can be beneficial for use as catalysts in reaction environments involving swings of temperature and/or pressure conditions, such as a reverse flow reaction environment. Based on cyclic exposure to oxidizing and reducing conditions, the surface of the ceramic composition can be converted from a substantially fully oxidized state to various states including at least some dopant metal particles supported on a structural oxide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Matthew S. Ide, Changmin Chun, Anastasios I. Skoulidas
  • Patent number: 11322757
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an anode off-gas discharge path through which an anode off-gas exhausted from an anode of the fuel cell is discharged; a heating medium circulation path through which a heating medium that recovers heat generated in the fuel cell is circulated; a heat exchanger disposed in the heating medium circulation path; an electric power converter that converts the electric power output from the fuel cell; a case that houses the electric power converter; a first air feeder that supplies air to the case; a housing that houses the fuel cell, the case, and the first air feeder; and an air discharge path through which the air having passed through the case is discharged to outside of the housing. A downstream end of the anode off-gas discharge path is connected to the air discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Morita, Takehiko Ise, Yoshito Usuki
  • Patent number: 11316178
    Abstract: A checking method of a resin-framed membrane electrode assembly includes checking whether there is breakage in one of short sides of a first rectangular peripheral shape of a clearance provided in the resin-framed membrane electrode assembly without checking whether there is breakage in any other part of the clearance, the resin-framed membrane assembly including a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer provided on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a resin frame member that has a second rectangular peripheral shape and surrounds the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer to provide the clearance between the resin frame member and the gas diffusion layer, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being made from a solid polymer electrolyte membrane roll in which a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sheet is wound in a winding direction, long sides of the rectangular peripheral shape extending in the winding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Ohmori, Masashi Sugishita, Seiji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11316184
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes a cathode and an anode and generates electricity by reducing a mediator at the cathode; a regenerator that oxidizes, with an oxidant, the mediator reduced by the cathode; an oxidant feed path that is connected to the regenerator, wherein through the oxidant feed path, the oxidant to be supplied to the regenerator flows; a reformer; a combustor that heats the reformer; and a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between combustion exhaust discharged from the combustor and the oxidant to be supplied to the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Tamura, Takao Hayashi, Marine Fayolle, Yosuke Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 11309553
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including power modules including fuel cells, and an exhaust flue connected to the power modules. The exhaust flue includes an outer duct configured to receive relatively cool cabinet exhaust from the power modules, and an inner duct disposed inside of the outer duct and configured to receive relatively hot reaction exhaust from the power modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Jessica Mahler, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Martin Perry, David Weingaertner, Samuel Juday, Christian Daco
  • Patent number: 11296333
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that has a cathode and an anode and generates electricity by reducing a mediator at the cathode; a regenerator that oxidizes, with an oxidant, the mediator reduced by the cathode; a reformer; a combustor that heats the reformer; and a heating medium path that heats the regenerator, wherein through the heating medium path, combustion exhaust discharged from the combustor or a heat medium heated through heat exchange with the combustion exhaust flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Tamura, Marine Fayolle
  • Patent number: 11258082
    Abstract: The fuel cell includes a power generation unit, a plurality of storage containers that are detachable and house hydrogen absorbing alloy, a heat medium passage through which a heat medium flows, and a temperature control unit for heating the storage containers by controlling the temperature of the heat medium and causing the heat medium to flow. The temperature control unit can carry out a first temperature control mode of controlling the temperature of the heat medium to be equal to or higher than a first temperature, and a second temperature control mode of controlling the temperature of the heat medium to be equal to or higher than a second temperature. The temperature control unit determines whether the second temperature mode is to be carried out or not based on the pressure or the temperature of an attached storage container when a new storage container is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 11258081
