Patents Assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation
  • Method of controlling a fuel cell system using impedance determination
    Patent number: 8986900
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Patrick Muhl, Chad Pearson, James Daniel Smith
  • Derivation of control parameters of fuel cell systems for flexible fuel operation
    Patent number: 8968955
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes characterizing the fuel or fuels being provided into the fuel cell system, characterizing the oxidizing gas or gases being provided into the fuel cell system, and calculating at least one of the steam:carbon ratio, fuel utilization and oxidizing gas utilization based on the step of characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 8968943
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Vlad Kalika, David Weingaertner, Ananda Sundararajan, Navaneetha Krishnan, Nilanjana Basu, Ram Ramanan, Virpaul Bains, William David Lyle
  • Methods and devices for printing seals for fuel cell stacks
    Patent number: 8968509
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Stephen Couse
  • DC micro-grid
    Patent number: 8970176
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating and operating a Direct Current (DC) micro-grid. A DC micro-grid may include power generators, energy storage devices, and loads coupled to a common DC bus. Power electronics devices may couple the power generators, energy storage devices, and loads to the common DC bus and provide power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Arne Ballatine, Chad Pearson, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Prasad Pmsvvsv, Alberto Doronzo
  • Voltage lead jumper connected fuel cell columns
    Patent number: 8968958
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and one or more devices which in operation of the system provide an azimuthal direction to one or more anode or cathode feed or exhaust fluid flows in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Martin Perry
  • Fuel cell interconnects and methods of fabrication
    Patent number: 8962219
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first plurality of ribs extending from a first major surface of the interconnect and defining a first plurality of gas flow channels between the ribs, the ribs extending between a first rib end and a second rib end and having a tapered profile in a vertical dimension, perpendicular to the first major surface of the interconnect, proximate at least one of the first rib end and the second rib end, wherein the ribs comprise a flat upper surface and rounded edges between the flat upper surface and the adjacent gas flow channels, the rounded edges having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the gas flow channels comprise a rounded surface having a second radius of curvature, different from the first radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Couse, Daniel Darga, Harald Herchen, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah
  • Method for solid oxide fuel cell fabrication
    Patent number: 8940112
    Abstract: A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes forming a first sublayer of a first electrode on a first side of a planar solid oxide electrolyte and drying the first sublayer of the first electrode. The method also includes forming a second sublayer of the first electrode on the dried first sublayer of the first electrode prior to firing the first sublayer of the first electrode, firing the first and second sublayers of the first electrode during the same first firing step, and forming a second electrode on a second side of the solid oxide electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Patrick Munoz, Dien Nguyen
  • Hybrid fuel heat exchanger—pre-reformer in SOFC systems
    Patent number: 8920997
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Hermetic high temperature dielectric conduit assemblies
    Patent number: 8921001
    Abstract: A conduit assembly for a fuel cell system includes a dielectric tube comprising a first end and a second end, a first metal tube including a first lip coupled to the first end of the dielectric tube, a first dielectric ring coupled to the first lip of the first metal tube, a second metal tube including a second lip coupled to the second end of the dielectric tube, and a second dielectric ring coupled to the second lip of the second metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: James Huynh, Michael Petrucha
  • Ammonia fueled SOFC system
    Patent number: 8916300
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in which ammonia is used as a fuel source for solid oxide fuel cell systems. In the various aspects a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled through one or more separation or conversion devices to create a purified recycled fuel exhaust stream that is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In various aspects a nitrogen separator may remove nitrogen from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, a water separator may remove water from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, and/or an ammonia reactor and hydrogen separator may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In a further aspect a molten carbonate fuel cell and/or Sabatier reactor may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: James McElroy, Arne Ballantine, Matthias Gottmann
  • Corrosion Resistant Barrier Layer for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack and Method of Making Thereof
    Publication number: 20140342267
    Abstract: A method of forming diffusion barrier layer includes providing an interconnect for a fuel cell stack, forming a glass barrier precursor layer over a Mn and/or Co containing electrically conductive contact layer on the interconnect, and heating the barrier precursor layer to precipitate crystals in the barrier precursor layer to convert the barrier precursor layer to a glass ceramic barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Shailendra Parihar, Emad El Batawi, Anita Pradeep Hothur
  • Methods and Devices for Printing Seals for Fuel Cell Stacks
    Publication number: 20140332145
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Stephen Couse
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 8877399
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Michael Petrucha, Martin Perry, David Edmonston, Virpaul Bains, Andy Ta, Navaneetha Krishnan
  • Fuel cell control system
    Patent number: 8872392
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a direct current (DC) signal at an inverter control system from a bus. The inverter control system includes an inverter and an inverter controller. The received DC signal is compared to a reference value. Based at least in part on the comparison, the inverter controller determines whether to adjust a magnitude of the DC signal received through the bus. The DC signal is converted to an alternating current (AC) signal with the inverter, and the AC signal is provided to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Saravana Kumar, Vishal Anand
  • Multi-layered coating providing corrosion resistance to zirconia based electrolytes
    Patent number: 8852825
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack including a plurality of SOFCs and a plurality of interconnects. Each interconnect is located between two adjacent SOFCs, and each interconnect contains a Mn or Co containing, electrically conductive metal oxide layer on an air side of the interconnect. The SOFC stack also includes a barrier layer located between the electrically conductive metal oxide layer and an adjacent SOFC. The barrier layer is configured to prevent Mn or Co diffusion from the electrically conductive metal oxide layer to the adjacent SOFC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Eric Petersen, Mina Touma, Richard Stephenson
  • Fuel cell stack module shell with integrated heat exchanger
    Patent number: 8852820
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, a base supporting the plurality of fuel cell stacks, and a metal shell located over the base and the fuel cell stacks. The metal shell contains an integrated heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Arne Ballantine
  • Iron coated chromium powder and SOFC IC made therefrom
    Patent number: 8840833
    Abstract: A component, such as a SOFC interconnect, and methods of making the component are provided using various chromium powders, including powder particles with a chromium core covered with an iron shell, a pre-alloyed Cr—Fe powder or a chromium powder produced by hydrogen reduction with hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Janousek, Shivanand I. Majagi
  • Abrasion Resistant Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrode Ink
    Publication number: 20140272114
    Abstract: A method for forming a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes co-firing the anode and cathode electrode layers, which involves placing an unfired anode onto a surface during the cathode print cycle. To avoid damage to the electrolyte and cathode production cycle by the green anode ink, an abrasion resistant ink is used to print the anode electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Oriakhi, Andres Leming, Shailendra Parihar, Richard Stephenson, Emad El Batawi
  • FUEL CELL MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20140272612
    Abstract: A modular fuel cell system includes a metal base, a plurality of power modules arranged in a row on the base, a fuel processing module and a power conditioning module arranged on at least one end of the row on the base. Each of the plurality of power modules includes a separate cabinet comprising at least one fuel cell stack located in a hot box. The power modules are electrically and fluidly connected to the fuel processing and the power conditioning modules through the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Trevisan, Christian Daco, David Baugh