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).
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Patent number: 11855325Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventor: Christian Lucas
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Patent number: 11837758Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 2018Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Christian Lucas, Oliver Berger
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Patent number: 11757112Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Oliver Berger, Rune Staeck, Christian Lucas
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Publication number: 20230230399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: 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.
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Patent number: 11469425Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Rune Staeck, Christian Lucas, Oliver Berger
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Patent number: 11289718Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AGInventors: Wolfgang Hable, Christian Lucas
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Patent number: 11201346Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Natalja Ermatschenko, Christian Lucas, Gerold Hübner
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Patent number: 11156234Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AGInventor: Christian Lucas
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Patent number: 10870335Abstract: It is proposed to arrange a plurality of individual separator elements (48, 49) on the first side (40) of the membrane (38) in order to provide a humidifier (37) with integrated water separator, in particular for fuel cells (11) having a water vapor permeable membrane (38) and separator elements (48, 49) for separating water, wherein the membrane (38) on a first side (40) is in contact with a first channel (41) for a first humid gas stream, and on the second side (42) is in contact with a second channel (43) for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, which allows an optimized exchange of moisture between the exhaust gas and operating medium streams of a fuel cell. Also provided is a fuel cell system and vehicle having the aforementioned humidifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck
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Patent number: 10756365Abstract: The invention relates to a water separator for separating product water from a fuel cell, a fuel cell including a water separator and a motor vehicle including a fuel cell. To design the water separator to be as compact as possible and to be able to operate it in a frost-proof manner, it is provided according to the invention that the water separator has a sealing element and a riser pipe extending through the sealing element.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Lucas, Natalja Ermatschenko
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Patent number: 10727508Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack comprising anode chambers and cathode chambers, an anode supply comprising an anode supply path for supplying an anode operating gas to the anode chambers, and an anode exhaust path for discharging an anode exhaust gas from the anode chambers, and a cathode supply comprising a cathode supply path for supplying a cathode operating gas to the cathode chambers and a cathode exhaust path for discharging a cathode exhaust gas from the cathode chambers, and comprising a negative-pressure generation means for generating a negative pressure in the cathode chambers. It is provided that the negative-pressure generation means is designed as an ejector which is connected to a compressor arranged in the cathode supply path on the pressure input side, and to the cathode chambers of the fuel cell stack on the suction side, in a fluid-conducting manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Christian Lucas, Natalja Ermatschenko, Daniel Grundei
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Patent number: 10693157Abstract: A humidifier with an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, including a housing with a first channel for a first gas stream and a second channel for a second gas stream, a humidifier area in which the first channel and the second channel are separated from one another by a water vapor-permeable membrane, and a collection container for collecting the deposited liquid water is provided. It is provided that a water separator for separating liquid water is situated in the humidifier area.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2016Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck
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Patent number: 10665871Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack having bipolar plates (10), each of which has two separator plates (12, 14) with an active region (16) and two distribution regions (18, 20) with main gas ports (22, 24) as well as a coolant main port (26), wherein the separator plates (12, 14) are formed and arranged one over the other in such a way that the respective bipolar plate (10) has separate channels (28, 30, 32) for the reaction gases and the coolant that connect the main gas port (22, 24) for the reaction gases and the coolant main port (26) of the two distribution region (18, 20) to each other. It is provided that the channels (28) for a reaction gas have an impermeable first dividing plate (38) in an inlet area (40) of the active area (16) that separates the channels (28) into two volume areas (58, 60), and in that a second main gas port (23) is provided adjacent to the first main gas port (22) in a distribution region (18) in order to supply the reaction gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AGInventors: Hannes Scholz, Jan-Philipp Brinkmeier, Daniel Grundei, Christian Lucas, Christian Schlitzberger