    Abstract: A fuel cell hydrogen supply fault diagnosis system is provided. The system includes multiple fuel tanks that store hydrogen therein to supply the hydrogen and a fuel tank valve disposed at each of the fuel tanks and configured to be opened or closed to supply or shut off the hydrogen of the fuel tanks. A pressure sensor measures pressure in a fuel supply line that extends from each of the multiple fuel tanks to be integrally connected to a fuel cell stack. A supply amount estimator then estimates a supply amount of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack and a consumption amount estimator estimates a consumption amount of hydrogen consumed in a reaction in the fuel cell stack or discharged therefrom. A fault detector then detects a hydrogen supply state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Boung Ho Min, Dong Hun Lee, Soon Woo Kwon
  • Patent number: 11251443
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed, which includes an anode recirculation loop having a fuel cell stack for generating power, a flowmeter, a current sensor and a processor. The flowmeter is configured for measuring a fuel flow rate provided into the anode recirculation loop. The current sensor is configured for measuring a current drawn from the fuel cell stack. The processor is configured for determining a steam to carbon ratio in the anode recirculation loop based on the measured fuel flow rate and the measured current. The fuel cell system further includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in the anode recirculation loop. The process is configured for determining the steam to carbon ration further based on the measured temperature. A method for operating the fuel cell system and a fuel cell power plant are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Enterprise, LLC
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Patrick Hammel Hart, Xiangdong Kong, Ralph Teichmann
  • Patent number: 11251617
    Abstract: Some embodiments include electric power demand stabilization methods and systems that may include receiving an indication that a specific controllable device will have a high power draw event; retrieving a power draw profile for the specific controllable device that includes at least a maximum power draw and an event duration; identifying a plurality of low priority controllable devices with a combined power draw that is substantially equal to the maximum power draw of the specific controllable device; and turning off the plurality of low priority controllable devices for a time period substantially equal to the event duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Crossno & Kaye, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Walsh, Jesse Crossno, Thomas Foley, Bryan Kaye
  • Patent number: 11196066
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system that can effectively suppress clogging of a pipe due to freezing of water in a fuel gas supply system thereof without the need for halting the operation of the fuel cells, and thus is highly reliable. When possible freezing of water is detected or presumed to be present downstream of an injector, the amount of a fuel gas to be supplied from a circulation pump that is disposed in a circulation channel is relatively increased compared to the amount of the fuel gas to be supplied from the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Tanaka, Masashi Toida, Hiroyuki Tsunekawa, Shun Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Maruo
  • Patent number: 11125391
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to loading and unloading stations for simultaneous unloading of a first fluid from at least one storage tank in a vessel and loading of a second fluid into a storage tank of the same vessel are provided. In at least one aspect, a loading and unloading station includes a first connector for fluid connection to a storage tank of the vessel for unloading the first fluid, and a source of the second fluid. The station also includes a second connector for fluidly connecting the source of the second fluid with a storage tank of the vessel for loading the second fluid. The station further includes a first thermal linkage between the first fluid being unloaded and the second fluid being loaded that facilitates heat transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid at the loading and unloading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Aqil Jamal, Mourad Younes
  • Patent number: 11108068
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for a fuel cell system that includes at least two or more fuel cell groups which each have at least one fuel cell connected in parallel. The fuel cell control system comprises: a unit level controller configured to control an output of an individual fuel cell; a group level controller configured to determine the output distribution of the individual fuel cells within the fuel cell group based on the performance decrease rates of the individual fuel cells within the fuel cell group; and a system level controller configured to determine the total output of the fuel cell system according to the power demand for the grid and determine the output distribution for each of the fuel cell groups in correspondence to the total output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FCI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ingab Chang, Tae Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11108061
    Abstract: A clamping chamber in a reactor or fuel cell architecture having a stack of elementary units is above the clamping fittings. The clamping chamber, in which a gas other than the reactive gases will flow, is substantially at the same pressure as the reactive gases in the stack. The pressure of the gas flowing in the clamping chamber above the stack of elementary units will then balance the pressure created by the reactive gases and the gases produced within the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Magali Reytier, Charlotte Bernard, Guilhem Roux, Philippe Szynal
  • Patent number: 11081709
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a reformer to generate a hydrogen-containing gas; an electric power generation raw material supply unit; a reforming material supply unit configured to supply at least one of reforming water and reforming air, to the reformer; an oxidizing gas supply unit to supply an oxidizing gas to a cathode of the fuel cell; a combustor to ignite an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell; and a controller. In an operation stop process of the fuel cell system, the controller causes the oxidizing gas supply unit to supply the oxidizing gas, causes the electric power generation raw material supply unit and the reforming material supply unit to intermittently supply the electric power generation raw material and at least one of the water and the air to the reformer, and causes the ignitor to perform an ignition operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: PANASONIC CORPORATION, MORIMURA SOFC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Onuma, Kunihiro Ukai, Hiroshi Shirahama, Takeshi Saito, Yosuke Akagi, Taiichiro Sakamoto, Toshiharu Ooe, Toshiharu Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11056699
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system, the output from a plurality of fuel cells can reach an output greater than or equal to auxiliary driving power in a short time because the initial supply amount of raw fuel supplied from a raw fuel supply part is greater than or equal to a first supply amount that is a raw fuel supply amount corresponding to the auxiliary driving power. Thus, even if the raw fuel is supplied at the initial supply amount when a power failure has occurred in an electric power system during a startup operation of the fuel cell system, it is possible to supply electric power from the fuel cells to the auxiliary machinery and continue to drive the auxiliary machinery under the control of a startup controller. This suppresses the stop of the fuel cell system under the startup operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Kyohei Izuma, Kazuki Wakamiya
  • Patent number: 11050067
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, and a burner. The burner has anode off-gas apertures and first and second cathode off-gas apertures. In a cross section of the burner at a cutting plane that passes a first cathode off-gas aperture, an anode off-gas aperture, and a second cathode off-gas aperture that are aligned on a straight line when seen in plan view, the first cathode off-gas aperture is provided on one side of the anode off-gas aperture such that a vector of an ejecting direction of cathode off-gas forms a first acute angle with a vector of an ejecting direction of anode off-gas, and the second cathode off-gas aperture is provided on the other side of the anode off-gas aperture such that the vector of the ejecting direction of cathode off-gas forms a second acute angle with the vector of the ejecting direction of anode off-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Kakuwa
  • Patent number: 11038186
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a reformer for fuel cells is provided. When the temperatures of a high temperature reforming unit operating as an endothermic catalyst reactor and a CO modification unit operating as an exothermic catalyst reactor deviate from catalyst activity reference temperatures, an amount of water supplied for heat exchange is increased so that the water for heat exchange sequentially flows up to the CO modification unit and the high temperature reforming unit. Accordingly, the temperature of the high temperature reforming unit and the temperature of the CO modification unit reach the catalyst activity reference temperatures, thereby preventing deterioration of high-concentration hydrogen production efficiency and unnecessary CO removal efficiency of the reformer and improving lifespan of catalysts of the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jung Joo Park
  • Patent number: 11021405
    Abstract: Moulded insulation bodies, processes for the production thereof and use thereof consisting essentially of ceramic material comprising SiO2 fibers and Al2O3 fibers which has been produced using Al2O3 sol as a binder and kilned at a temperature of above 800° C. for insulation of the ends of cracking tubes of a tubular reactor for performing a steam reforming process for generating synthesis gas which project out of the reactor heating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Antonio Coscia, Hans-Werner Scholz
  • Patent number: 11024863
    Abstract: According to a control method of controlling a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system including a solid oxide fuel cell that is supplied with an anode gas and a cathode gas to generate electric power, a fuel processor that at least reforms fuel to generate the anode gas and supplies the generated anode gas to the fuel cell, and a combustor that combusts the supplied fuel to perform warming of the fuel processor, the method is conducted when warming is performed at least at starting-up of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yaguchi, Hayato Chikugo
  • Patent number: 11005115
    Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Yun Wang, Mohammad Farooque, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Chao-Yi Yuh, April Corpuz
  • Patent number: 10998559
    Abstract: An electrical power supply device in an aircraft, the device including an enclosure, the enclosure containing at least: a fuel cell; a dihydrogen generator; a gas feed circuit connecting the dihydrogen generator to the anode of the fuel cell; an oxygen feed device feeding the cathode of the fuel cell; and a cooling circuit of the fuel cell associated with at least one heat exchanger; wherein the enclosure is mounted on an actuator system, the actuator system being configured to move the enclosure from a first position in which the enclosure is housed inside an outer wall of the aircraft, to a second position in which the enclosure projects from the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN POWER UNITS
