Patents Examined by Alex Usyatinsky
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Patent number: 9166238Abstract: A system and method for regulating the pressure within a volume between a pressure regulator and an injector that injects hydrogen gas into the anode side of a fuel cell stack. The method includes delaying a copy of the a pulsed signal that controls the opening and closing of the injector a predetermined period of time and provides a bias signal from a look-up table that is determined by a desired average mass flow of the hydrogen gas flow to the fuel cell stack and the pressure at an upstream location of the hydrogen gas flow from the pressure regulator. The method selects the bias signal as a pressure regulator control signal that controls the pressure regulator when the delayed pulse injector signal is high and selects an arbitrary value at or near zero as the pressure regulator control signal when a delayed pulse injector is low.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Oliver Maier, Michael Leykauf
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Patent number: 9162220Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst material comprising an electrically conducting support material, a proton-conducting, polyazole-based polymer and a catalytically active material. A catalyst material prepared by the process of the invention. A catalyst ink comprising a catalyst material of the invention and a solvent. A catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and also catalytically active layers comprising a catalyst material of the present invention. A gas diffusion electrode (GDE) comprising a gas diffusion layer and a catalytically active layer comprising a catalyst material of the invention. A membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, catalytically active layers comprising a catalyst material of the invention, and gas diffusion layers. And a fuel cell comprising a membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Ömer Ünsal, Sigmar Bräuninger, Claudia Querner, Ekkehard Schwab
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Patent number: 9147912Abstract: A method of producing an electrical potential by way of a rechargeable battery with a positive electrode of lead and a negative electrode of highly pure zinc. The electrolyte is an aqueous solution of an alkali metal bisulfate. Upon discharge, lead dioxide is reduced to lead sulfate, zinc is oxidized to zinc oxide, and the electrolyte is converted to an alkali metal hydroxide. The reactions are reversed when the battery is charged.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Inventor: John E. Stauffer
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Patent number: 9148085Abstract: A drive circuit comprising a DC bus configured to supply power to a load, a first fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a first power output to the DC bus, and a second fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a second power output to the DC bus supplemental to the first fuel cell. The drive circuit further includes an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to receive energy from the DC bus when a combined output of the first and second fuel cells is greater than a power demand from a load, and provide energy to the DC bus when the combined output of the first and second fuel cells is less than the power demand from the load.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Dean King, Timothy Gerard Richter
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Patent number: 9142855Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte for an electrochemical device. The electrolyte includes a composite of a plastic crystal matrix electrolyte doped with an ionic salt and a crosslinked polymer structure. The electrolyte has high ionic conductivity comparable to that of a liquid electrolyte due to the use of the plastic crystal, and high mechanical strength comparable to that of a solid electrolyte due to the introduction of the crosslinked polymer structure. Further disclosed is a method for preparing the electrolyte. The method does not essentially require the use of a solvent. Therefore, the electrolyte can be prepared in a simple manner by the method. The electrolyte is suitable for use in a cable-type battery whose shape is easy to change due to its high ionic conductivity and high mechanical strength.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Yo-Han Kwon, Je-Young Kim, Sang-Young Lee, Byung-Hun Oh, Ki-Tae Kim, Hyo-Jeong Ha
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Patent number: 9136556Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure, wherein a plurality of first unit electrodes and a second electrode sheet are wound so that the first unit electrodes are opposite to the second electrode sheet via a separator sheet, and a first electrode and a second electrode have opposite polarities.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Jihoon Cho, Dongmyung Kim, Kiwoong Kim, Sung-Min Hwang, Hyun-Chul Jung, Sungjin Kwon, Hyeong Kim, Ki Hong Min
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Patent number: 9123931Abstract: Redox flow battery systems having a supporting solution that contains Cl? ions can exhibit improved performance and characteristics. Furthermore, a supporting solution having mixed SO42? and Cl? ions can provide increased energy density and improved stability and solubility of one or more of the ionic species in the catholyte and/or anolyte. According to one example, a vanadium-based redox flow battery system is characterized by an anolyte having V2+ and V3+ in a supporting solution and a catholyte having V4+ and V5+ in a supporting solution. The supporting solution can contain Cl? ions or a mixture of SO42? and Cl? ions.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Liyu Li, Soowhan Kim, Zhenguo Yang, Wei Wang, Zimin Nie, Baowei Chen, Jianlu Zhang, Guanguang Xia
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Patent number: 9123938Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nonaqueous-electrolyte battery that exhibits high charge/discharge performance, i.e. high input/output performance, over a long period of time. This nonaqueous-electrolyte battery, in which a nonaqueous electrolyte and a group of electricity-generation elements that each have a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator that isolates said positive electrode and negative electrode are sealed inside a battery case, is characterized in that the negative electrodes contain graphite having an edge/surface ratio (fe), as defined by the following equation, of 0.03-0.1. fe=(2B/La+T/d002)/(2B/d100+T/d002). In this equation, B represents the mean grain diameter of the graphite, T represents the grain thickness, La represents the a-axis crystallite size, d002 represents the spacing between (002) planes, and d100 represents the spacing between (100) planes.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Sasaki, Toru Kojima
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Patent number: 9118086Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery, which includes a lithium salt, a nonaqueous organic solvent and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of vitamin G (vitamin B2, riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacinamide), vitamin B4 (adenine), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin H (vitamin B7, biotin), vitamin M (vitamin B9, folic acid), vitamin BX (4-aminobenzoic acid), vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), ascorbyl palmitate, and sodium ascorbate.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoon-sok Kang, Seok-soo Lee, Won-chang Choi, Jin-hwan Park, Mi-jeong Song
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Patent number: 9105880Abstract: The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard Goettler, Zhien Liu
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Patent number: 9105905Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing anode materials for use in nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. In the present invention, a metal-semiconductor alloy layer is formed on an anode material by contacting a portion of the anode material with a solution containing metals ions and a dissolution component. When the anode material is contacted with the solution, the dissolution component dissolves a part of the semiconductor material in the anode material and deposit the metal on the anode material. After deposition, the anode material and metal are annealed to form a uniform metal-semiconductor alloy layer. The anode material of the present invention can be in a monolithic form or a particle form. When the anode material is in a particle form, the particulate anode material can be further shaped and sintered to agglomerate the particulate anode material.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: ENOVIX CORPORATIONInventors: Murali Ramasubramanian, Robert M. Spotnitz
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Patent number: 9103044Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide electrolytic manganese dioxide to be used as a cathode active material for an alkali-manganese dry cell, which has a high alkali potential and is provided with a high reactivity and packing efficiency as a cathode for the cell, and which is excellent in the middle rate discharge characteristic, and electrolytic manganese dioxide excellent in the high rate discharge characteristic and the middle rate discharge characteristic, which will not cause corrosion of metal materials, and a method for its production. In the present invention, electrolytic manganese dioxide having an alkali potential of at least 280 mV and less than 310 mV, and FWHM of at least 2.2° and at most 2.9°, is used. It is preferred that of the electrolytic manganese dioxide, the (110)/(021) peak intensity ratio in the X-ray diffraction peaks is at least 0.50 and at most 0.80, and the (110) interplanar spacing is at least 4.00 ? and at most 4.06 ?.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: TOSOH CORPORATIONInventors: Kazumasa Suetsugu, Kenichi Takahashi, Akinori Eshita
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Patent number: 9105886Abstract: A coolant demineralizer is disclosed for a fuel cell, which removes ions released from coolant for cooling a fuel cell stack to pipes. In particular the demineralizer reduces the occurrence of differential pressure due to an ion resin layer such that the coolant smoothly flows through the demineralizer, thereby maximizing the effect of filtering ions and, at the same time, the utilization of the ion resin. To this end, the demineralizer includes a housing having an inlet port, through which coolant is introduced to pass through an interior space of the housing, and an outlet port through which the coolant is discharged; and a filter member having a plate-shape such that the coolant introduced through the inlet port passes through the filter member in a direction perpendicular to the filter member.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sung Wook Na, Hun Woo Park
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Patent number: 9093682Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a reforming chamber housing a hydrocarbon-water mixture and receiving a control voltage signal to cause molecular breakdown of the mixture and create a feed of hydrogen and carbon and dioxide that can be supplied to fuel cells. The reforming chamber includes multiple electrodes positioned across from a ground plane inside a cylindrical support structure. An input tube receives and directs the mixture to the vertical cavity where the mixture rises past the electrodes. Mixture that is not broken down is recycled back to the bottom of the vertical cavity by a fan while the resultant hydrogen and carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to a trap that separates the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide. The hydrogen can then be directed to the fuel cells or other hydrogen-dependent devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: 19 Space Energy, LLCInventors: Babak Fahimi, Daniel Christopher Dial
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Patent number: 9085491Abstract: A carbon-containing lithium titanium oxide containing spherical particle aggregate with a diameter of 1-80 ?m, consisting of lithium titanium oxide primary particles coated with carbon. Also, a method for the production of such a carbon-containing lithium titanium oxide as well as an electrode containing such a carbon-containing lithium titanium oxide as active material as well as a lithium-ion secondary battery containing an above-described electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Sued-Chemie IP GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jasmin Dollinger, Andreas Pollner, Michael Holzapfel, Nicolas Tran, Norbert Schall, Max Eisgruber
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Patent number: 9083048Abstract: One example includes a battery case sealed to retain electrolyte, an electrode disposed in the battery case, the electrode comprising a current collector formed of a framework defining open areas disposed along three axes (“framework”), the framework electrically conductive, with active material disposed in the open areas; a conductor electrically coupled to the electrode and sealingly extending through the battery case to a terminal disposed on an exterior of the battery case, a further electrode disposed in the battery case, a separator disposed between the electrode and the further electrode and a further terminal disposed on the exterior of the battery case and in electrical communication with the further electrode, with the terminal and the further terminal electrically isolated from one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Francis Wang, Lisa B. Schmalhurst, Joseph E. Sunstrom, Ignacio Chi, Steven P. Findell
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Patent number: 9083016Abstract: An anode exhaust recycle turbocharger (100) has a turbocharger turbine (102) secured in fluid communication with a compressed oxidant stream within an oxidant inlet line (218) downstream from a compressed oxidant supply (104), and the anode exhaust recycle turbocharger (100) also includes a turbocharger compressor (106) mechanically linked to the turbocharger turbine (102) and secured in fluid communication with a flow of anode exhaust passing through an anode exhaust recycle loop (238) of the solid oxide fuel cell power plant (200). All or a portion of compressed oxidant within an oxidant inlet line (218) drives the turbocharger turbine (102) to thereby compress the anode exhaust stream in the recycle loop (238). A high-temperature, automotive-type turbocharger (100) replaces a recycle loop blower-compressor (52).Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Tommy Skiba, Kirtikumar H. Patel
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Patent number: 9083058Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which enables formation of a nonaqueous-electrolyte battery having high capacity and excellent storage characteristics at high temperatures, while sufficiently enhancing safety at the time of overcharge. A nonaqueous-electrolyte battery produced by using the nonaqueous electrolytic solution is also disclosed. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprises an electrolyte and a nonaqueous solvent, and includes any of specific nonaqueous electrolytic solutions (A) to (D).Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATIONInventors: Yumiko Nakagawa, Minoru Kotato, Daisuke Noda, Shinichi Kinoshita
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Patent number: 9077011Abstract: Redox flow battery systems having a supporting solution that contains Cl? ions can exhibit improved performance and characteristics. Furthermore, a supporting solution having mixed SO42? and Cl? ions can provide increased energy density and improved stability and solubility of one or more of the ionic species in the catholyte and/or anolyte. According to one example, a vanadium-based redox flow battery system is characterized by an anolyte having V2+ and V3+ in a supporting solution and a catholyte having V4+ and V5+ in a supporting solution. The supporting solution can contain Cl? ions or a mixture of SO42? and Cl? ions.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Liyu Li, Soowhan Kim, Zhenguo Yang, Wei Wang, Zimin Nie, Baowei Chen, Jianlu Zhang, Guanguang Xia
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Patent number: 9059448Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane, which comprises the steps of: removing a part of a salt component produced during polycondensation from a polymerization solution of a polymer electrolyte having a density of an ionic group of 2 mmol/g or more directly by centrifugal separation, thereby preparing a coating solution; applying the coating solution on a substrate by casting; removing a part of a solvent from the coating solution to form a film-shaped material on the substrate; and bringing the film-shaped material on the substrate into contact with water and/or an aqueous acidic solution to remove the salt component produced during the polycondensation. According to the method for producing an electrolyte membrane, even an electrolyte having a high density of an ionic group can be purified. Also disclosed is an electrolyte membrane capable of being used in a fuel cell which is operated at a high temperature higher than 80° C.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Shinya Adachi, Mayumi Hara, Tomonori Kawakami, Masayuki Kidai