Patents by Inventor Brian Bullecks

Brian Bullecks 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).

  • Publication number: 20250167257
    Abstract: A flow field for supplying a reactant to an electrode of an electrochemical cell includes an inlet configured to receive the reactant from a reactant supply, an outlet configured to expel spent reactant, the outlet positioned on an opposite side of the flow field from the inlet, a first plate configured to contain the reactant between the first plate and the electrode across substantially an entire surface area of the electrode, and a separator plate configured to be positioned between the first plate and the electrode and to divide the reactant into a first portion and a second portion at the inlet, the separator plate having a smaller surface area than the first plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin POETTGEN, Jonathan MALWITZ, Chris HOWARD, Carl A. WILLMAN, Brian BULLECKS, Lawrence J. NOVACCO
  • Publication number: 20240313239
    Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. Improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode. A second baffle can be used to create a pressure drop at the anode or cathode exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher HOWARD, Brandon J. O'NEILL, Paul J. RUBAS, Frank HERSHKOWITZ, Lu HAN, Lawrence J. NOVACCO, Frank J. DOBEK, JR., Keith E. DAVIS, Brian BULLECKS
  • Patent number: 11978931
    Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow for introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. It has been discovered that improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Christopher Howard, Brandon J. O'Neill, Paul J. Rubas, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Lawrence J. Novacco, Frank J. Dobek, Jr., Keith E. Davis, Brian Bullecks
  • Publication number: 20220255095
    Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow for introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. It has been discovered that improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Howard, Brandon J. O'Neill, Paul J. Rubas, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Lawrence J. Novacco, Frank J. Dobek, Keith David, Brian Bullecks