Patents by Inventor Akinari Nakamura
Akinari Nakamura 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: 8318365Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention comprises a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power using a fuel gas, a fuel gas generator (2) configured to generate a fuel gas containing hydrogen using a raw material, a combustion burner (2a) configured to heat the fuel gas generator, a combustion fan (2b) configured to supply air to a combustion burner (2a), and a controller (101). The raw material is filled inside the fuel cell (1) before the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell. The controller (101) controls on-off valves (8, 9) to cause the fuel gas to branch to flow to a second path (R2) and to a fourth path (R4) when the fuel gas generated in the fuel gas generator (2) starts to be supplied to the fuel cell (1).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Akinari Nakamura
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Publication number: 20120295170Abstract: The fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel cell, a reformer, a carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a first raw material supply source, a first valve which is provided to a first raw material flow passage, a second valve which is provided downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a second raw material supply source which supplies a raw material to the inside of a flow passage which is closed by the first valve and the second valve from downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, and a control unit which controls the first valve and the second valve, wherein the control unit, after the first valve and the second valve are closed, supplies the raw material fed from the second raw material supply source to the inside of the flow passage closed by the first valve and the second valve at the time of stopping the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventors: Akinari NAKAMURA, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Yoshikazu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120237840Abstract: Included are: a power generation unit configured to generate electric power by consuming a raw material gas that has passed through a gas meter, the gas meter being configured to, if a state where continuously stopping a flow of the raw material gas for a reset period or longer is not performed has continued for a first upper limit period or longer, exert at least one of a function of outputting an abnormality indication signal and a function of blocking the flow of the raw material gas; a raw material gas supply device configured to supply the raw material gas to the power generation unit; and a controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2010Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Junji Morita, Koichi Kusumura, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
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Patent number: 8263281Abstract: A stable and high reliability fuel cell electricity-generating device capable of generating electricity even in the case of sudden drop of load power includes a fuel cell generating electric power from a fuel and an oxidizer, a fuel processor producing fuel to be supplied into the fuel cell from an electricity-generating material, a combustion device combusting a residual fuel gas unconsumed in the fuel cell to raise the temperature of the fuel processor, and an electric power generation instructor determining the electric power generated by the fuel cell, wherein when the electric power generation instructor either decreases or prevents a decrease in the electric power generated by the fuel cell upon a decrease of load power to be supplied, depending on the temperature of the fuel processor.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masataka Ozeki, Akinari Nakamura, Shinji Miyauchi
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Patent number: 8257873Abstract: The fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel cell, a reformer, a carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a first raw material supply source, a first valve which is provided to a first raw material flow passage, a second valve which is provided downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a second raw material supply source which supplies a raw material to the inside of a flow passage which is closed by the first valve and the second valve from downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, and a control unit which controls the first valve and the second valve, wherein the control unit, after the first valve and the second valve are closed, supplies the raw material fed from the second raw material supply source to the inside of the flow passage closed by the first valve and the second valve at the time of stopping the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinari Nakamura, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Yoshikazu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120219872Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator; a burner; an air supply device; a fuel cell; a condenser configured to condense an exhaust reducing gas to recover condensed water, the exhaust reducing gas being discharged from the fuel cell; a condensed water tank configured to store the condensed water recovered by the condenser; a water level detector configured to detect a water level in the condensed water tank; a degasifier configured to remove a carbonic acid component contained in the condensed water by using an exhaust oxidizing gas discharged from the fuel cell; a water conveyance passage configured to connect the condensed water tank and the degasifier and including a water sealing structure at a portion thereof; a water level changing unit configured to change the water level in the condensed water tank; and a controller, and the controller causes the water level changing unit to change the water level in the condensed water tank, and when the water level detecType: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2010Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshikazu Tanaka, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
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Patent number: 8241807Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power by a reaction between fuel and an oxidizing agent; a cooling passage (3) through which a first heat medium for cooling down the fuel cell (1) flows; a heat exchanger (5) disposed on the cooling passage (3); and an exhaust heat recovery passage (7) through which a second heat medium which exchanges heat with the first heat medium by the heat exchanger (5) flows, wherein a deceleration portion (7c) configured to reduce a flow velocity of the second heat medium and a bubble release portion (7d) configured to discharge bubbles in the deceleration portion (7c) to an outside of the exhaust heat recovery passage (7) are disposed on the exhaust heat recovery passage (7).Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Akinari Nakamura
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Publication number: 20120115052Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell (101) and includes a medium circulation passage (71), a heat medium tank (102), a first circulator (105), a recovered water tank (104), a water circulation passage (72), a second circulator (108), a water purifier (109), a temperature detector (111), and a controller (110). The heat medium circulation passage (71) and the water circulation passage (72) are configured so as to realize heat exchange between a heat medium and water. The controller (110) executes a circulation operation in which when the temperature detector (111) detects a temperature lower than a first temperature capable of sterilizing microorganisms, the second circulator (108) is caused to operate such that the temperature detected by the temperature detector (111) becomes the first temperature or higher.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hirofumi Kokubu, Koichi Kusumura, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
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Publication number: 20120107703Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing fuel gas from a material gas and steam; a fuel cell (101) configured to generate electric power by using a fuel gas supplied from the reformer (1); a water tank (3) configured to store water; a water utilizing device configured to utilize the water supplied from the water tank (3); a first water supply unit (5) disposed on a water passage (30) extending from the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device and configured to supply the water in the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device; and a purifier (4) disposed on the water passage (30) and configured to purify the water flowing through the water passage (30), and the purifier (4) is provided such that when a water level of the water tank (3) is a full water level, the purifier (4) is filled with the water by the weight of the water.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Junji Morita, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
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Patent number: 8158295Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell configured to generate electric power using a fuel; a fuel processor configured to generate the fuel from a power generation material and supply the fuel to the fuel cell; composition-related information acquiring means (22) for acquiring composition-related information related to the composition of the power generation material; and control parameter setting means (111) for setting control parameters for the fuel cell system based on the acquired composition-related information, the control parameters being related to a composition of the power generation material.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Akinari Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120077097Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell apparatus; an exhaust gas passage through which an exhaust gas from the fuel cell apparatus is discharged; and a water tank configured to store water present within the exhaust gas. The water tank includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, and a communication part which is configured to allow the first reservoir and the second reservoir to communicate with each other at a lower part of the water tank. The second reservoir of the water tank is provided with a drain outlet which is disposed above the communication part. The exhaust gas passage is connected to the first reservoir of the water tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hirofumi Kokubu, Koichi Kusumura, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
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Publication number: 20120077101Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) comprising: a fuel cell (1) for generating electric power using a fuel gas; a fuel gas generator section (2) for generating the fuel gas using a raw material gas; a combustor section (2a) for generating heat energy to be used for generating the fuel gas; an air feeder section (2b) for feeding air when the heat energy is generated; and a controller section (101); wherein the fuel cell is filled with the raw material gas before the fuel gas is fed, and wherein the controller section (101) performs a control operation such that the feed rate of air supplied from the air feeder section (2b) to the combustor section (2a) increases when the fuel gas generated in the fuel gas generator section (2) is supplied to the fuel cell (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Terumaru Harada, Akinari Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara
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Publication number: 20120070753Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a fuel processor including a reformer and a selective oxidizer configured to cause a reaction between carbon monoxide contained in a reformed gas and oxygen in air, an air blower configured to send air for use in power generation to a cathode of the fuel cell and to send air for use in a selective oxidation reaction to the selective oxidizer; a cathode air passage, one end of which is connected to the cathode of the fuel cell and the other end of which is connected to the air blower; a selective oxidation air passage, one end of which is connected to a branching point, on the cathode air passage, at which the selective oxidation air passage branches off from the cathode air passage, and the other end of which is connected to the selective oxidizer; a selective oxidation air meter configured to measure the flow rate of air supplied to the selective oxidizer; and a controller configured to control the air blower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata, Shigeki Yasuda
