Patents Examined by Matthew J Merkling
  • Patent number: 11760949
    Abstract: A two-stage syngas production method to produce a final product gas from a carbonaceous material includes producing a first product gas in a first reactor, separating char from the first product gas to produce separated char and char-depleted product gas, and separately reacting the separated char and the char-depleted product gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a second reactor to produce a final product gas. The separated char is introduced into the second reactor above the char-depleted product gas. The solids separation device may include serially connected cyclones, and the separated char may be entrained in a motive fluid in an eductor to produce a char and motive fluid mixture prior to being transferred to the second reactor. A biorefinery method produces a purified product from the final product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo
  • Patent number: 11757121
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell capable of generating power by receiving a supply of a reformed gas and an oxidant gas; an oxidant gas supply device that supplies the oxidant gas to the fuel cell; a reforming unit that supplies the reformed gas to the fuel cell; a fuel supply device that supplies a fuel which is a raw material for the reformed gas to the reforming unit; a combustion unit that combusts discharged gases of the fuel cell, wherein the reforming unit can reform the fuel into the reformed gas by exchanging heat with a combustion gas produced by the combustion unit; and a first control unit controls the fuel supply device to additionally supply the fuel to the fuel cell through the reforming unit in order to prevent the oxidant gas from flowing in from downstream of a fuel electrode of the fuel cell at the time of stopping the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuto Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 11757122
    Abstract: An electrochemical module including, a stack obtained by stacking, in a predetermined stacking direction, a plurality of electrochemical elements having a configuration in which an electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a counter electrode layer are formed along a substrate, via an annular sealing portion through which first gas, that is one of reducing component gas and oxidative component gas, flows; a container including an upper cover for pressing a first flat face in the stacking direction of the stack and a lower cover for pressing a second flat face on a side opposite to the first flat face, the stack clamped between the upper cover and the lower cover; an elastic lower plate-like member arranged between the first flat face and the upper cover; and a first gas supply portion and a first gas discharge portion connected to the second flat face in communication with the annular sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Shinke, Kazuyuki Minami, Mitsuaki Echigo
  • Patent number: 11749813
    Abstract: A bipolar plate faces an electrode of a redox flow battery and includes an introduction channel and a discharge channel of an electrolyte. One of the introduction channel and the discharge channel is a groove-like flow channel that is formed in a surface of the bipolar plate, and the other of the introduction channel and the discharge channel is a pipe-like flow channel that is formed in an inside of the bipolar plate. The bipolar plate includes a communication hole that communicates with the pipe-like flow channel from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Kanno
  • Patent number: 11746958
    Abstract: A high pressure container system is equipped with an upstream side pressure sensor that measures an internal pressure of high pressure containers upstream of a pressure regulating valve, a plurality of downstream side pressure sensors that measure the pressure of the fluid downstream of the pressure regulating valve, and a control device. At a normal time of the downstream side pressure sensors, a control device monitors the internal pressure of the high pressure containers on the basis of the measured values of the downstream side pressure sensors, and at an abnormal time when any one of the downstream side pressure sensors is abnormal, the control device monitors the internal pressure of the high pressure containers on the basis of the measured values of the downstream side pressure sensors, and the measured value of the upstream side pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kawase, Koichi Takaku, Kazuyuki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 11749822
    Abstract: Methods and devices and aspects thereof for generating power using PEM fuel cell power systems comprising a rotary bed (or rotatable) reactor for hydrogen generation are disclosed. Hydrogen is generated by the hydrolysis of fuels such as lithium aluminum hydride and mixtures thereof. Water required for hydrolysis may be captured from the fuel cell exhaust. Water is preferably fed to the reactor in the form of a mist generated by an atomizer. An exemplary 750 We-h, 400 We PEM fuel cell power system may be characterized by a specific energy of about 550 We-h/kg and a specific power of about 290 We/kg. Turbidity fixtures within the reactor increase turbidity of fuel pellets within the reactor and improve the energy density of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Stimits, Russell Barton, Douglas A. Knight, Iain M. Fraser, Hao Huang, Sandra H. Withers-Kirby, Philbert C. Spencer, Piotr Marcin Kleszyk, Hossein Ostadi
  • Patent number: 11749799
