Patents by Inventor Darren Hickey

Darren 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: 10523003
    Abstract: An auxiliary power circuit includes an impedance circuit, a switch, and a controller. The switch is coupled in series with the impedance circuit. The switch is configured to selectively couple the impedance circuit to a power source. The controller is coupled to the switch. The controller is configured to close the switch when an output voltage of the power source exceeds a voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Darren Hickey, Honggang Wang
  • Publication number: 20180219373
    Abstract: An auxiliary power circuit includes an impedance circuit, a switch, and a controller. The switch is coupled in series with the impedance circuit. The switch is configured to selectively couple the impedance circuit to a power source. The controller is coupled to the switch. The controller is configured to close the switch when an output voltage of the power source exceeds a voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Darren Hickey, Honggang Wang
  • Patent number: 8999601
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, Tad Armstrong, Gonghou Wang, Darren Hickey
  • Patent number: 8748056
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, and an anode electrode having a first portion and a second portion, such that the first portion is located between the electrolyte and the second portion. The anode electrode comprises a cermet comprising a nickel containing phase and a ceramic phase. The first portion of the anode electrode contains a lower porosity and a lower ratio of the nickel containing phase to the ceramic phase than the second portion of the anode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Darren Hickey, James McElroy
  • Patent number: 8445157
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Dien Nguyen, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Publication number: 20120315565
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Dien Nguyen, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Patent number: 8268502
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Dien Nguyen, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Patent number: 8182956
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, and a plurality of fuel delivery ports. Each of the plurality of fuel delivery ports is positioned on or in the fuel cell stack to provide fuel to a portion of the plurality fuel cells in each stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Matthias Gottmann
  • Publication number: 20120115062
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Dien NGUYEN, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Patent number: 8110319
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Dien Nguyen, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Publication number: 20120024461
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, Tad Armstrong, Gonghou Wang, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Publication number: 20120028162
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, Tad Armstrong, Gonghou Wang, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Patent number: 8053136
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell includes a ceramic electrolyte, a first electrode which is adapted to be positively biased when the fuel cell operates in a fuel cell mode and in an electrolysis mode, and a second electrode which is adapted to be negatively biased when the fuel cell operates in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode. The second electrode comprises less than 1 mg/cm2 of noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Ian Russell
  • Publication number: 20110104578
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell includes a ceramic electrolyte, a first electrode which is adapted to be positively biased when the fuel cell operates in a fuel cell mode and in an electrolysis mode, and a second electrode which is adapted to be negatively biased when the fuel cell operates in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode. The second electrode comprises less than 1 mg/cm2 of noble metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Ian Russell
  • Patent number: 7887971
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell includes a ceramic electrolyte, a first electrode which is adapted to be positively biased when the fuel cell operates in a fuel cell mode and in an electrolysis mode, and a second electrode which is adapted to be negatively biased when the fuel cell operates in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode. The second electrode comprises less than 1 mg/cm2 of noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Ian Russell
  • Publication number: 20100248067
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, and a plurality of fuel delivery ports. Each of the plurality of fuel delivery ports is positioned on or in the fuel cell stack to provide fuel to a portion of the plurality fuel cells in each stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 7713649
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, and a plurality of fuel delivery ports. Each of the plurality of fuel delivery ports is positioned on or in the fuel cell stack to provide fuel to a portion of the plurality fuel cells in each stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Matthias Gottmann
  • Publication number: 20090291346
    Abstract: A solid oxide electrolyzer cell or a solid oxide reversible fuel cell includes a solid oxide electrolyte. It may also include at least one of a first gadolinia doped ceria interfacial layer in contact with a first side of the electrolyte and a second gadolinia doped ceria interfacial layer in contact with a second side of the electrolyte. It may also include a fuel electrode including a cermet containing nickel and one or both of a doped zirconia and gadolinia doped ceria. It may also include an oxidant electrode including an LSM and one or both of a doped zirconia and gadolinia doped ceria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Mark Cassidy
  • Publication number: 20090136821
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, Tad Armstrong, Gonghou Wang, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Patent number: 7514166
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, including providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode containing nickel, and electrochemically reducing an anode side of the fuel cell. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, including providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode containing nickel, periodically operating the fuel cell to generate electricity, and reducing an anode side of the fuel cell between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Darren Hickey, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah, James McElroy