Patents by Inventor David A. Sopchak
David A. Sopchak 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: 8715882Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes an array of microchannels defined by a porous electrolyte support structure extending between bottom and upper support layers, the microchannels including fuel and oxidant microchannels; fuel electrodes formed along some of the microchannels; and air electrodes formed along other of the microchannels. A method of making a phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes etching an array of microchannels in a substrate, thereby forming walls between the microchannels; processing the walls to make the walls porous, thereby forming a porous electrolyte support structure; forming anode electrodes along some of the walls; forming cathode electrodes along other of the walls; and filling the porous electrolyte support structure with a phosphoric acid electrolyte. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Lawrene Livermore National Security, LLC.Inventors: David A. Sopchak, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Jack Kotovsky, Robert T. Graff
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Patent number: 8057988Abstract: A microreactor comprising a silicon wafer, a multiplicity of microchannels in the silicon wafer, and a catalyst coating the microchannels. In one embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a nanostructured material. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises an aerogel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a solgel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, David A. Sopchak, Ravindra S. Upadhye, John G. Reynolds, Joseph H. Satcher, Alex E. Gash
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Publication number: 20100323278Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes an array of microchannels defined by a porous electrolyte support structure extending between bottom and upper support layers, the microchannels including fuel and oxidant microchannels; fuel electrodes formed along some of the microchannels; and air electrodes formed along other of the microchannels. A method of making a phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes etching an array of microchannels in a substrate, thereby forming walls between the microchannels; processing the walls to make the walls porous, thereby forming a porous electrolyte support structure; forming anode electrodes along some of the walls; forming cathode electrodes along other of the walls; and filling the porous electrolyte support structure with a phosphoric acid electrolyte. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventors: David A. Sopchak, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Jack Kotovsky, Robert T. Graff
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Patent number: 7855018Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell system comprising a porous electrolyte support, a phosphoric acid electrolyte in the porous electrolyte support, a cathode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte, and an anode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2010Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: David A. Sopchak, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Jack Kotovsky, Robert T. Graff
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Publication number: 20100273090Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell system comprising a porous electrolyte support, a phosphoric acid electrolyte in the porous electrolyte support, a cathode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte, and an anode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: David A. Sopchak, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Jack Kotovsky, Robert T. Graff
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Publication number: 20100221667Abstract: A microreactor comprising a silicon wafer, a multiplicity of microchannels in the silicon wafer, and a catalyst coating the microchannels. In one embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a nanostructured material. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises an aerogel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a solgel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises carbon nanotubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, David A. Sopchak, Ravindra S. Upadhye, John G. Reynolds, Joseph H. Satcher, Alex E. Gash
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Patent number: 7776479Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell system comprising a porous electrolyte support, a phosphoric acid electrolyte in the porous electrolyte support, a cathode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte, and an anode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: David A. Sopchak, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Jack Kotovsky, Robert T. Graff
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Patent number: 7744830Abstract: A microreactor comprising a silicon wafer, a multiplicity of microchannels in the silicon wafer, and a catalyst coating the microchannels. In one embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a nanostructured material. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises an aerogel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a solgel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, David A. Sopchak, Ravindra S. Upadhye, John G. Reynolds, Joseph H. Satcher, Alex E. Gash
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Patent number: 7575611Abstract: In one embodiment, a fuel processor for use in a fuel cell system, may have a bottom plate, having a regenerator having a first inlet to receive an air flow, a burner flow chamber within the regenerator, the burner flow chamber having a second inlet to receive the air flow from the regenerator, and a reformer flow chamber positioned between the regenerator and the burner flow chamber, the reformer flow chamber having a third inlet to receive the air flow from the burner chamber, wherein the burner flow chamber and the reformer flow chamber is formed of a monolithic structure having an elongated, rounded baffle in the center of the monolithic structure. The fuel processor may also have a top plate coupled to the bottom plate to enclose the fuel processor, the top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: UltraCell CorporationInventors: Jennifer Brantley, Kenneth Newell, David Sopchak, Ian W. Kaye, Jesse Thompson, Arpad Somogyvari
