Patents by Inventor Christian Lucas

Christian Lucas 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: 20240102106
    Abstract: Described herein are methods that define cellular populations that are sensitive to RARA agonists and identify patient populations that will benefit from treatment with RARA agonists. The methods may comprise administering RARA agonists to patient populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Robert McKeown, Christopher M. Fiore, Matthew Lucas Eaton, Emily Payton Lee, Christian Fritz
  • Patent number: 11855325
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells received between two end plates, at least one end plate of which has flow channels formed therein with ports for the anode fresh gas and the anode exhaust gas as well as ports for the cathode fresh gas and the cathode exhaust gas, wherein a hygroscopic material forms the wall between the ports for the anode exhaust gas and the cathode fresh gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventor: Christian Lucas
  • Patent number: 11837758
    Abstract: A humidification system for a fuel cell system is provided, comprising a feed line for supplying cathode gas which is to be or is humidified, to a heat exchanger, further comprising a liquid supply and an eddy generator, located upstream of the liquid supply, for generating eddies in the flowing cathode gas. A fuel cell system comprising a humidification system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Christian Lucas, Oliver Berger
  • Publication number: 20230343974
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell device comprises at least one solid oxide fuel cell comprising a cathode, an anode, and a solid electrolyte layer separating the cathode from the anode, in which the anode is fluidically connected to an anode supply line for the supply of fuel and an anode exhaust gas line for taking away the anode exhaust gas, and in which the cathode is connected to a cathode gas supply, wherein the anode exhaust gas line is fluidically connected to a storage line for the storing of carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas in a tank, in which there is connected at least one stage of a compressor for the compressing of the anode exhaust gas and one heat exchanger, downstream from the compressor, for the cooling of the anode exhaust gas compressed by the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventor: Christian LUCAS
  • Publication number: 20230317985
    Abstract: A method for operating a solid oxide fuel cell device is provided, which includes: using waste heat arising during the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell to produce cold by means of a refrigeration machine integrated in a refrigeration circuit for cooling of the exhaust gas at the anode side, condensing the water in the exhaust gas arising at the anode side with the aid of the refrigeration machine by a first water condenser, separating the water by a water separator, compressing the CO2 exhaust gas flow at the anode side, wherein the cooling power produced by the refrigeration machine is used for cooling of the CO2 exhaust gas flow, and storing the compressed CO2 in a CO2 storage. A solid oxide fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having a solid oxide fuel cell device are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventor: Christian LUCAS
  • Patent number: 11757112
    Abstract: A humidifier has a plurality of humidifier modules that are clamped between end plates by tie rods and have a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, in which on both sides of the membrane there is respectively arranged a flow field frame having a multiplicity of webs defining a flow field. The tie rods are configured as hollow rods forming coolant tubes for a coolant to be led through. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having such a humidifier are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Oliver Berger, Rune Staeck, Christian Lucas
  • Publication number: 20230275242
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell device comprises a fuel cell stack, with a fuel tank which is connected to the fuel cell stack at the anode side by an anode supply line, being associated with a jet pump into which an anode recirculation line empties, having a compressor which is connected to the fuel cell stack at the cathode side by a cathode supply line, being associated with an air preheater, through which a cathode exhaust gas line is led for the transfer of heat from the cathode exhaust gas. In the anode supply line, upstream from a driving nozzle of the jet pump, there is arranged a heat exchanger, which is integrated with the jet pump, to which heat from the cathode exhaust gas can be supplied by an exchanger line. A fuel cell vehicle having a solid oxide fuel cell device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Christian LUCAS, Harald HEINRICH
  • Publication number: 20230249574
    Abstract: A method is provided for control of a system of charging points composed of at least two charging points, each of which is outfitted with at least one solid oxide fuel cell and with a high-voltage battery electrically connected or electrically connectible to the solid oxide fuel cell, where the charging points are adapted to provide electrical charging current via a converter at an interface for connection to a battery operated consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventor: Christian LUCAS
  • Publication number: 20230230399
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the responsibility of the user significantly by applying an optical system that can identify container like sample tubes with respect to their characteristics, e.g., shapes and inner dimensions, from their visual properties by capturing images from a rack comprising container and processing said images for reliably identifying a container tyle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Volker von Einem, Timo Ottenstein, Jaiganesh Srinivasan, Christian Luca, Andra Petrovai, Dan-Sebastian Bacea, Nicoleta-Ligia Novacean, Demetrio Sanchez-Martinez, Mark Wheeler, Christopher Almy, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220352529
    Abstract: A fuel cell plate for distributing a reactant at an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell has a plate body in which at least one flow field is incorporated, comprising at least one duct. The plate body has hygroscopic and electrically conductive properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Christian LUCAS, Rune STAECK
  • Patent number: 11469425
