Patents Assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation
  • Fuel cell system including inductive heating element and method of using same
    Patent number: 10930943
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and method of operating the same, the system including: a fuel cell stack and a reaction zone configured to receive a fuel/air mixture; an electromagnetic induction glow plug configured to heat the fuel/air mixture; and an alternating current (AC) generator configured to provide an AC voltage to the glow plug. The glow plug includes a housing extending outside of the hotbox, a heating element disposed in the housing, and a coil coiled around the housing, electrically connected to the AC generator, and configured to inductively heat the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aniket Pratap, Siddharth Patel, Sumit Raj, Shraddesh Malviya, Mosur K. Premkumar, Arne Ballantine, Martin Perry, Michael Petrucha
  • Compliant contact material for fuel cells and method of making thereof
    Patent number: 10923735
    Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell stack includes applying an electrically conductive, compliant contact print ink containing an electrically conductive material, a plasticizer, a solvent, and a binder to at least one of a surface of an electrode of a fuel cell or a surface of an interconnect, and placing the fuel cell and the interconnect in the fuel cell stack such that the compliant contact print ink is located between the electrode of the fuel cell and the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Andres Leming
  • Method for joining a ceramic matrix composite to dense ceramics for improved joint strength
    Patent number: 10916793
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell stack column, and side baffles disposed on opposing sides of the column. The side baffles include side baffle plates containing at least one ceramic matrix composite (CMC) panel having at least one hole, and at least one denser ceramic element joined to the at least one CMC panel at the hole in the CMC panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Edmonston, Michael Petrucha, Martin Perry, Avinash Verma
  • Fuel cell interconnect with reduced voltage degradation and manufacturing method
    Patent number: 10873092
    Abstract: A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes contacting an interconnect powder located in a die cavity with iron, the interconnect powder including a chromium and iron, compressing the interconnect powder to form an interconnect having ribs and fuel channels on a first side of the interconnect, such that the iron is disposed on tips of the ribs; and sintering the interconnect, such that the iron forms an contact layer on the tips of the ribs having a higher iron concentration than a remainder of the interconnect. A glass containing cathode contact layer having a glass transition temperature of 900° C. or less may be located over the rib tips on the oxidant side of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sanchit Khurana, Tad Armstrong, Harald Herchen, Emily Wong, Cheng-Yu Lin
  • Storage system controller
    Patent number: 10873099
    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: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballantine, Prasad Pmsvvsv, Rakesh Kumar Roy, Badrinarayanan Thiruvengadaswamy, Rajesh Gopinath, Saravanakumar Narayanasamy, Vishal Anand Gopalakrishnan, Anilkumar Vishnuvarjula, Tad Armstrong, Ian Russell
  • Fuel cell system including high-temperature desulfurization subsystem and method of operating the same
    Patent number: 10847824
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a hot box, a stack of fuel cells disposed in the hot box, and a desulfurization subsystem. The desulfurization subsystem may include a sulfur adsorption reactor containing a metal oxide, such as ZnO, configured to adsorb sulfur species from fuel, a first fuel conduit configured to provide fuel to the reactor, and a second fuel conduit configured to receive fuel from the reactor. The desulfurization subsystem may be configured to heat the reactor to an operating temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 450° C., using heat generated in the hot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Emad El Batawi
  • Fuel cell mechanical components
    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
  • System and method for impedance testing DC power sources
    Patent number: 10809308
    Abstract: A method includes selecting a test waveform to inject to a battery from a first DC converter, determining a first resulting ripple that will be generated in response to injecting the test waveform, determining at least one offset waveform to inject to at least one second DC power source from at least one second DC converter such that one or more second ripples will be provided that will cancel the first resulting ripple if the battery is charging, injecting the test waveform to the battery, injecting the at least one offset waveform to the at least one second DC power source, determining if the first resulting ripple has been cancelled, and determining if the battery is charging or discharging based on the step of determining if the first resulting ripple has been cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Anilkumar Vishnuvarjula, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah
  • Fuel cell system for information technology loads
    Patent number: 10797514
    Abstract: A fuel cell system having a power module including at least one fuel cell segment, an input output module including at least one inverter, a rectifier, and an electric distribution module having at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. The at least one fuel cell segment may be electrically connected to the at least one inverter and may be electrically connected to an information technology (IT) load via a split bus. The at least one inverter may be electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) source via the first electrical connector of the electric distribution module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Gross, Carl Cottuli, Arne Ballantine
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 10797327
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Perry, David Weingaertner, Nilanjana Basu, Michael Petrucha, William David Lyle, Navaneetha Krishnan, Matthias Gottmann
  • Multi-layered coating providing corrosion resistance to zirconia based electrolytes
    Patent number: 10784521
    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: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Eric Petersen, Mina Touma, Richard Stephenson
  • Solid oxide fuel cell interconnect having a magnesium containing corrosion barrier layer and method of making thereof
    Patent number: 10763533
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes an interconnect body having an air surface having air flow channels and ribs and a fuel surface having fuel flow channels and ribs, an electrically conductive contact layer located on the air surface of the interconnect, the electrically conductive contact layer containing at least one of Co and Mn, and a corrosion barrier layer containing zirconium silicate and magnesium aluminosilicate crystals located over the electrically conductive contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Sanchit Khurana, Michael Gasda, Tad Armstrong
  • Systems and methods for recycling fuel cell stack components
    Patent number: 10756355
    Abstract: System and methods for refurbishing fuel cell stack components, the methods including singulating the stack using a splitting apparatus or a liquid nitrogen bath. Fuel cell debris may be removed from interconnects of the fuel cell stack using laser heating, flame heating, a die, sonication, a nubbed roller, grit blasting, and/or a high pressure fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Elson Seiki, Cheng-Yu Lin, Bijan Moslehi, Jakob Hilton, Drew Paran, Ali Delkaninia, Young Bui
  • Methods of advanced grid and microgrid support functionalities through hybrid fuel cell systems
    Patent number: 10756546
    Abstract: A method of controlling an inverter having a three phase output and a plurality of single phase loads connected to respective one of the three phases of the three phase output includes determining if a first phase of the three phase output has a heavier load than a second phase of the three phase output, and providing a higher output power from the inverter to the first phase than to the second phase if it is determined that the first phase has a heavier load than the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Prasad Pmsvvsv, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Arne Ballantine, Deepak Balakrishnan
  • SOFC cathode compositions with improved resistance to SOFC degradation
    Patent number: 10749188
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a solid oxide electrolyte with a zirconia-based ceramic, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode that includes a ceria-based ceramic component and an electrically conductive component. Another SOFC includes a solid oxide electrolyte containing a zirconia-based ceramic, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode that includes an electrically conductive component and an ionically conductive component, in which the ionically conductive component includes a zirconia-based ceramic containing scandia and at least one of ceria, ytterbia and yttria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andres Leming, Emad El Batawi, Michael Gasda, Tad Armstrong, James Wilson
  • SOFC including redox-tolerant anode electrode and system including the same
    Patent number: 10680251
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell, system including the same, and method of using the same, the fuel cell including an electrolyte disposed between an anode and a cathode. The anode includes a first layer including a metallic phase and a ceramic phase, and a second layer including a metallic phase. The metallic phase of the second layer includes a metal catalyst and a dopant selected from Al, Ca, Ce, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Nb, Pr, Ti, V, W, or Zr, any oxide thereof, or any combination thereof. The second layer may also include a ceramic phase including ytterbia-ceria-scandia-stabilized zirconia (YCSSZ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Gasda, Emad El Batawi, Tad Armstrong, Vijay Radhakrishnan, Jonathan Scholl
  • Fuel cell stack column including stress-relief components
    Patent number: 10673092
    Abstract: A fuel cell column includes termination plates, fuel cell stacks disposed between the termination plates, and fuel manifolds disposed between the fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks include fuel cells, interconnects disposed between the fuel cells, and end plates disposed on opposing ends of the fuel cell stacks. At least one of the termination plates and/or the fuel manifold may include first and second separate pieces separated by an expansion zone. The fuel cell stack may also include one or more buffer layers and/or seals configured to reduce CTE differences of components of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tad Armstrong, Michael Lesher, Christopher Lee
  • Seal compositions, methods, and structures for planar solid oxide fuel cells
    Patent number: 10669188
    Abstract: A seal composition includes a first alkaline earth metal oxide, a second alkaline earth metal oxide which is different from the first alkaline earth metal oxide, aluminum oxide, and silica in an amount such that molar percent of silica in the composition is at least five molar percent greater than two times a combined molar percent of the first alkaline earth metal oxide and the second alkaline earth metal oxide. The composition is substantially free of phosphorus oxide. The seal composition forms a glass ceramic seal which includes silica containing glass cores located in a crystalline matrix comprising barium aluminosilicate, and calcium aluminosilicate crystals located in the glass cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ananda H. Kumar, Dien Nguyen, Martin Janousek, Tad Armstrong
  • Intergrated fuel cell and energy storage systems and method of operating thereof
    Patent number: 10666058
    Abstract: An electrical power system, including a fuel cell system having a plurality of fuel cell segments and an energy storage system electrically coupled to the fuel cell system. The energy storage system including a plurality of energy storage system technologies, an energy storage system direct current (DC) bus configured to electrically connect the plurality of energy storage system technologies to the fuel cell system, and an energy storage system technologies management system configured manage impedance of the energy storage system and electric coupling of the energy storage system and the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Peter Gross, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Prasad Pmsvvsv, Carl Cottuli
  • Method of recovering metal compounds from solid oxide fuel cell scrap
    Patent number: 10651479
    Abstract: A method of recovering metal compounds from solid oxide fuel cell scrap includes processing the solid oxide fuel cell scrap to form a powder, digesting the processed scrap, extracting lanthanum oxide and cerium oxide from a solution containing the digested processed scrap, extracting a zirconium compound from the solution after extracting the lanthanum oxide and cerium oxide, and extracting scandium compound from the solution extracting the zirconium compound from the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lunzhi Liao, Christopher Jeffrey Hartley, Andrew Sarmiento