    Inventors: Fabien Boudjemaa, Adrien Gasse, Matthieu Baron, Denis Real
  • Patent number: 10989184
    Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes a hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte film, an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, an anode gas diffusion layer, an anode separator, a cathode gas diffusion layer, and a cathode separator, a first end plate and a second end plate, a fastener, and a voltage applicator. The electrochemical hydrogen pump transfers and pressurizes hydrogen on the cathode catalyst layer, when a voltage is applied by the voltage applicator. Cathode gas flow channels in which the cathode gas flows are connected to each other. The amount of thickness reduction of the cathode gas diffusion layer due to compression resulting from fastening of the fastener is larger in the hydrogen pump unit positioned at at least one end of the stacked hydrogen pump units than in the hydrogen pump unit positioned at neither end of the stacked hydrogen pump units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Hiromi Kita, Takayuki Nakaue
  • Patent number: 10903512
    Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell assembly comprises a fuel cell stack having a fuel delivery inlet and a fuel delivery outlet. The fuel cell stack further includes a number of fuel cells each having a membrane-electrode assembly and a fluid flow path coupled between the fuel delivery inlet and the fuel delivery outlet for delivery of fuel to the membrane electrode assembly. A fuel delivery conduit is coupled to the fuel delivery inlet for 10 delivery of fluid fuel to the stack. A bleed conduit is coupled to the fuel delivery outlet for venting fluid out of the stack. A variable orifice flow control device coupled to the bleed conduit configured to dynamically vary an amount of fluid from the fuel delivery outlet passing into the bleed conduit as a function of one or more of the control parameters: (i) measured fuel concentration; (ii) measured humidity; (iii) cell voltages of fuel cells in the 15 stack; (iv) impedance of fuel cells in the stack; (v) resistance of fuel cells in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Pratap Rama, Paul Leonard Adcock, Jignesh Karsan Devshi Patel
  • Patent number: 10854897
    Abstract: Temperature control system and method for a fuel cell system are disclosed. The temperature control system includes a state detector, a control selector, a normal controller and an internal model controller. The state detector determines whether the fuel cell system is in a leakage condition based on a dynamic transfer function from an air flowrate provided to the fuel cell system to a fuel cell temperature. The control selector selects to switch between the normal controller and the internal model controller based on a determined result. The normal controller is configured for controlling an air flowrate of the fuel cell system which is not in the leakage condition. The internal model controller is configured for controlling the air flowrate of the fuel cell system in the leakage condition to control the fuel cell temperature. A fuel cell system with the temperature control system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Fengcheng Sun, Honggang Wang, Nan Xu
  • Patent number: 10822233
    Abstract: An illustrative example reformer includes a housing having an inlet plenum, a reforming section, and an outlet. The inlet plenum includes a catalyst situated where a source fluid passing through the inlet plenum will be exposed to the catalyst prior to entering the reforming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Margiott, James Davies
  • Patent number: 10826088
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transitioning a fuel cell system between operating modes. The fuel cell system may be a SOFC system comprising Ni-containing anodes. The transitions may be from a shutdown mode to a hot standby mode, from a hot standby mode to a power ready hot standby mode, from a power ready hot standby mode to an operating mode, from an operating mode to a power ready hot standby mode, from a power ready hot standby mode to a hot standby mode, from a hot standby mode to a shutdown mode, and from an operating mode to a shutdown mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark V. Scotto, Ted Ohrn, Shung-Ik Lee, JaeBong Choi
  • Patent number: 10804547
    Abstract: The power generation system includes a fuel-cell subsystem having a fuel-cell configured to generate an electrical power. The power generation system further includes a power electronics subsystem electrically coupled to the fuel-cell subsystem and configured to process at least a portion of the electrical power generated by the fuel-cell subsystem. The power generation system also includes a first conduit fluidly coupled to the power electronics subsystem and configured to supply at least a portion of a fuel stream to the power electronics subsystem. The power electronics subsystem is configured to heat the portion of the fuel stream to form a pre-heated fuel stream. Moreover, power generation system includes a second conduit fluidly coupled to the power electronics subsystem and the fuel-cell subsystem and configured to supply the pre-heated fuel stream to the fuel-cell subsystem. The fuel-cell is configured to generate the electrical power using the pre-heated fuel stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Enterprise LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Teichmann, Honggang Wang