Patents by Inventor Dario Ceffa

Dario Ceffa 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).

  • Back-up fuel cell electric generator comprising a compact manifold body, and methods of managing the operation thereof
    Patent number: 9065097
    Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRO POWER SYSTEMS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pierpaolo Cherchi, Luca Mercante, Andrea Musso, Dario Ceffa, Luisa Borello, Giuseppe Gianolio
  • BACK-UP FUEL CELL ELECTRIC GENERATOR COMPRISING A COMPACT MANIFOLD BODY, AND METHODS OF MANAGING THE OPERATION THEREOF
    Publication number: 20120135326
    Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: ELECTRO POWER SYSTEMS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pierpaolo Cherchi, Luca Mercante, Andrea Musso, Dario Ceffa, Luisa Borello, Giuseppe Gianolio