    Abstract: A humidifier comprises at least one humidifier module, which has a membrane permeable to water vapor and respectively on both sides of the membrane, a flow field frame with at least two walls defining a flow channel. A thermal bridge with an increased thermal conductivity compared to the membrane protrudes through the membrane. A fuel cell device comprises such a humidifier and a motor vehicle includes a fuel cell device comprising such a humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Rune Staeck, Christian Lucas, Oliver Berger
  • Publication number: 20220278348
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells received between two end plates, at least one end plate of which has flow channels formed therein with ports for the anode fresh gas and the anode exhaust gas as well as ports for the cathode fresh gas and the cathode exhaust gas, wherein a hygroscopic material forms the wall between the ports for the anode exhaust gas and the cathode fresh gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventor: Christian LUCAS
  • Patent number: 11289718
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system and a correspondingly configured fuel cell system, comprising a fuel cell stack, an anode supply with a hydrogen reservoir, an anode supply path connecting the hydrogen reservoir to the fuel cell stack, a recirculation path connecting a fuel cell outlet to the anode supply path, and a conveying device for conveying recirculated anode exhaust gas. The method provides for a tank mass flow supplied from the hydrogen reservoir to the anode circuit to be determined by balancing the material flows supplied to and discharged from the anode circuit, wherein the tank mass flow enters the balancing as a material flow supplied to the anode circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hable, Christian Lucas
  • Publication number: 20220052358
    Abstract: A humidifier comprises at least one humidifier module, which has a membrane permeable to water vapor and respectively on both sides of the membrane, a flow field frame with at least two walls defining a flow channel. A thermal bridge with an increased thermal conductivity compared to the membrane protrudes through the membrane. A fuel cell device comprises such a humidifier and a motor vehicle includes a fuel cell device comprising such a humidifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Rune STAECK, Christian LUCAS, Oliver BERGER
  • Patent number: 11201346
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a plurality of fuel cells comprising a membrane electrode assembly and at least one gas diffusion layer, which fuel cells are divided into at least one first fuel cell segment having a portion of the plurality of fuel cells and a second fuel cell segment having a different portion of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the first fuel cell segment and the second fuel cell segment are arranged in a common fuel cell cascade, wherein the first fuel cell segment comprises a first collector inlet line for an operating medium and a first collector outlet lined which is formed integrally with a second collector inlet line of the second fuel cell segment and wherein the second fuel cell segment comprises a second collector outlet line. The membrane electrode assemblies and/or the gas diffusion layers inside the second fuel cell segment are designed in such a way that they are more water-repellent than those of the first fuel cell segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Natalja Ermatschenko, Christian Lucas, Gerold Hübner
  • Publication number: 20210384532
    Abstract: A humidifier for a fuel cell device has a plurality of flow field frames, between each of which there is arranged a humidifier membrane. A plurality of cooling flow field frames formed identical to the flow field frames, between each of which there is arranged a separating plate, form an integrated intercooler. A motor vehicle having a humidifier with integrated intercooler is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Christian LUCAS
  • Patent number: 11156234
    Abstract: An ejector with a suction nozzle is disclosed, with a drive nozzle and with a mixing tube, to which is assigned an adjustment device for the at least region-wise adjustment of a flow cross-section of the mixing tube. Inside the drive nozzle, an axially movable needle which is designed to adjust a flow cross-section of the drive nozzle is arranged and a coupling mechanism is provided which connects the adjustment device to the needle or to an actuator actuating the needle in such a way that the adjustment device adjusts or changes the flow cross-section of the mixing tube as a function of an axial needle movement. A fuel cell system with such an ejector is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Christian Lucas
  • Publication number: 20210320311
    Abstract: A humidifier has a plurality of humidifier modules that are clamped between end plates by tie rods and have a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, in which on both sides of the membrane there is respectively arranged a flow field frame having a multiplicity of webs defining a flow field. The tie rods are configured as hollow rods forming coolant tubes for a coolant to be led through. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having such a humidifier are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver BERGER, Rune STAECK, Christian LUCAS
  • Publication number: 20210288343
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a plurality of fuel cells comprising a membrane electrode assembly and at least one gas diffusion layer, which fuel cells are divided into at least one first fuel cell segment having a portion of the plurality of fuel cells and a second fuel cell segment having a different portion of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the first fuel cell segment and the second fuel cell segment are arranged in a common fuel cell cascade, wherein the first fuel cell segment comprises a first collector inlet line for an operating medium and a first collector outlet lined which is formed integrally with a second collector inlet line of the second fuel cell segment and wherein the second fuel cell segment comprises a second collector outlet line. The membrane electrode assemblies and/or the gas diffusion layers inside the second fuel cell segment are designed in such a way that they are more water-repellent than those of the first fuel cell segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Natalja ERMATSCHENKO, Christian LUCAS, Gerold HÜBNER
  • Publication number: 20210066732
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one membrane electrode assembly arranged in a housing, a cathode supply having a compressor, and a device for housing ventilation, the device for housing ventilation having a medium pressure tap associated with the compressor. Such a fuel cell system may be used to perform a method for cathode recirculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk JENSSEN, Christian LUCAS