Patents by Inventor Haruyuki Nakanishi

Haruyuki Nakanishi 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: 8455148
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell which is capable to improve heat exchange efficiency with a plurality of tubular cells. The fuel cell of the present invention comprises: a plurality of tubular cells; heat exchangers arranged at the outside of the tubular cells, wherein at least a part of the outer circumferential surface of said tubular cells and the peripheral surface of said heat exchangers have face contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Masahiro Imanishi, Yoshihisa Tamura
  • Patent number: 8404174
    Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a carbon nanofiber supporting a metal fine particle in which the metal fine particles are supported in high dispersion and sintering of the metal fine particles is restrained. The present invention attains the object by providing a method for producing a carbon nanofiber supporting a metal fine particle comprising a step of: spinning a material composition which contains a nitrogen-containing polymer, including a nitrogen element and capable of forming a carbon nanofiber, and an organometallic compound by an electro spinning process, and the spinning is conducted under a condition which keeps the nitrogen element remained to the carbon nanofiber and allows the formation of the carbon nanofiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa, Kazuya Uchisasai
  • Patent number: 8383292
    Abstract: In a fuel cell that includes an electrolyte (10), and an anode (20) and a cathode (30) which constitute a pair of electrodes that are arranged sandwiching the electrolyte (10), the cathode (30) includes catalyst particles (24) and trapping particles (38). The catalyst particles (24) operate as catalysts for a reaction that creates hydroxide ions from oxygen, and the trapping particles (38) trap hydrogen peroxide ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Patent number: 8361672
    Abstract: A tubular fuel cell including: a center support member made from a wire rod; an electrolyte layer formed upon the outside of the center support member; an outer circumferential support member disposed between the center support member and the electrolyte layer, and which is made from a wire rod; a catalyst layer formed upon the outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential support member, and that is in contact with the electrolyte layer; and an auxiliary outer circumferential support member provided between the center support member and the outer circumferential support member, and which is made from a wire rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imanishi, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Naoto Yoda
  • Patent number: 8338056
    Abstract: A tubular fuel cell includes an inner current collector, a membrane-electrode assembly, and seal portions provided at the axial end portions of the membrane-electrode assembly, respectively. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an inner catalyst layer provided on the inner current collector, an electrolyte membrane provided on the inner catalyst layer, and an outer catalyst layer provided on the electrolyte membrane. The axial length of the outer catalyst layer is shorter than the axial lengths of the electrolyte membrane and the outer catalyst layer. The axial end face of the outer catalyst layer and the axial end face of the inner catalyst layer are located on the opposite sides of the seal portion in each side of the tubular fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imanishi, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Hirokazu Ishimaru, Yuichiro Hama, Yoshihisa Tamura
  • Patent number: 8283084
    Abstract: There is provided a hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of improving power density per unit volume, wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a hollow solid electrolyte membrane, an outer electrode layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane and an inner electrode layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane, and wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is formed in the shape of a spiral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeaki Murata, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Masahiro Imanishi, Yoshihisa Tamura
  • Publication number: 20120202128
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte including a layered metal oxide represented by the formula (1), (La1-xAx)(Sr1-yBy)3(Co1-zCz)3O10-???(1) [wherein A represents a rare earth element other than La; B represents Mg, Ca, or Ba; C represents Ti, V, Cr, or Mn; 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 0?z<1; and ? represents an oxygen deficiency amount].
