Patents by Inventor Fred Jahnke

Fred 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: 10573907
    Abstract: A load-following fuel cell system for a grid system operating with a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources includes a baseload power generation module and a load-following power generation module. The baseload power generation module provides a baseload power to the grid system and includes a high-efficiency fuel cell system. The high-efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping module and a bottoming module. The topping module and the bottoming module are connected in series and the topping module provides an exhaust stream to the bottoming module. The load-following power generation module provides a load-following power to the grid system and includes an energy storage system that separates and stores hydrogen contained in the exhaust stream and a power generation system having one or more fuel cells. The power generation system receives the hydrogen from the energy storage system to provide the load-following power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Fred Jahnke, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, George Berntsen, Ludwig Lipp, Pinakin Patel
  • Publication number: 20180261857
    Abstract: A load-following fuel cell system for a grid system operating with a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources includes a baseload power generation module and a load-following power generation module. The baseload power generation module provides a baseload power to the grid system and includes a high-efficiency fuel cell system. The high-efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping module and a bottoming module. The topping module and the bottoming module are connected in series and the topping module provides an exhaust stream to the bottoming module. The load-following power generation module provides a load-following power to the grid system and includes an energy storage system that separates and stores hydrogen contained in the exhaust stream and a power generation system having one or more fuel cells. The power generation system receives the hydrogen from the energy storage system to provide the load-following power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Fred JAHNKE, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, George BERNTSEN, Ludwig LIPP, Pinakin PATEL
  • Publication number: 20110008700
    Abstract: A fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack which includes a cathode compartment having cathode conduit extending from an inlet thereof. The cathode conduit conveys a fluid to at least one cathode positioned in the cathode compartment. An anode compartment having a fuel inlet conduit extending from an inlet of the anode compartment, supplies fuel to at least one anode positioned in the anode compartment. An anode exhaust conduit extends from an outlet of the anode compartment, for conveying an anode exhaust fluid. The fuel cell stack is positioned in an enclosure which as has a passage extending therethrough. At least a portion of the passage is in fluid communication with the anode exhaust conduit. The fuel cell module includes a diverter device having at least a portion thereof positioned in the passage and/or the anode exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Fred Jahnke, Matt Lambrech
  • Publication number: 20070243434
    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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Fred Jahnke, Kirk Arneson, George Berntsen
  • Publication number: 20060216556
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Ramakirshnan Venkataraman, George Berntsen, Glenn Carlson, Fred Jahnke, Anthony Leo
  • Publication number: 20050271914
    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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Mohammad Farooque, Fred Jahnke
  • Publication number: 20050226792
    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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Fred Jahnke, Sanjay Parab