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Publication number: 20080289180Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fuel processor may comprise coupling a plurality of micro-tubes in parallel to form a flow field tube array, each of the plurality of micro-tubes designed to receive a fluid flow, depositing a catalyst layer inside each of the plurality of micro-tubes, and attaching at least one burner to a first end of the flow field tube array.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: ULTRACELL CORPORATIONInventors: Jennifer BRANTLEY, Kenneth NEWELL, David SOPCHAK, Ian W. KAYE, Jesse THOMPSON, Arpad SOMOGYVARI
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Publication number: 20080213638Abstract: In one embodiment, an engine block may comprise an interconnect having: a first manifold section, a second manifold section perpendicular to the first manifold section, the first manifold section and the second manifold section having a plurality of conduits to receive a gas flow, wherein the first manifold section and the second manifold section are formed from a single manifold device; a fuel cell stack housing coupled to the second manifold section to receive a fuel cell stack; and a fuel processor coupled to the first manifold section, wherein the fuel cell processor and the fuel cell stack operate at substantially the same temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2007Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: ULTRACELL CORPORATIONInventors: Jennifer Brantley, Kenneth Newell, James L. Kaschmitter, David Sopchak, Ian W. Kaye, Arpad Somogyvari, Lucie Bednarova, Michael C. DeRenzi
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Publication number: 20080118796Abstract: In one embodiment, a fuel processor for use in a fuel cell system, may have a bottom plate, having a regenerator having a first inlet to receive an air flow, a burner flow chamber within the regenerator, the burner flow chamber having a second inlet to receive the air flow from the regenerator, and a reformer flow chamber positioned between the regenerator and the burner flow chamber, the reformer flow chamber having a third inlet to receive the air flow from the burner chamber, wherein the burner flow chamber and the reformer flow chamber is formed of a monolithic structure having an elongated, rounded baffle in the center of the monolithic structure. The fuel processor may also have a top plate coupled to the bottom plate to enclose the fuel processor, the top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2007Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: ULTRACELL CORPORATIONInventors: Jennifer Brantley, Kenneth Newell, David Sopchak, Ian W. Kaye, Jesse Thompson, Arpad Somogyvari
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Publication number: 20060057450Abstract: A microreactor comprising a silicon wafer, a multiplicity of microchannels in the silicon wafer, and a catalyst coating the microchannels. In one embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a nanostructured material. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises an aerogel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises a solgel. In another embodiment the catalyst coating the microchannels comprises carbon nanotubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Inventors: Jeffrey Morse, David Sopchak, Ravindra Upadhye, John Reynolds, Joe Satcher, Alex Gash
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Publication number: 20050260485Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell system comprising a porous electrolyte support, a phosphoric acid electrolyte in the porous electrolyte support, a cathode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte, and an anode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventors: David Sopchak, Jeffrey Morse, Ravindra Upadhye, Jack Kotovsky, Robert Graff
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Publication number: 20050255368Abstract: The present invention relates to compact and high power density fuel cells. The fuel cells generate electrical energy and include a three-dimensional (3-D) architecture. The 3-D architectures include active surfaces whose dimensions may be varied during fuel cell design in three dimensions. Fabrication of the 3-D architectures may use wafer-processing technologies such as etching and deposition on etched surfaces. Fuel cells described herein provide power densities (power per unit volume or mass) at levels not yet seen in the fuel cell industry; some fuel cells are small enough to fit in a cell phone and power the cell phone.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2005Publication date: November 17, 2005Applicant: UltraCell Corporation, a California CorporationInventors: Ian Kaye, Jennifer Brantley, David Sopchak
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Publication number: 20050207953Abstract: A chemical microreactor with a high aspect ratio. In one embodiment the chemical microreactor has a chemical microreactor section with channels having a height and with spacings having a width. There is a high aspect ratio of the height to the width. The high aspect ratio in one embodiment is more than substantially 5:1. The high aspect ratio in another embodiment is more than substantially 10:1. The high aspect ratio another embodiment is more than substantially 15:1. The high aspect ratio in one embodiment is substantially 20:1.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2004Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Ravindra Upadhye, Jeffrey Morse, David Sopchak, Mark Havstad, Robert Graff