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Patent number: 10535886Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell arrangement (1) and a motor vehicle having a fuel cell arrangement (1). In order to be able to produce the fuel cell arrangement (1) in a compact manner and to be able to operate said fuel cell arrangement in an efficient manner, it is provided in accordance with the invention that an exhaust gas flow path (3a) of the fuel cell arrangement (1) extends through a jet pump (4).Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Christian Lucas, Natalja Ermatschenko
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Patent number: 10516178Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) in which a water separator (110) for separating liquid water from an exhaust gas (6, 4) of a fuel cell (10) of the fuel cell system (1) is fluid-mechanically coupled into an exhaust gas path (32, 22) of the fuel cell system. A water recirculator (120) is fluid-mechanically coupled into the fuel cell system (1), with the aid of which at least a portion of the water of the water separator (110) is once again providable to the fuel cell (10). Moreover, a method for recirculating water in a fuel cell system (1), in which liquid water of a fuel cell supply (30, 20) of the fuel cell system (1) is withdrawn at a removal site at/in the fuel cell supply (30, 20). The water upstream from the removal site is provided to the same fuel cell supply (30, 20) and/or to some other fuel cell supply (20, 30) of the fuel cell system (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck
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Patent number: 10483563Abstract: A cathode supply (30) for a fuel cell (10) of a fuel cell unit (1) for a fuel cell system is provided, the cathode supply (30) including a cathode supply path (31) and a cathode exhaust gas path (32) and at least two fluid pumping devices (33, 133) for pumping a cathode operating medium (5) for the fuel cell (10) are fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path (31), at least one first fluid pumping device (133) of the at least two fluid pumping devices (33, 133) being drivable only on the basis of an enthalpy in a cathode exhaust gas (6) of the fuel cell (10). A fuel cell unit for a vehicle, in particular, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell system for a vehicle, in particular, an electric vehicle, or a vehicle in particular an electric vehicle, the fuel cell unit, the fuel cell system, or the vehicle including a cathode supply (30) is provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Daniel Grundei, Christian Schlitzberger, Christian Lucas, Hannes Scholz, Jan-Philipp Brinkmeier
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Patent number: 10218014Abstract: An anode-cathode supply device for a fuel cell of a fuel cell system, including an anode supply system and a cathode supply system, which may be brought into a fluid communication with each other with the aid of an overflow line situated therebetween and through an overflow valve, the overflow valve being designed as an NC overflow valve, the NC overflow valve being closed in a de-energized state of the NC overflow valve and at a balanced pressure ratio at the NC overflow valve is provided. A method for supplying an operating medium or a device for supplying an operating medium, in particular hydrogen, from an anode to a cathode of a fuel cell of a fuel cell system, preferably a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, chronologically during and/or after the fuel cell is deactivated is also provided. A fuel cell system for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, or to a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventor: Christian Lucas
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Patent number: 10207597Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell stack; a cathode gas supply system including a cathode supply path for feeding cathode operating gas into the fuel cell stack and a cathode exhaust gas path for discharging cathode exhaust gas out of the fuel cell stack, and a fuel cell cooling system for cooling the fuel cell stack including a coolant path into which the fuel cell stack is integrated so as to transfer heat is provided. It is provided that the cathode gas supply system also includes a turbine arranged in the cathode exhaust gas path, and the coolant path of the fuel cell cooling system in the flow path of the cathode exhaust gas downstream from the turbine is in heat-transferring contact with the cathode exhaust gas path. This achieves a cooling of the coolant by the cathode exhaust gas and a heating of the cathode exhaust gas by the coolant.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Daniel Grundei, Oliver Berger, Christian Lucas, Oliver Kleppa
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Publication number: 20180370336Abstract: It is proposed to arrange a plurality of individual separator elements (48, 49) on the first side (40) of the membrane (38) in order to provide a humidifier (37) with integrated water separator, in particular for fuel cells (11) having a water vapor permeable membrane (38) and separator elements (48, 49) for separating water, wherein the membrane (38) on a first side (40) is in contact with a first channel (41) for a first humid gas stream, and on the second side (42) is in contact with a second channel (43) for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, which allows an optimized exchange of moisture between the exhaust gas and operating medium streams of a fuel cell. Also provided is a fuel cell system and vehicle having the aforementioned humidifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2016Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck
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Publication number: 20170179505Abstract: A humidifier with an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, including a housing with a first channel for a first gas stream and a second channel for a second gas stream, a humidifier area in which the first channel and the second channel are separated from one another by a water vapor-permeable membrane, and a collection container for collecting the deposited liquid water is provided. It is provided that a water separator for separating liquid water is situated in the humidifier area.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck