Patents by Inventor Fred C. Jahnke

Fred C. Jahnke 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: 11094952
    Abstract: A system for removing carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas that has been compressed to form pressurized anode exhaust vapor includes a feed/effluent heat exchanger configured to cool the anode exhaust vapor to a first predetermined temperature and partially condense carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust vapor; a first vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/effluent heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide from uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a feed/refrigerant heat exchanger configured to receive the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor from the first vapor-liquid separator, cool the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor to a second predetermined temperature, and condense carbon dioxide in the uncondensed anode exhaust vapor; a second vapor-liquid separator configured to receive an output of the feed/refrigerant heat exchanger and separate liquid carbon dioxide to form hydrogen rich, uncondensed anode exhaust vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Anthony M. Leo
  • Publication number: 20210221693
    Abstract: An integrated system for carbon dioxide capture includes a steam methane reformer and a CO2 pump that comprises an anode and a cathode. The cathode is configured to output a first exhaust stream including oxygen and carbon dioxide and the anode is configured to receive a reformed gas from the steam methane reformer and to output a second exhaust stream that includes greater than 95% hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Fred C. JAHNKE
  • Publication number: 20210218044
    Abstract: A power production system includes a flue gas generator configured to generate a flue gas that includes carbon dioxide and oxygen; a fuel supply; a fuel cell assembly that includes: a cathode section configured to receive the flue gas generated by the flue gas generator, and output cathode exhaust, and an anode section configured to receive fuel from the fuel supply, and output anode exhaust that contains hydrogen and carbon dioxide; a methanator configured to receive the anode exhaust, convert at least a portion of the hydrogen in the anode exhaust to methane, and output methanated anode exhaust; a chiller assembly configured to cool the methanated anode exhaust to a predetermined temperature so as to liquefy carbon dioxide in the methanated anode exhaust; and a gas separation assembly configured to receive the cooled methanated anode exhaust and separate the liquefied carbon dioxide from residual fuel gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: Fred C. JAHNKE
  • Patent number: 11043684
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture system for removing carbon dioxide from a flue gas produced by a combustion power plant. The system includes an electrolyzer cell configured to receive a flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and output a first exhaust stream comprising an enriched flue gas comprising carbon dioxide. The system further includes a fuel cell configured to receive the first exhaust stream and output a second exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide. The second exhaust stream contains a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than the first exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 11035628
    Abstract: A system for draining an airfan heat exchanger includes an airfan heat exchanger including a housing, a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the airfan heat exchanger and configured to hold a purging gas at a predetermined pressure, and a controller configured to control delivery of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger. The pressurized gas source is configured to provide a flow of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger and thereby drain water held in the airfan heat exchanger. The purging gas to the airfan will cause the airfan to drain quickly avoiding potential damage to the airfan from freezing of the water during cold weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Jeffrey Brown
  • Publication number: 20210175524
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph M. DALY, Jeffrey BROWN, Matthew CROWLEY, Robert S. FOURNIER, William J. SNYDER, Fred C. JAHNKE
  • Publication number: 20210091398
    Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Fred C. JAHNKE, Matthew LAMBRECH, Pinakin PATEL, Mohammad FAROOQUE, Chao-Yi YUH
  • Patent number: 10897055
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system for generating hydrogen and electrical power includes a power supply, a reformer-electrolyzer-purifier (REP) assembly including at least one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, at least one low temperature fuel cell, and a hydrogen storage. The at least one fuel cell is configured to receive a reverse voltage supplied by the power supply and generate hydrogen-containing gas in the anode of the at least one fuel cell. The at least one low temperature fuel cell is configured to receive the hydrogen-containing gas output from the REP assembly. The at least one low temperature fuel cell is configured to selectably operate in a power generation mode in which the hydrogen-containing gas is used to generate electrical power and a power storage mode in which the hydrogen-containing gas is pressurized and stored in the hydrogen storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10892507
    Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Pinakin Patel, Mohammad Farooque, Chao-Yi Yuh
  • Publication number: 20200411889
    Abstract: A steam methane reformer-integrated fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte matrix separating the anode and the cathode. The system further includes a steam methane reformer configured to react methane with steam to produce a first product stream including hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Publication number: 20200403260
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for removing carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas includes: a fuel cell having an anode configured to output an anode exhaust gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water; an anode gas oxidizer; and an absorption system configured to receive the anode exhaust gas, the absorption system including: an absorber column configured to absorb the carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas in a solvent and to output a resultant gas comprising hydrogen and a hydrocarbon that is at least partially recycled to the anode; and a stripper column configured to regenerate the solvent and to output a carbon dioxide-rich stream. The anode gas oxidizer is configured to receive and oxidize an anode gas oxidizer input stream and at least a portion of the carbon dioxide-rich stream. The anode gas oxidizer input stream comprises a portion of the anode exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Fred C. JAHNKE, Matthew A. LAMBRECH
