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: 9478819
    Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion and the topping cathode portion receives cathode exhaust from the bottoming cathode portion, and wherein the topping fuel cell assembly has a greater number of fuel cells than the bottoming fuel cell assembly so that the topping fuel cell assembly utilizes more fuel than the bottoming fuel cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Lambrech, Mohammad Farooque, Carla Juhas, Fred C. Jahnke, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Michael L. Quatannens
  • Publication number: 20160181647
    Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion and the topping cathode portion receives cathode exhaust from the bottoming cathode portion, and wherein the topping fuel cell assembly has a greater number of fuel cells than the bottoming fuel cell assembly so that the topping fuel cell assembly utilizes more fuel than the bottoming fuel cell assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew Lambrech, Mohammad Farooque, Carla Juhas, Fred C. Jahnke, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Michael L. Quatannens
  • Patent number: 8815462
    Abstract: A fuel cell power production system and method for supplying power to a load, comprising a high-temperature fuel cell including an anode compartment, adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply path and to output anode exhaust, and a cathode compartment adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output cathode exhaust, a water transfer assembly for transferring water in the anode exhaust to the fuel supply path and for outputting water-separated anode exhaust; and a hydrogen utilization device adapted to receive oxidant gas and one of the water-separated anode exhaust and gas derived from the water-separated anode exhaust and to output hydrogen utilization device exhaust including oxidant gas, wherein the hydrogen utilization device exhaust is used to provide oxidant gas to said cathode compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 8652694
    Abstract: A water transfer assembly for use in a fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, the anode being adapted to receive fuel and to output anode exhaust and the cathode being adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output cathode exhaust, the water transfer assembly comprising a first cooling assembly adapted to receive the cathode exhaust and to quench cool the cathode exhaust to recover a first portion of water including non-volatile contaminants from the cathode exhaust and to output cleansed cathode exhaust and the first water portion, and a second cooling assembly adapted to receive the cleansed cathode exhaust and to recover a second water portion from the cleansed cathode exhaust, the second water portion being suitable for humidifying the fuel supplied to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly
  • Patent number: 8445147
    Abstract: A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly, Matti A. Lilback
  • Patent number: 8389136
    Abstract: A gas flow control assembly for use in a fuel cell system comprising an airflow control assembly for adjusting flow of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell system based on content variations in an exhaust gas leaving an anode side of the system and a fuel flow control assembly for controlling flow of fuel to the anode side based on adjustment to the airflow by the airflow control assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakirshnan Venkataraman, George Berntsen, Glenn L. Carlson, Fred C. Jahnke, Anthony J. Leo
  • Patent number: 8367256
    Abstract: A water recovery assembly for use in a fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, the anode being adapted to receive fuel and output anode exhaust, the water recovery assembly comprising a first cooling assembly adapted to receive and quench cool the anode exhaust and to recover a first portion of water including electrolyte from the anode exhaust, and to output quenched anode exhaust and the first portion of water, and a second cooling assembly adapted to receive the quenched anode exhaust and to recover a second portion of water from the quenched anode exhaust, the second portion of water being suitable for humidifying the fuel supplied to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly, Anthony J. Leo
  • Patent number: 8236458
    Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Mohammad Farooque, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Patent number: 8062799
    Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Mohammad Farooque, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Patent number: 8062804
    Abstract: A flow control assembly for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a sensor for sensing hydrogen concentration in one of anode exhaust leaving an anode side of the fuel cell system and a gas derived from the anode exhaust, and a fuel flow control assembly for controlling the flow of fuel to the anode side of the fuel cell system based on the hydrogen concentration sensed by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Daly, Fred C. Jahnke, Steven A. Koehler
  • Patent number: 7939215
    Abstract: A fuel cell system with a fuel cell having an anode adapted to receive fuel and a cathode adapted to receive oxidant, an anode oxidizing assembly adapted to receive output of said anode and input oxidant and to output oxidant gas for said cathode, a fuel supply assembly including a first fuel flow control part, said fuel supply assembly being adapted to supply fuel to said anode at a flow rate that is equal to or less than a first flow rate, and a low flow bypass assembly which, upon the occurrence of a first condition of said fuel cell system, causes fuel supplied by said fuel supply part to bypass said first fuel flow control part and flow through said low flow bypass assembly so as to limit the flow rate of fuel being supplied to a second flow rate smaller than said first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Fuel Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Kirk Arneson, George Berntsen
  • Publication number: 20100216039
    Abstract: A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly, Matti A. Lilback
  • Publication number: 20100047641
    Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Mohammed Farooque, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Publication number: 20100028730
    Abstract: A fuel cell power production system and method for supplying power to a load, comprising a high-temperature fuel cell including an anode compartment, adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply path and to output anode exhaust, and a cathode compartment adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output cathode exhaust, a water transfer assembly for transferring water in the anode exhaust to the fuel supply path and for outputting water-separated anode exhaust; and a hydrogen utilization device adapted to receive oxidant gas and one of the water-separated anode exhaust and gas derived from the water-separated anode exhaust and to output hydrogen utilization device exhaust including oxidant gas, wherein the hydrogen utilization device exhaust is used to provide oxidant gas to said cathode compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Publication number: 20090226775
    Abstract: A water transfer assembly for use in a fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, the anode being adapted to receive fuel and to output anode exhaust and the cathode being adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output cathode exhaust, the water transfer assembly comprising a first cooling assembly adapted to receive the cathode exhaust and to quench cool the cathode exhaust to recover a first portion of water including non-volatile contaminants from the cathode exhaust and to output cleansed cathode exhaust and the first water portion, and a second cooling assembly adapted to receive the cleansed cathode exhaust and to recover a second water portion from the cleansed cathode exhaust, the second water portion being suitable for humidifying the fuel supplied to the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly
  • Publication number: 20090176134
    Abstract: A water recovery assembly for use in a fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, the anode being adapted to receive fuel and output anode exhaust, the water recovery assembly comprising a first cooling assembly adapted to receive and quench cool the anode exhaust and to recover a first portion of water including electrolyte from the anode exhaust, and to output quenched anode exhaust and the first portion of water, and a second cooling assembly adapted to receive the quenched anode exhaust and to recover a second portion of water from the quenched anode exhaust, the second portion of water being suitable for humidifying the fuel supplied to the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly, Anthony J. Leo
  • Publication number: 20090110989
    Abstract: A flow control assembly for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a sensor for sensing hydrogen concentration in one of anode exhaust leaving an anode side of the fuel cell system and a gas derived from the anode exhaust, and a fuel flow control assembly for controlling the flow of fuel to the anode side of the fuel cell system based on the hydrogen concentration sensed by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph M. Daly, Fred C. Jahnke, Steven A. Koehler
  • Patent number: 7396603
    Abstract: An integrated power production system including a fossil fuel power plant for processing fossil based fuel such as coal or natural gas arranged in tandem with a carbonate fuel cell having an anode and a cathode section. The flue gas of the power plant serves exclusively as the inlet gas for the cathode section of the fuel cell. Anode exhaust gas leaving the anode section of the fuel cell is subjected to processing including sequestration of the carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Farooque, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 7247281
    Abstract: A methanation assembly for use with a water supply and a gas supply containing gas to be methanated in which a reactor assembly has a plurality of methanation reactors each for methanating gas input to the assembly and a gas delivery and cooling assembly adapted to deliver gas from the gas supply to each of said methanation reactors and to combine water from the water supply with the output of each methanation reactor being conveyed to a next methanation reactor and carry the mixture to such next methanation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Sanjay C. Parab
  • Patent number: 7060382
    Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment. The fuel cell system is also provided with a partial-pressure pressure swing adsorption assembly operating at low pressure which uses supply gas for the cathode compartment of the fuel cell to separate carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas exiting from the anode compartment of the fuel cell. The partial-pressure pressure swing adsorption assembly is adapted to carry out this separation based on the difference in partial pressures of the carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust gas and the oxidant gas in the supply gas. The fuel cell system utilizes a further unit to recycle the exhaust gas, after separation of the carbon dioxide, to the anode compartment and to feed the supply gas with the carbon dioxide to the cathode compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Sanjay C. Parab