Patents by Inventor Amit Nayar

Amit Nayar 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).

  • Patent number: 8524408
    Abstract: A method for preventing a fuel cell voltage potential reversal including determining a relationship between the cell resistance and the current of a fuel cell stack at which a fuel cell voltage potential reversal will occur, operating the fuel cell stack according to a power demand requested, and determining the maximum cell resistance of the fuel cells in the stack. If the maximum cell resistance exceeds a threshold value for the current at which the fuel cell stack is being operated, the operation of the fuel cell stack is restricted to prevent the fuel cell voltage potential from reversing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yeh-Hung Lai, Pinkhas A. Rapaport, Amit Nayar
  • Publication number: 20130157167
    Abstract: A reduced gas crossover fuel cell membrane and method of making. The fuel cell member includes an electrode layer with a catalyst and an electrochemically-active first ionomer and an overcoat layer disposed on the electrode layer. The overcoat layer is made of the same or different second ionomer relative to the first ionomer of the electrode layer with at least one reduced gas crossover characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott L. Peters, Amit Nayar, Ruichun Jiang
  • Publication number: 20110195324
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering cell voltage loss in a PEM fuel cell stack that include operating the stack at conditions that provide excess water that flushes away contaminants deposited on the cell electrodes. Two techniques are described that both operate the stack at a relatively low temperature and a cathode inlet RH above saturation. The first technique also includes providing hydrogen to the anode side of the stack and air to the cathode side of the stack, and operating the stack at a relatively low cell voltage. The second technique also includes flowing hydrogen to the anode side of the stack and nitrogen to the cathode side of the stack, using an external power source to provide a stack current density, and providing an anode humidity level that is significantly higher than the cathode humidity level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jingxin Zhang, Lesley Paine, Amit Nayar, Rohit Makharia
  • Publication number: 20110076581
    Abstract: A method for preventing a fuel cell voltage potential reversal including determining a relationship between the cell resistance and the current of a fuel cell stack at which a fuel cell voltage potential reversal will occur, operating the fuel cell stack according to a power demand requested, and determining the maximum cell resistance of the fuel cells in the stack. If the maximum cell resistance exceeds a threshold value for the current at which the fuel cell stack is being operated, the operation of the fuel cell stack is restricted to prevent the fuel cell voltage potential from reversing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yeh-Hung Lai, Pinkhas A. Rapaport, Amit Nayar
  • Publication number: 20100099011
    Abstract: A method and device for operating a fuel cell system. The method includes applying a catalyst ink or related liquid that contains an electrocatalyst and electrolyte to a diffusion media so that the portion of the media that includes the electrocatalyst can function as a fuel cell electrode, specifically an anode or cathode. In addition to the electrocatalyst and electrolyte, the ink contains a solvent and a co-solvent, where the co-solvent has a boiling point that exceeds that of the solvent. Heating or related processing removes the solvent from the diffusion layer, but leaves at least some of the co-solvent in liquid form. This residual liquid reduces the likelihood of electrode cracking that may otherwise form during subsequent electrode processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: BRADLEY M. HOUGHTALING, AMIT NAYAR
  • Patent number: 7229832
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Amit Nayar, Renxuan Liu, Richard R. Willis, Eugene R. Smotkin
  • Patent number: 6923939
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Amit Nayar, Renxuan Liu, Richard R. Willis, Eugene S. Smotkin
  • Publication number: 20040224204
    Abstract: A high throughput screening device for combinatorial chemistry, comprising a membrane electrode assembly, an array of sensor electrodes and one or more common electrodes, wherein a total cross-sectional area of the one or more common electrodes is greater than a sum of the cross-sectional areas of the sensor electrodes is disclosed. This device obtains performance data from each and every array electrode simultaneously and does not require the movement of any electrode during data acquisition. Some application among many possible applications of the device of this invention is in the development and evaluation of catalysts (anode and cathode catalysts) for fuel cells and electrolysis systems. One embodiment of the invention relates to relates to an array fuel cell (FC) that utilizes a counter electrode flow field and a multiple inlet gas fed array electrode flow field that permits the evaluation of 25 fuel cell electro-catalyst surfaces simultaneously or in groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: NuVant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene S. Smotkin, Amit Nayar
  • Publication number: 20040077096
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Amit Nayar, Renxuan Liu, Richard R. Willis, Eugene S. Smotkin