Patents Assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation
  • Method of fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack
    Patent number: 10079393
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack that include providing a protective layer over at least one surface of an interconnect formed by powder pressing pre-alloyed particles containing two or more metal elements and annealing the interconnect and the protective layer at elevated temperature to bond the protective layer to the at least one surface of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Avinash Verma, Ravi Oswal, Brandon Dawson, Brian Bollinger, Harald Herchen, Tad Armstrong
  • Method of refining of scandium oxide from concentrates using solvent extraction
    Patent number: 10047414
    Abstract: A method of selectively removing impurities from a scandium-containing feed solution includes contacting an aqueous scandium-containing solution with an organic solvent stream containing an extractant, thereby forming a loaded organic solvent stream containing the impurity or impurities while leaving the scandium in the raffinate. The aqueous stream containing the scandium is washed, diluted and has inorganic salts added before being contacted with a second organic solvent stream to extract the scandium selectively, and followed by stripping the scandium from the scandium-containing loaded organic extractant stream by adding oxalic acid to the loaded organic extractant stream to form scandium oxalate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lunzhi Liao, Christopher Jeffrey Hartley, Justin McAllister, Andrew Sarmiento
  • Hermetic high temperature dielectric conduit assemblies
    Patent number: 10050298
    Abstract: A conduit assembly for a fuel cell system includes an inner dielectric tube having a first end and a second end, a first metal tube including a first lip coupled to the first end of the inner 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 inner dielectric tube, a second dielectric ring coupled to the second lip of the second metal tube, and an outer dielectric tube having a first end and a second end, coupled to the inner dielectric tube, the first dielectric ring and the second dielectric ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Huynh, Michael Petrucha
  • Composition and processing of metallic interconnects for SOFC stacks
    Patent number: 9993874
    Abstract: A chromium-iron interconnect includes at least one of Fe rich regions in the interconnect and carbon in the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION, STACKPOLE INTERNATIONAL POWDER METAL, ULC
    Inventors: Rohith Shivanath, Brendan Ayre, Tad Armstrong, Michael Gasda, Daniel Darga, Harald Herchen, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah, Brandon Dawson, Ravi Oswal
  • Electrolyte supported cell designed for longer life and higher power
    Patent number: 9991540
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a solid oxide electrolyte having a fuel inlet riser opening and a fuel outlet riser opening. The electrolyte is located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The SOFC also includes a ceramic support layer on the electrolyte. The ceramic support is layer located around the at least one of a periphery of the electrolyte or at least partially around perimeters of the fuel inlet and fuel outlet riser openings. The ceramic support layer comprises a multi-component material comprising yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and alpha alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Eric Petersen, Richard Stephenson
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 9991526
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Perry, David Edmonston
  • Fuel cell system with variable frequency drive for support equipment
    Patent number: 9972852
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable the operation of fuel cell system support equipment using variable frequency drives and power from fuel cells and/or grid power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Chad Pearson, Rajesh Gopinath, Carl Cottuli, James Daniel Smith
  • Air cooled fuel cell system
    Patent number: 9961797
    Abstract: An air-cooled electronics module is disclosed. The air-cooled electronics module includes a housing and a heat exchanger disposed within the housing and separating the housing into a first portion and a second portion. The air-cooled electronics module also includes one or more electronic components disposed within the first portion, and one or more additional electronic components disposed within the second portion. The air-cooled electronics module further includes at least one fan configured to blow air into the second portion. The air in the first portion is substantially stagnant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Deepak Balakrishnan, Rajkannu Govindan, Navaneetha Krishnan, David Trevisan, Arne Ballantine, Jessica Mahler, Ross Parker, Zachary Odenheimer, Gilbert Richards
  • Method of measurement and estimation of the coefficient of thermal expansion in components
    Patent number: 9958406
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and/or estimating a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of a component of a fuel cell system. A CTE measurement technique includes securing a measurement member over a surface of the component via a seal having a melting point, heating the seal above its melting point of the seal, cooling the component, measurement member and seal to a second temperature below the melting point of the seal, and determining the CTE of the component based on the change in the span of the measurement member after cooling. A fuel cell component characterization technique includes measuring an electrical resistivity (ER), conductivity (EC), resistance or conductance of the component, measuring at least one additional property of the component which, together with ER, EC, resistance or conductance, correlates to the CTE of the component, and sorting the component based on the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Lin, Daniel Darga, Michael Groesch, Harald Herchen, Vijay Srivatsan
  • Methods and systems for detecting defects in a fuel cell stack
    Patent number: 9945815
    Abstract: A method for testing a fuel cell stack includes providing a fluid, such as an ammonia-containing fluid, in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack, detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector, such as an ammonia detector, positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the fuel cell stack that is separated from the first portion of the fuel cell stack and determining the presence of a defect in the stack based on detecting the presence of the fluid. Further embodiments relate to testing a fuel cell stack using a microphone that detects an audio signal indicative of a stack defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Wilson, Arne Ballantine, Matthias Gottmann, Tad Armstrong, Martin Perry, David Edmonston, Michael Lesher, Joshua Baime
  • Modular fuel cell system
    Patent number: 9947955
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a base, a cover dome removably positioned on the base, and a plurality of fuel cell stacks removably positioned on the base below the cover dome. A modular fuel cell system includes a plurality of the fuel cell stack modules, where each fuel cell stack module may be electrically disconnected, removed from the fuel cell system, repaired or serviced without stopping an operation of the other fuel cell stack modules in the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Swaminathan Venkataraman, William David Lyle, Arne Ballantine
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 9941525
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Navaneetha Krishnan, Nilanjana Basu, Ram Ramanan
  • Fuel cell interconnect with reduced voltage degradation over time
    Patent number: 9923211
    Abstract: A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes providing a chromium alloy interconnect and providing a nickel mesh in contact with a fuel side of the interconnect. Formation of a chromium oxide layer is reduced or avoided in locations between the nickel mesh and the fuel side of the interconnect. A Cr—Ni alloy or a Cr—Fe—Ni alloy is located at least in the fuel side of the interconnect under the nickel mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Andres Leming, Shailendra Parihar, Michael Gasda
  • Fuel cell system with partial recycling of anode exhaust
    Patent number: 9911989
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream having a temperature above 200 C, lowering a temperature of the fuel exhaust stream to 200 C or less, separating the fuel exhaust stream into a first separated fuel exhaust stream and a second separated fuel exhaust stream, and recycling the first separated fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James McElroy, Swaminathan Venkataraman, John Finn, M. Douglas LeVan, Fred Mitlitsky
  • Method for solid oxide fuel cell fabrication
    Patent number: 9882219
    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: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Patrick Munoz, Dien Nguyen
  • Structure and method for indicating undesirable constituents in a fuel cell system
    Patent number: 9859580
    Abstract: An optical detection system for detecting undesirable constituents in a fuel cell system includes a sensing material configured to change color in the presence of the undesirable constituents and at least one sensor configured to register the change in color of the sensing material. The sensor is coupled to a corresponding light source. The sensing material, the sensor and the light source are enclosed in a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, David Trevisan, Venkat Ramani, Emma Campbell, Jessica Mahler, Michael Wright, Jeffrey W. Schrieber
  • Corrosion resistant barrier layer for a solid oxide fuel cell stack and method of making thereof
    Patent number: 9853298
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shailendra Parihar, Emad El Batawi, Anita Pradeep Hothur
  • Thermal processing of interconnects
    Patent number: 9847520
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods of fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack. Methods for controlled pre-oxidation of an interconnect include oxidizing in a nitride-inhibiting environment to inhibit the formation of nitrides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shivanand Majagi, Harald Herchen, Sanjiv Kapoor, Michael Gasda, Chung-Dee Pong, Avinash Verma
  • Methods and systems for fuel cell stack sintering and conditioning
    Patent number: 9837670
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sintering and conditioning fuel cell stacks utilizing channel guides, baffles, and internal compression systems are provided. Sintering and conditioning may be performed utilizing a fuel cell column cartridge assembly and fuel cell stacks may be sintered and conditioned at the system level during the same annealing cycle on the same support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Nathan Ben Erlin, Kurt Risic, Stephen Couse, David Edmonston
  • Fuel cell stack compression devices and methods
    Patent number: 9812729
    Abstract: A spring compression assembly is configured to apply a load to a stack of electrochemical cells. The assembly includes a ceramic leaf spring, a tensioner configured to apply pressure to a first side of the spring and a bottom plate located on a second side of the spring opposite the first side of the spring. The bottom plate is configured to transfer a load from the spring to the stack of electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Edmonston, Michael Petrucha, Martin Perry, Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, William David Lyle