  • Patent number: 10862155
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one modular enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that connect the top wall and the bottom wall and close off the modular enclosure on all sides; at least one fuel cell stack disposed within the at least one modular enclosure; at least one piping manifold configured to supply at least one process gas to the at least one fuel cell stack and to receive at least one exhaust process gas from the at least one fuel cell stack; and at least one process gas seal configured to seal the at least one piping manifold. The at least one process gas seal is effected via a static force from a weight of the at least one fuel cell stack or a weight of the at least one piping manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Matthew Lambrech, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 10797332
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for removing CO2 from anode exhaust gas includes a fuel cell having an anode that outputs anode exhaust including H2, CO, CO2, and water; a shift reactor that receives a first portion of the anode exhaust and performs a water-gas shift reaction to produce an output stream primarily including H2 and CO2; an anode gas oxidizer (AGO); and an absorption system including an absorber column that absorbs the CO2 from the output stream in a solvent and outputs a resultant gas including H2 and a hydrocarbon that is at least partially recycled to the anode, and a stripper column that regenerates the solvent and outputs a CO2-rich stream. The AGO is configured to oxidize at least a portion of the CO2-rich stream and an AGO input stream that includes one of a second portion of the anode exhaust or a portion of the output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew A. Lambrech
  • Publication number: 20200287224
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode configured to output cathode exhaust. The fuel cell is configured to generate waste heat. The fuel cell system further includes a reformer configured to partially reform a feed gas using the waste heat and output a hydrogen-containing stream. The fuel cell system further includes a reformer-electrolyzer-purifier (“REP”) having an REP anode configured to receive a first portion of the hydrogen-containing stream and an REP cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Fred C. JAHNKE, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10763523
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for generating electrical power and high level heat comprising at least one high temperature fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side and adapted to generate electrical power, and a gas oxidizer/high level heat recovery assembly comprising an oxidizer adapted to oxidize one or more of exhaust output from the at least one high temperature fuel cell stack and a gas derived from the exhaust, and to generate high level heat, and a high level heat recovery system adapted to recover the high level heat generated in the oxidizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Pinakin Patel
  • Publication number: 20200251755
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode configured to receive a portion of a hydrocarbon feed and to output an anode exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and water; and an electrolyzer cell having a cathode and an anode. The anode of the electrolyzer cell is configured to receive a first portion of the anode exhaust stream and another portion of the hydrocarbon feed, and to generate a hydrogen stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Fred C. JAHNKE
  • Publication number: 20200203738
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode configured to output an anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and water; and a membrane dryer configured to receive the anode exhaust stream, remove water from the anode exhaust stream, and output a membrane dryer outlet stream. The membrane dryer includes a first chamber configured to receive the anode exhaust stream; a second chamber configured to receive a purge gas; and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first chamber and the second chamber. The semi-permeable membrane is configured to allow water to diffuse therethrough, thereby removing water from the anode exhaust stream. The membrane dryer may further be configured to remove hydrogen from the anode exhaust stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen JOLLY, Frank J. CHIMBOLE, JR., Fred C. JAHNKE, Jonathan MALWITZ, Hossein GHEZEL-AYAGH
  • Patent number: 10680265
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a power plant configured to generate an exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide. The energy storage system further includes a first fuel cell configured to operate in reverse as an electrolyzer. The first fuel cell is configured to receive at least a portion of the exhaust gas from the power plant. An anode is configured to receive carbon dioxide via the exhaust gas and methane from a separate feed, and the anode is configured to output a hydrogen-containing gas mixture. The energy storage system further includes a reformer configured to methanate the hydrogen-containing gas mixture to convert substantially all of the carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas mixture to methane. The energy storage system further includes a second fuel cell operating in reverse as a hydrogen pump, the second fuel cell configured to separate hydrogen from a gas mixture output by the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10654023
    Abstract: A system for producing liquid fuel including a hydrocarbon source, a fuel cell unit configured to output anode exhaust gas containing a predetermined amount of C02, and a reformer configured to receive a first hydrocarbon feed portion from the hydrocarbon source and the anode exhaust gas from the fuel cell unit, such that the reformer is configured to output a syngas having a first H2/CO ratio of at most 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10608272
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture system for capturing carbon dioxide from an exhaust stream. The system may include a fuel cell configured to output a first exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide and water. The system may further include an electrolyzer cell configured to receive a first portion of the first exhaust stream and output a second exhaust stream comprising oxygen and carbon dioxide. The fuel cell may be a solid oxide fuel cell. The electrolyzer cell may be a molten carbonate electrolysis cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred C. Jahnke