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Publication number: 20120064421Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator configured to generate a fuel gas through a reforming reaction by using a raw fuel; a combustor configured to heat the hydrogen generator; an on-off valve configured to open/block a gas passage through which the gas that is sent out from the hydrogen generator is supplied to the combustor; a combustion air supply device configured to supply combustion air to the combustor; an ignition device provided at the combustor; and a controller. In a case where flame extinction has occurred at the combustor during generation of a hydrogen-containing gas in a start-up process, the controller performs an ignition operation of the ignition device with the on-off valve kept opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshio Tamura, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Koichi Kusumura, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinari Nakamura
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Publication number: 20120040260Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (1); a water circulation passage through which water circulates, the water being necessary for an operation of a fuel cell system (100); a separation mechanism configured to divide the water circulation passage into a plurality of blocks when removing the water and to cut the flow of the water among the blocks; water discharge passages respectively connected to the blocks; and water discharge valves respectively provided on the water discharge passages.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Junji Morita, Akinari Nakamura, Akinori Yukimasa, Takayuki Urata
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Publication number: 20120021320Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a first circulation passage (2) through which circulates a primary cooling medium to recovery the exhaust heat of the fuel cell system (100); a heat storage unit (5) configured to store a secondary cooling medium which has recovered heat from the primary cooling medium; a heat exchanger (4) where heat exchange takes place between the primary cooling medium and the secondary cooling medium; a second circulation passage (30A), not passing through the heat storage unit (5), through which circulates the secondary cooling medium to exchange heat with the primary cooling medium; a first circulator (6) configured to cause the primary cooling medium to circulate through the first circulation passage (2); a second circulator (8) configured to cause the secondary cooling medium to circulate through the second circulation passage (30A); a heater (200) configured to heat the secondary cooling medium; and a controller (40) configured to perform, for inhibiting freezing of the primary cooType: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koichi Kusumura, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinari Nakamura
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Publication number: 20120003554Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed in which the oxidative degradation of an anode of a fuel cell during an operation stop period is restrained.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masataka OZEKI, Akinari Nakamura, Hideo Ohara, Yoshikazu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20110300459Abstract: A stable and high reliability fuel cell electricity-generating device capable of generating electricity even in the case of sudden drop of load power. A fuel cell generating electric power from a fuel and an oxidizer, a fuel processor producing fuel to be supplied into the fuel cell from an electricity-generating material, a combustion device combusting a residual fuel gas unconsumed in the fuel cell to raise the temperature of the fuel processor, and an electric power generation instructing means of determining the electric power generated by the fuel cell, wherein when the electric power generation instructing means decreases the electric power generated by the fuel cell depending on the decrease of load power to be supplied, the rate at which the generated electric power is decreased is made different depending on the change of the temperature of the fuel processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masataka Ozeki, Akinari Nakamura, Shinji Miyauchi
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Patent number: 8067122Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided, the system comprising: a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power by use of a fuel gas; a reformer (2) configured to generate the fuel gas by reforming a raw material; a combustion burner (2a) configured to supply heat for reforming; a raw material feeder (10) configured to control the feed rate of combustion fuel to the combustion burner; a combustion fan (2b) configured to supply air to the combustion burner; a fuel gas passage (R1, R4); an off gas passage (R3, R5); a bypass passage (R2); a switching valve (8); and a controller (101), wherein the inside of the fuel cell is filled with the raw material before the fuel gas is supplied, and wherein the controller controls the raw material feeder so as to reduce the feed rate of the combustion fuel to the combustion burner when controlling the switching valve so as to shut off the bypass passage to supply the fuel gas generated in the reformer to the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masataka Ozeki, Akinari Nakamura, Hideo Ohara
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Publication number: 20110269038Abstract: The possibility of carbon deposition from a raw material gas is made lower than before in a pressure compensating operation carried out after stopping the stop process of a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including the hydrogen generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Junji Morita, Akinari Nakamura