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicants: National University Corporation Hokkaido University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Tatsuya Takeguchi, Hiroki Takahashi, Ayaka Nakamura, Saburo Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20120100062
    Abstract: A combined plant is provided. The combined plant of continuously supplying hydrogen and nitrogen to an ammonia synthesis facility that continuously synthesizes ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, the combined plant including: a hydrogen production facility for acquiring solar energy and producing hydrogen by utilizing a part of the acquired solar energy; a nitrogen production facility for producing nitrogen from air and supplying the nitrogen to the ammonia synthesis facility; and a hydrogen storage facility for storing the hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production facility and supplying the produced hydrogen to the ammonia synthesis facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Norihiko Nakamura, Shigeki Sugiura, Shusei Obata, Shinichi Takeshima, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yosuke Iida, Akinori Sato
  • Publication number: 20120040261
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus for effectively generating hydrogen from ammonia and relates to the hydrogen generating apparatus for generating hydrogen from ammonia. The apparatus comprises an ammonia oxidation part having ammonia oxidation catalysts which oxidizes ammonia, and an ammonia decomposition part having an ammonia decomposition catalyst which decomposes ammonia to generate nitrogen and hydrogen. The decomposition part is located downstream of the oxidation part in a direction of feed gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicants: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa, Susumu Hikazudani, Chikashi Inazumi, Sadao Araki, Takuma Mori
  • Publication number: 20110306489
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ammonia decomposition catalyst which is obtained by heat-treating a complex at a temperature of 360° C. to 900° C. in a reducing atmosphere, wherein the complex containing a polymer having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000 represented by the formula [I], a transition metal coordinated with the polymer, and an activated carbon or a carbon nanotube added thereto. In a case of using the carbon nanotube, an alkali metal compound or an alkaline earth metal compound is added to the heat-treated complex. R1 represents H or hydrocarbon having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 each represent H, halogen, nitro, acyl, ester, carboxyl, formyl, nitrile, sulfone, aryl, or alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, X and Y each represent H or OH, Z represents CH or N, R4 and R5 each represent H, OH, ether, amino, aryl, or alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, x represents a real number of 1 to 2, y represents a real number of 1 to 3, and n represents a real number of 2 to 120.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicants: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION, IHARA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu Hikazudani, Takuma Mori, Chikashi Inazumi, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa, Hironobu Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20110297531
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen generation device using a photocatalyst to generate hydrogen from liquid water or water vapor and a method of using the same. The hydrogen generation device of the present invention has a water channel through which liquid water or water vapor flows, and which has an outer circumferential wall made at least in part of a transparent material; a hydrogen channel through which hydrogen flows and which is located at the inner circumference side of the water channel; a hydrogen separating membrane forming at least part of a wall between the water channel and hydrogen channel, separating hydrogen from the liquid water or water vapor in the water channel, and providing the hydrogen to the hydrogen channel; and a photocatalyst layer arranged on least at part of the water channel-side surface of the hydrogen separating membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki NAKANISHI, Norihiko NAKAMURA, Hidekazu ARIKAWA, Hirofumi FUJIWARA, Hidehito KUBO, Keiji TOH, Akiko Kumano, Shohei Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110300065
    Abstract: An apparatus and method purify hydrogen from a mixed fluid containing gaseous hydrogen, gaseous oxygen, and liquid water. The apparatus has a mixed fluid channel through which the mixed fluid flows; a first gas channel through which a mixed gas containing gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen flows; a second gas channel through which gaseous hydrogen or oxygen flows; a gas-liquid separating membrane forming a wall between the mixed fluid channel and the first gas channel, separating the mixed gas from the mixed fluid of the mixed fluid channel, and providing the separated mixed gas to the first gas channel; and a hydrogen or oxygen separating membrane forming a wall between the first gas channel and the second gas channel, separating gaseous hydrogen or oxygen from the mixed gas of the first gas channel, and providing the separated gaseous hydrogen or oxygen to the second gas channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki NAKANISHI, Norihiko NAKAMURA, Hidekazu ARIKAWA, Hirofumi FUJIWARA, Hidehito KUBO, Keiji TOH, Akiko KUMANO, Shohei MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20110286907
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for efficient synthesis of ammonia. The process includes a water-splitting step in which water is decomposed to obtain a first source gas comprising hydrogen and oxygen, a first oxygen removal step in which the oxygen contained in the first source gas is at least partially separated and removed by an oxygen separating membrane or hydrogen separating membrane to obtain a second source gas having a lower oxygen concentration than the first source gas, a second oxygen removal step in which the oxygen in the second source gas is reacted with hydrogen to produce water for removal, or is adsorbed onto an adsorption medium for removal, to obtain a third source gas having a lower oxygen concentration than the second source gas, and an ammonia synthesis step in which the hydrogen in the third source gas is reacted with nitrogen to synthesize ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiko Nakamura, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa, Susumu Hikazudani, Chikashi Inazumi
  • Publication number: 20110283960
    Abstract: An ammonia-engine system is capable of supplying an ammonia cracking catalyst with a temperature necessary to promote a reaction even during low load operation in which a temperature of an exhaust gas from an ammonia engine is lower than an operating temperature of the ammonia cracking catalyst. In an ammonia-engine system provided with an ammonia engine (2) using ammonia as fuel and an ammonia cracking device (5) including an ammonia cracking catalyst that cracks ammonia and cracking ammonia to produce hydrogen, an ammonia oxidizing device (4) is provided between the ammonia engine (2) and the ammonia cracking device (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Hikazudani, Chikashi Inazumi, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Norihiko Nakamura, Hidekazu Arikawa
  • Publication number: 20110236779
    Abstract: A fuel cell system whose fuel loss caused by the crossover of the fuel is small and which can be operated economically. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell 10, a primary feeding system 12 for feeding a primary fuel which is a liquid fuel to the fuel cell 10, a secondary feeding system 13 for feeding a secondary fuel which is a liquid fuel whose saturation vapor pressure is lower than that of the primary fuel to the fuel cell 10, a ECU 30 for controlling each part so that the primary fuel in the fuel cell is replaced with the secondary fuel when terminating the operation of the fuel cell 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa, Kazuya Uchisasai
  • Publication number: 20110236782
    Abstract: The power generation performance of a fuel cell is improved by reducing a concentration overvoltage of an anode, without increasing the cost thereof. A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell that generates electricity by means of electrochemical reactions between a fuel containing liquefied ammonia and an oxidizing agent, a fuel supply unit that supplies the fuel to the fuel cell, an oxidizing agent supply unit that supplies the oxidizing agent to the fuel cell, a temperature measurement unit that measures the temperature of the fuel cell, and a control unit that controls the pressure of the fuel to be supplied from the fuel supply unit to the fuel cell in accordance with the temperature of the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Nagaosa, Shinichi Matsumoto, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Arikawa
  • Publication number: 20110220515
    Abstract: A water-splitting apparatus and method generating hydrogen and oxygen at separate electrodes have a structure enabling a photo catalytic reaction to be efficiently performed. The apparatus includes a photolysis element having an N-type water-splitting electrode surface and a P-type water-splitting electrode surface at the opposite side surface to the N-type water-splitting electrode surface, a hydrogen generating cell holding the N-type water-splitting electrode surface and collecting the hydrogen generated at that water-splitting electrode surface, and an oxygen generating cell holding the P-type water-splitting electrode surface, collecting the oxygen generated at that water-splitting electrode surface, and adjoining the hydrogen generating cell across the photolysis element. The photolysis element has through holes enabling circulation of water between the hydrogen and oxygen generating cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruyuki NAKANISHI, Hidekazu ARIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8007691
    Abstract: A catalyst for electrodes in solid-polymer fuel cells which comprises metal oxide particles themselves. The catalyst contains fine transition-metal oxide particles having, in the main phase, a perovskite structure represented by the general formula ABO3 (wherein A represents one or more elements selected among lanthanum, strontium, cerium, calcium, yttrium, erbium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, silicon, magnesium, barium, niobium, lead, bismuth, and antimony; and B represents one or more elements selected among iron, cobalt, manganese, copper, titanium, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum), the fine oxide particles having lattice constants satisfying the following relationship (1): 1.402<2b/(a+c)<1.422??(1) wherein a and c represent the minor-axis lengths of the perovskite type crystal lattice and b represents the major-axis length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell Energy, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuko Sawaki, Mikio Kishimoto, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Masahiro Imanishi, Shinichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110183237
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an anion conducting electrolyte resin with high anion conducting ability and excellent workability, and a method for producing the same. An anion conducting electrolyte resin comprising a perfluorocarbon electrolyte polymer in which the whole or part of the polymer has a sulfonate group (—SO3?), and a modifier molecule comprising two or more positively-charged groups, wherein an ionic interaction occurs between the sulfonate group of the perfluorocarbon electrolyte polymer and one or more of the positively-charged groups of the modifier molecule to modify the perfluorocarbon electrolyte polymer by the modifier molecules, and wherein an ionic interaction occurs between the rest of the positively-charged groups of the modifier molecule and an anion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Zenpachi Ogumi, Koji Nishio, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Hidekazu Akikawa
  • Patent number: 7977009
    Abstract: A cell module for a fuel cell according to embodiments of the invention includes a hollow-core electrolyte membrane; two electrodes one of which is arranged on the inner face of the hollow-core electrolyte membrane and the other of which is arranged on the outer face of the hollow-core electrolyte membrane; and first collecting members that are connected to the respective two electrodes. At least one of the two electrodes includes nano-columnar bodies on which electrode catalysts are supported. The nano-columnar bodies are formed on at least one of the first collecting members corresponding to the at least one of the electrodes that includes the nano-columnar bodies. At least part of the nano-columnar bodies are oriented toward the hollow-core electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Tsuchiya Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Shigeaki Murata, Masahito Hoshino, Hiroaki Hayashi, Kiyomi Kozuka