Patents by Inventor Darren B. Hickey

Darren B. Hickey 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: 11923578
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a thermal balance in a solid oxide reversible fuel cell system comprising a solid oxide reversible fuel cell, an air intake for providing air to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and a steam reformer fluidly coupled to the solid oxide fuel cell for providing fuel to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell. The method comprising operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a forward mode in which the steam former receives natural gas and produces hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide to be provided to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a reverse mode in which the steam reformer receives hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide from the solid oxide reversible fuel cell and produces natural gas and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Darren B. Hickey
  • Publication number: 20230170512
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a fuel cell product assembly comprising a foundational frame assembly comprising a frame rail, a hot box cover removably supported by the foundational frame assembly to define a hot box area, one or more fuel cell assemblies housed in the hot box area and configured to produce electricity, and plumbing configured to supply a fuel or an oxidant to the one or more fuel cell assemblies, wherein at least a portion of the plumbing routes through and is protected by a longitudinal section of the frame rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Darren B. Hickey, Adam C. Cecil
  • Publication number: 20230028759
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a thermal balance in a solid oxide reversible fuel cell system comprising a solid oxide reversible fuel cell, an air intake for providing air to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and a steam reformer fluidly coupled to the solid oxide fuel cell for providing fuel to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell. The method comprising operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a forward mode in which the steam former receives natural gas and produces hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide to be provided to the solid oxide reversible fuel cell, and operating the solid oxide reversible fuel cell system in a reverse mode in which the steam reformer receives hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide from the solid oxide reversible fuel cell and produces natural gas and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Darren B. Hickey
  • Patent number: 8906529
    Abstract: A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Enervault Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
  • Patent number: 8785023
    Abstract: A reduction/oxidation (“redox”) flow battery system includes a series of electrochemical cells arranged in a cascade, whereby liquid electrolyte reacts in a first electrochemical cell (or group of cells) before being directed into a second cell (or group of cells) where it reacts before being directed to subsequent cells. The cascade includes 2 to n stages, each stage having one or more electrochemical cells. During a charge reaction, electrolyte entering a first stage will have a lower state-of-charge than electrolyte entering the nth stage. In some embodiments, cell components and/or characteristics may be configured based on a state-of-charge of electrolytes expected at each cascade stage. Such engineered cascades provide redox flow battery systems with higher energy efficiency over a broader range of current density than prior art arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Enervault Corparation
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey, Jay E. Sha, Deepak Bose
  • Publication number: 20110223450
    Abstract: A reduction/oxidation (“redox”) flow battery system includes a series of electrochemical cells arranged in a cascade, whereby liquid electrolyte reacts in a first electrochemical cell (or group of cells) before being directed into a second cell (or group of cells) where it reacts before being directed to subsequent cells. The cascade includes 2 to n stages, each stage having one or more electrochemical cells. During a charge reaction, electrolyte entering a first stage will have a lower state-of-charge than electrolyte entering the nth stage. In some embodiments, cell components and/or characteristics may be configured based on a state-of-charge of electrolytes expected at each cascade stage. Such engineered cascades provide redox flow battery systems with higher energy efficiency over a broader range of current density than prior art arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: EnerVault Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey, Jay E. Sha, Deepak Bose
  • Publication number: 20110117411
    Abstract: A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ENERVAULT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
  • Publication number: 20110045332
    Abstract: A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: ENERVAULT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
  • Patent number: 7820321
    Abstract: A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: EnerVault Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
  • Publication number: 20100003545
    Abstract: A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: ENERVAULT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig Richard Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey