Patents by Inventor Akiji Ando
Akiji Ando has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11961989Abstract: A control method for a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system including a hydrogen storage part and a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage part, the fuel cell system being mounted on a towed portion of a moving body that includes the towed portion and a towing portion, the fuel cell system being electrically connected to the towing portion, the towing portion including a battery and a drive device performing driving in response to supply of electric power, the towed portion being towed by the towing portion, the control method includes: acquiring remaining amount information indicating a remaining amount of the battery, and starting supply of electric power to the towing portion when it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is equal to or less than a threshold based on the remaining amount information.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshikazu Murakami, Shinji Matsunaga, Takashi Arai, Akiji Ando, Takashi Yanagiura, Kazunori Yamamoto
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Patent number: 11799155Abstract: A housing that houses a fuel cell system including: a hydrogen storage unit having a hydrogen supply/discharge hole and capable of storing hydrogen; a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using the supplied hydrogen; a pipe having one end connected to the supply/discharge hole and the other end connected to the fuel cell stack, and supplying the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage unit to the fuel cell stack; and a power storage unit that stores at least electric power obtained by electric power generation performed by the fuel cell stack, the housing includes: a first portion, in which the power storage unit is disposed on a lower surface portion of the housing; and a second portion, in which the supply/discharge hole, the fuel cell stack, and the pipe are provided, the second part being located higher than an upper surface portion of the power storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshikazu Murakami, Shinji Matsunaga, Takashi Arai, Akiji Ando
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Patent number: 11791490Abstract: A housing that houses a fuel cell system including: a hydrogen storage unit; a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage unit; a pipe that connects the hydrogen storage unit and the fuel cell stack; and a power storage unit, the housing includes: an upper surface portion; a plurality of side surface portions; a ventilation hole, provided with the upper surface portion, configured to ventilate an inside and an outside of the housing; a ventilation hole, provided with a side surface portion of the plurality of side surface portions, configured to ventilate the inside and the outside of the housing; and an air supply device configured to discharge air taken in through one ventilation hole of the ventilation hole of the upper face portion and the ventilation hole of the side face portion from the other ventilation hole.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshikazu Murakami, Shinji Matsunaga, Takashi Arai, Akiji Ando
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Patent number: 11769891Abstract: A fuel cell system (300) in which, at the time of starting up a first fuel cell set (109a) and a second fuel cell set (109b), one of a first air supply unit (102a) or a second air supply unit (102b) is driven and then the another air supply units is driven so that electric power of the another air supply units reaches a peak after an output voltage of the one of the fuel cell stacks reaches the first output value.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinnosuke Sato, Akiji Ando, Joji Nakashima
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Patent number: 11769892Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle includes: a fuel cell stack; a refrigerant circulation passage connected to the fuel cell stack; a refrigerant circulation pump arranged in the refrigerant circulation passage and configured to circulate a refrigerant; and a controller configured to control a power generation amount of the fuel cell stack according to a request driving force of the vehicle and control the refrigerant circulation pump. The controller is configured to set a rotational speed of the refrigerant circulation pump within a range equal to or lower than a rotational speed upper limit based on a temperature of the fuel cell stack, and the controller sets the rotational speed upper limit lower at a time a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a stop determination value as compared with a time the vehicle speed is higher than the stop determination value.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Daiki Nagata, Akiji Ando
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Patent number: 11637305Abstract: A power generation control system includes a plurality of fuel cell systems mounted in an electric device that operates using electric power, a battery mounted in the electric device, and a control device configured to control each of the plurality of fuel cell systems on the basis of states of the plurality of fuel cell systems, a state of the battery, and required power of the plurality of fuel cell systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Daishi Igarashi, Akiji Ando, Nobutaka Nakajima, Kenji Taruya, Joji Nakashima
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Publication number: 20220320545Abstract: A fuel cell system (300) in which, at the time of starting up a first fuel cell set (109a) and a second fuel cell set (109b), one of a first air supply unit (102a) or a second air supply unit (102b) is driven and then the another air supply units is driven so that electric power of the another air supply units reaches a peak after an output voltage of the one of the fuel cell stacks reaches the first output value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Shinnosuke Sato, Akiji Ando, Joji Nakashima
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Publication number: 20220311033Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle includes: a fuel cell stack; a refrigerant circulation passage connected to the fuel cell stack; a refrigerant circulation pump arranged in the refrigerant circulation passage and configured to circulate a refrigerant; and a controller configured to control a power generation amount of the fuel cell stack according to a request driving force of the vehicle and control the refrigerant circulation pump. The controller is configured to set a rotational speed of the refrigerant circulation pump within a range equal to or lower than a rotational speed upper limit based on a temperature of the fuel cell stack, and the controller sets the rotational speed upper limit lower at a time a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a stop determination value as compared with a time the vehicle speed is higher than the stop determination value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Daiki NAGATA, Akiji ANDO
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Publication number: 20220140381Abstract: A housing that houses a fuel cell system including: a hydrogen storage unit; a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage unit; a pipe that connects the hydrogen storage unit and the fuel cell stack; and a power storage unit, the housing includes: an upper surface portion; a plurality of side surface portions; a ventilation hole, provided with the upper surface portion, configured to ventilate an inside and an outside of the housing; a ventilation hole, provided with a side surface portion of the plurality of side surface portions, configured to ventilate the inside and the outside of the housing; and an air supply device configured to discharge air taken in through one ventilation hole of the ventilation hole of the upper face portion and the ventilation hole of the side face portion from the other ventilation hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshikazu MURAKAMI, Shinji MATSUNAGA, Takashi ARAI, Akiji ANDO
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Publication number: 20220140424Abstract: A control method for a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system including a hydrogen storage part and a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage part, the fuel cell system being mounted on a towed portion of a moving body that includes the towed portion and a towing portion, the fuel cell system being electrically connected to the towing portion, the towing portion including a battery and a drive device performing driving in response to supply of electric power, the towed portion being towed by the towing portion, the control method includes: acquiring remaining amount information indicating a remaining amount of the battery, and starting supply of electric power to the towing portion when it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is equal to or less than a threshold based on the remaining amount information.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshikazu MURAKAMI, Shinji MATSUNAGA, Takashi ARAI, Akiji ANDO, Takashi YANAGIURA, Kazunori YAMAMOTO
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Publication number: 20220140423Abstract: A housing that houses a fuel cell system including: a hydrogen storage unit having a hydrogen supply/discharge hole and capable of storing hydrogen; a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using the supplied hydrogen; a pipe having one end connected to the supply/discharge hole and the other end connected to the fuel cell stack, and supplying the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage unit to the fuel cell stack; and a power storage unit that stores at least electric power obtained by electric power generation performed by the fuel cell stack, the housing includes: a first portion, in which the power storage unit is disposed on a lower surface portion of the housing; and a second portion, in which the supply/discharge hole, the fuel cell stack, and the pipe are provided, the second part being located higher than an upper surface portion of the power storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshikazu MURAKAMI, Shinji MATSUNAGA, Takashi ARAI, Akiji ANDO
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Publication number: 20220077481Abstract: A power generation control system includes a plurality of fuel cell systems mounted in an electric device that operates using electric power, a battery mounted in the electric device, and a control device configured to control each of the plurality of fuel cell systems on the basis of states of the plurality of fuel cell systems, a state of the battery, and required power of the plurality of fuel cell systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Daishi Igarashi, Akiji Ando, Nobutaka Nakajima, Kenji Taruya, Joji Nakashima
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Patent number: 10050292Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, includes driving a pump to supply an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The pump has a minimum supply amount of the oxidant gas. A fuel gas is supplied to the anode electrode to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. It is determined whether a target amount of the oxidant gas to be supplied to the cathode electrode is lower than the minimum supply amount. An opening degree of a pressure adjusting valve is adjusted to adjust an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode to be the target amount when the target amount is determined to be lower than the minimum supply amount.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Osamu Ogami, Yusai Yoshimura, Akiji Ando
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Publication number: 20170250416Abstract: A fuel cell control method includes detecting a state value indicating a state in a fuel cell during an operation of the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a separator stacked on the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. It is determined whether a liquid connects the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the separator based on the state value detected. The fuel cell is dried in a case where it is determined that the liquid connects the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya WATANABE, Akiji ANDO
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Publication number: 20170250422Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, includes driving a pump to supply an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The pump has a minimum supply amount of the oxidant gas. A fuel gas is supplied to the anode electrode to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. It is determined whether a target amount of the oxidant gas to be supplied to the cathode electrode is lower than the minimum supply amount. An opening degree of a pressure adjusting valve is adjusted to adjust an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode to be the target amount when the target amount is determined to be lower than the minimum supply amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuki KOIWA, Osamu OGAMI, Yusai YOSHIMURA, Akiji ANDO
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Patent number: 9413021Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of achieving both of improving purge efficiency and preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and a control method of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a circulation rate adjusting unit that adjusts a circulation rate of a circulation gas, a first startup purge unit that performs the first startup purge by opening a purge valve in a state where the circulation rate of the circulation gas is increased to be a mixing promotion rate capable of promoting mixing of the fuel gas with the circulation gas at system startup of the fuel cell system, and a second startup purge unit that performs the second startup purge by opening the purge valve in a state where the gas circulation rate is reduced to be less than the mixing promotion rate after the first startup purge.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Osamu Ohgami, Akiji Ando, Koichiro Miyata
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Patent number: 9368818Abstract: A humidification control method includes the steps of detecting a direct current resistance component by measuring impedance during power generation of a fuel cell stack, calculating a reaction resistance component based on the detected direct current resistance component and a stack voltage, detecting a humidified state of the fuel cell stack based on the detected direct current resistance component and the calculated reaction resistance component, and adjusting a quantity of humidification of a reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected humidified state of the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Mohri, Junji Uehara, Hiromichi Yoshida, Kenichiro Ueda, Shinya Watanabe, Akiji Ando
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Patent number: 9318760Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell, a voltage difference between voltages of a first unit cell and a second unit cell is detected. Whether the voltage difference is out of a predetermined range is determined. If the voltage difference is determined to be out of the predetermined range, humidity of a first reactant gas before being supplied to a first reactant gas passage is adjusted or humidity of a second reactant gas before being supplied to a second reactant gas passage is adjusted. The first reactant gas passage is provided in a first separator. The first reactant gas is to be supplied to one of first electrodes through the first reactant gas passage. The second reactant gas is to be supplied to another of the first electrodes through the second reactant gas passage.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Junji Uehara, Masahiro Mohri, Hiromichi Yoshida, Kenichiro Ueda, Shinya Watanabe, Akiji Ando
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Patent number: 8993186Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas passage, and an oxidant gas passage. The fuel cell includes a solid polymer membrane, a fuel electrode, and an oxidant electrode. A coolant flows into the fuel cell via a coolant passage to adjust a temperature of the fuel cell. An oxidant gas outlet temperature detector is configured to detect an outlet temperature of an oxidant gas discharged from an outlet of the oxidant gas passage. A coolant temperature detector is configured to detect a temperature of the coolant passing through an inlet or an outlet of the coolant passage. A dry-up controller is configured to decide that the solid polymer membrane is in a dry-up state when a temperature difference between the temperature of the coolant and the outlet temperature of the oxidant gas exceeds a first threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichiro Furusawa, Toshikatsu Katagiri, Akiji Ando, Kentaro Nagoshi
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Publication number: 20140322623Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of achieving both of improving purge efficiency and preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and a control method of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a circulation rate adjusting unit that adjusts a circulation rate of a circulation gas, a first startup purge unit that performs the first startup purge by opening a purge valve in a state where the circulation rate of the circulation gas is increased to be a mixing promotion rate capable of promoting mixing of the fuel gas with the circulation gas at system startup of the fuel cell system, and a second startup purge unit that performs the second startup purge by opening the purge valve in a state where the gas circulation rate is reduced to be less than the mixing promotion rate after the first startup purge.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Osamu OHGAMI, Akiji ANDO, Koichiro MIYATA