    Abstract: A cathode active material includes a plurality of cathode active compound particles and a coating disposed over each of the cathode active compound particles. The coating includes a lithium (Li)-ion conducting oxide containing lanthanum (La) and titanium (Ti).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Huiming Wu, Hongli Dai, Dapeng Wang, Hakim H. Iddir, Anh Vu, John David Carter, Xiaoping Wang, Yan Li, Zhenzhen Yang, Yanjie Cui, James Gilbert, Christopher S. Johnson, Arthur Jeremy Kropf
  • Patent number: 11749806
    Abstract: A positive electrode as an example of an embodiment includes a positive electrode current collector, a positive electrode mixture layer which is disposed on at least one surface side of the positive electrode current collector, and an intermediate layer which is interposed between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode mixture layer. The intermediate layer contains insulating inorganic particles having a thermal conductivity of less than 50 W/mK, highly thermal conductive particles having a thermal conductivity of 50 W/mK or more, a thermoplastic resin, and polyvinylidene fluoride. The content of the inorganic particles is 50% by mass or more relative to the mass of the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiki Shimada
  • Patent number: 11738305
    Abstract: Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Element 1 Corp
    Inventors: David J. Edlund, Robert Todd Studebaker
  • Patent number: 11742505
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a controller that controls an amount of air flow to be supplied from an air blower included in an oxygen-containing gas supply to a cell stack to cause a power level (in amperes) of a fuel cell controllable by a power level regulator (power conditioner) and an air utilization to have an increase-control section in which the air utilization increases in accordance with an increase in the power level of the fuel cell and a decrease-control section in which the air utilization decreases in accordance with an increase in the power level. The air utilization is a ratio of an air amount used by the fuel cell for power generation to an oxygen-containing gas (air) amount supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: KYOCERA Corporation, DAINICHI CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kyosuke Yamauchi, Mitsutaka Shimada
  • Patent number: 11731877
    Abstract: Herein disclosed are apparatus and associated methods related to producing an enhanced surface area biochar product with a desired activation level based on receiving biochar into a processing vessel configured with multiple independently temperature-controlled chambers and counter-flow steam injection, controlling activation levels of the biochar by moving the biochar through the processing vessel and adjusting the temperature of the biochar by injecting steam into at least one temperature-controlled chamber of the processing vessel, recovering volatiles driven off through dehydration using a thermal oxidizer, cooling the biochar to a desired discharge temperature using steam and retention time, and discharging the activated biochar product. The processing vessel may be a calciner, a rotary calciner, or a kiln. Biochar may be heated or cooled to a desired thermochemical processing temperature depending on the temperature of the received biochar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ARIES CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Regnery, Joel Thornton, Matt Newman, Brandon Davis
  • Patent number: 11735757
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer, fuel cell stacks, and an exhaust-gas combustor. The reformer has a tubular shape extending in an axial direction and reforms raw fuel into combustion gas. The fuel cell stacks generate electric power from the fuel gas and oxidant gas. The fuel cell stacks are arranged radially outward of the reformer in a circumferential direction to face the reformer in a radial direction. The exhaust-gas combustor burns fuel gas that is not used and included in exhaust gas from the fuel cell stacks. The exhaust-gas combustor is arranged radially inward of the reformer to face the reformer in the radial direction. Each fuel cell stack includes flat plate type cells stacked in the radial direction. This achieves downsizing of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhide Okazaki, Yoshinobu Takaki, Kotaro Yagi, Masato Kawami, Takashi Ogawa, Naohiro Nakataya, Masao Oku
  • Patent number: 11735759
    Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided comprising a fuel cell stack which is formed from a plurality of unit cells stacked one above the other in a stacking direction, each unit cell having one or more media channels and a membrane electrode assembly that comprises a cathode, an anode and a membrane arranged between the cathode and the anode, and comprising a media duct running substantially parallel to the stacking direction. The media duct is connected or can be connected to the fuel cell stack to conduct a medium into or out of the media channels of the unit cells of the fuel cell stack substantially laterally to the stacking direction, and comprises duct flanges that are connected at least indirectly to each other and can be connected or are connected to the fuel cell stack. The duct flanges of the media duct are inserted into flange receptacles of the fuel cell stack running substantially parallel to the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Markus Gretzer, Norbert Kluy
  • Patent number: 11724606
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery pack for a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack includes: multiple battery cells, a housing, a first end plate, a second end plate, a bearing plate and an upper cover, wherein the housing is provided with a bottom portion and side walls extending from the periphery of the bottom portion and forming an upper portion opening; the housing is configured for accommodating the multiple battery cells and the two end plates, when the multiple battery cells are sequentially arranged and mounted into the housing, the first end plate and the second end plate are located at two end sides of the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells to laterally fix the multiple battery cells; the bearing plate is mounted above the top portions of the multiple battery cells; and the upper cover is mounted above the housing to cover the upper portion opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: CPS Technology Holdings LLC, Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Binbin Fan, Liang Cheng, Wei Qu, Peng Song, Yingyao Fu, Chang Liu, Jason D. Fuhr, Martin Wiegmann, Xugang Zhang, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 11725155
    Abstract: An organic material gasification system is configured such that a carbonization furnace provided with a first air supply mechanism that radiates high-temperature combustion air and high-temperature steam to an organic material combustion region and with a second air supply mechanism that supplies combustion air to an exhaust gas combustion region, to discharge high-temperature exhaust gas is connected to a gasification furnace including a heating unit penetrating through a reactor. A carbide from the carbonization furnace is supplied to the reactor, and the high-temperature exhaust gas from the carbonization furnace is supplied to the heating unit, so that the carbonization efficiency and the carbonization quality are improved and the gasification efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: STREET DESIGN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kajiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11728520
    Abstract: The present invention provide a non-aqueous electrolyte for use in static or non-flowing rechargeable electrochemical cells or batteries, wherein the electrolyte comprises a first deep eutectic solvent comprises a zinc salt, a second deep eutectic solvent comprising one or more quaternary ammonium salts, and a hydrogen bond donor. Another aspect of the present invention also provides a non-flowing rechargeable electrochemical cell that employs the non-aqueous electrolyte of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Eos Energy Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Hertzberg
  • Patent number: 11728495
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a combined cooling circuit for a motor vehicle that provides a method of cooling a fuel cell of a fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: AUDI AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jan-Christoph Albrecht, Jan-Philipp Brinkmeier, Oliver Berger, Frank Jürgen Engler, Carsten Wachsmuth
  • Patent number: 11721827
    Abstract: A fuel cell device comprises a fuel cell stack which is formed from a plurality of unit cells stacked one above the other in a stacking direction, each unit cell having one or more media channels and a membrane electrode assembly that comprises a cathode, an anode, and a membrane arranged between the cathode and the anode, and comprising a media duct running substantially parallel to the stacking direction. The media duct is connected or can be connected to the fuel cell stack to conduct a medium into or out of the media channels of the unit cells of the fuel cell stack substantially laterally to the stacking direction. The media duct is formed as a functional component or such a functional component is integrated therein, which is formed to pre-treat the medium before it enters the media channels or to post-treat the medium after it has exited the media channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Markus Gretzer, Norbert Kluy
  • Patent number: 11718802
    Abstract: Applying heat from a heat source to a first region to cause a first pyrolysis process, the first pyrolysis process resulting in a gaseous mixture, and applying heat from the heat source to a second region to cause a second pyrolysis process, the second pyrolysis process being applied to the gaseous mixture, wherein the second region is located closer to the heat source than the first region. Pyrolysis is used to destroy oils, tars and/or PAHs in carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: STANDARD GAS LIMITED
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Donegan
  • Patent number: 11715845
    Abstract: An all solid battery including: a first electrode include a first current collector, and a first active material layer bonded to the first current collector; a first solid electrolyte layer bonded to a surface of the first active material layer opposite the first current collector; a second solid electrolyte layer bonded to a surface of the first solid electrolyte layer opposite the first active material layer; a second electrode including a second current collector, and a second active material layer bonded to the second current collector and a surface of the second solid electrolyte layer opposite the first solid electrolyte layer, wherein the first solid electrolyte layer extends farther than the second current collector in a direction away from a first surface of the all solid battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiratsuchi Tomoyuki, Ryo Omoda