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).
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Patent number: 11923578Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventor: Darren B. Hickey
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Publication number: 20230170512Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Darren B. Hickey, Adam C. Cecil
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Publication number: 20230028759Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventor: Darren B. Hickey
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Patent number: 8906529Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Enervault CorporationInventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
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Patent number: 8785023Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Enervault CorparationInventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey, Jay E. Sha, Deepak Bose
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Publication number: 20110223450Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: EnerVault CorporationInventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey, Jay E. Sha, Deepak Bose
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Publication number: 20110117411Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2011Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: ENERVAULT CORPORATIONInventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
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Publication number: 20110045332Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: ENERVAULT CORPORATIONInventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
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Patent number: 7820321Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: EnerVault CorporationInventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
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Publication number: 20100003545Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: ENERVAULT CORPORATIONInventors: Craig Richard Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey