Patents Assigned to Loop Energy Inc.
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Patent number: 11901591Abstract: Fuel cell assemblies comprising at least one thermally compensated coolant channel are provided. The thermally compensated coolant channel has a cross-sectional area that decreases in the coolant flow direction along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments, such thermally compensated coolant channels can be used to provide substantially uniform heat flux, and substantially isothermal conditions, in fuel cells operating with substantially uniform current density.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: Matthew Paul Paone, Sean Michael Mackinnon, Raoul Jacob Kingma, Sheilah Melissa Galati, Greg John Montie
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Patent number: 11489175Abstract: A fuel cell anode flow field includes at least one flow channel with a cross-sectional area that varies along at least a portion of its length. In some embodiments, the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the channel length according to a natural exponential function. This type of anode flow field can improve performance, reduce fuel consumption and/or reduce detrimental effects such as carbon corrosion and catalyst degradation, thereby improving fuel cell longevity and durability. When operating the fuel cell on either a substantially pure or a dilute fuel stream, this type of anode flow field can provide more uniform current density. These flow channels can be incorporated into reactant flow field plates, fuel cells and fuel cell stacks.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: David E. Leger, Greg J. Montie
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Patent number: 11060195Abstract: An electrolyzer or unitized regenerative fuel cell has a flow field with at least one channel, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel varies along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the length of the channel according to a natural exponential function. The use of this type of improved flow field channel can improve performance and efficiency of operation of the electrolyzer device.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: Sean Michael MacKinnon, Matthew Paul Paone, Raoul Jacob Kingma, Greg John Montie
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Patent number: 10930942Abstract: Fuel cell assemblies comprising at least one thermally compensated coolant channel are provided. The thermally compensated coolant channel has a cross-sectional area that decreases in the coolant flow direction along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments, such thermally compensated coolant channels can be used to provide substantially uniform heat flux, and substantially isothermal conditions, in fuel cells operating with substantially uniform current density.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: Matthew Paul Paone, Sean Michael MacKinnon, Raoul Jacob Kingma, Sheilah Melissa Galati, Greg John Montie
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Patent number: 10734661Abstract: A fuel cell power module includes a cylindrical housing encasing a fuel cell stack and an air supply. The housing has a major interior surface. The fuel cell stack can be cylindrical or hexagonal, and comprises fuel cells having an anode and an anode flow field plate, a cathode and a cathode flow field plate, and a membrane electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode. The air supply is directed to the plurality of fuel cell cathode flow field plates via a plenum defined by a space between the fuel cell stack and the housing major interior surface. The hexagonal fuel cell stack can be formed by a plurality of fuel cell groups shaped such that when aligned the fuel cell groups together constitute the hexagonal fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: LOOP ENERGY INC.Inventors: David E. Leger, Matthew P. Paone, Greg J. Montie, Sean MacKinnon, Raoul Kingma
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Patent number: 10686199Abstract: A fuel cell anode flow field includes at least one flow channel with a cross-sectional area that varies along at least a portion of its length. In some embodiments, the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the channel length according to a natural exponential function. This type of anode flow field can improve performance, reduce fuel consumption and/or reduce detrimental effects such as carbon corrosion and catalyst degradation, thereby improving fuel cell longevity and durability. When operating the fuel cell on either a substantially pure or a dilute fuel stream, this type of anode flow field can provide more uniform current density. These flow channels can be incorporated into reactant flow field plates, fuel cells and fuel cell stacks.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: David E. Leger, Greg J. Montie
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Patent number: 10062913Abstract: A fuel cell power module includes a cylindrical housing encasing a fuel cell stack and an air supply. The housing has a major interior surface. The fuel cell stack can be cylindrical or hexagonal, and comprises fuel cells having an anode and an anode flow field plate, a cathode and a cathode flow field plate, and a membrane electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode. The air supply is directed to the plurality of fuel cell cathode flow field plates via a plenum defined by a space between the fuel cell stack and the housing major interior surface. The hexagonal fuel cell stack can be formed by a plurality of fuel cell groups shaped such that when aligned the fuel cell groups together constitute the hexagonal fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: David E. Leger, Matthew P. Paone, Greg J. Montie, Sean MacKinnon, Raoul Kingma
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Patent number: 9644277Abstract: An electrolyzer or unitized regenerative fuel cell has a flow field with at least one channel, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel varies along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the length of the channel according to a natural exponential function. The use of this type of improved flow field channel can improve performance and efficiency of operation of the electrolyzer device.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: Sean Michael MacKinnon, Matthew Paul Paone, Raoul Jacob Kingma, Greg John Montie