Patents by Inventor Hongsang Rho
Hongsang Rho 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: 9259855Abstract: A diamond tool comprises a circular core plate and a peripherally attached cutting segment. The cutting segment comprises a plurality of abrasive particles, a holding body that holds the abrasive particles, and a plurality of non-abrasive inserts. The abrasive particles are dispersed within the holding body and the non-abrasive inserts are embedded in the holding body. The non-abrasive inserts are sized and distributed so that the peripheral average density of the abrasive particles in the holding body of the cutting segment varies across the peripheral edge in discrete steps or continuously.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Inventors: Tae Ung Um, Hongsang Rho
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Publication number: 20130014739Abstract: A diamond tool comprises a circular core plate and a peripherally attached cutting segment. The cutting segment comprises a plurality of abrasive particles, a holding body that holds the abrasive particles, and a plurality of non-abrasive inserts. The abrasive particles are dispersed within the holding body and the non-abrasive inserts are embedded in the holding body. The non-abrasive inserts are sized and distributed so that the peripheral average density of the abrasive particles in the holding body of the cutting segment varies across the peripheral edge in discrete steps or continuously.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2011Publication date: January 17, 2013Inventors: Tae Ung Um, Hongsang Rho
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Patent number: 8241771Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells each comprising concentric inner and outer electrode layers sandwiching a concentric electrolyte layer. The fuel cells extend in the same direction and are arranged in a cluster with at least one fuel cell having an electrolyte layer with a different composition and different maximum operating temperature than another fuel cell in the cluster. The fuel cell having the electrolyte layer with a higher maximum operating temperature is located closer to the core of the cluster than the fuel cell having the electrolyte layer with a lower maximum operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Alberta Innovates-Technology FuturesInventors: Partho Sarkar, Lorne Johanson, Hongsang Rho
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Patent number: 7892684Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and a heat exchanger wrapped around the stack. The fuel cell stack comprises a fuel cell that operates at high elevated temperatures, such as a solid oxide fuel cell; the fuel cell can have a tubular configuration and comprise a pair of concentrically arranged electrode layers sandwiching a concentrically arranged electrolyte layer. The heat exchanger wraps around the fuel cell stack and comprises a flexible, thermally conductive first layer and an overlapping flexible, thermally conductive second layer spaced from the first layer. The first and second layers define adjacent annular oxidant supply and oxidant exhaust channels when wrapped around the stack.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Alberta Innovates - Technology FuturesInventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary Kovacik
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Patent number: 7736772Abstract: This invention relates to a stack comprising a continuous solid-phase matrix and tubular fuel cells embedded in the matrix. Each fuel cell comprises an inner electrode layer, an outer electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the inner and outer electrode layers. The matrix is sufficiently porous to allow a first reactant to flow through the matrix and to the outer electrode of each fuel cell, and have sufficient mechanical strength to support the fuel cells in the stack. The fuel cells are embedded such that a second reactant may be flowed through the inside of each tubular fuel cell and to the inner electrode thereof. Alternatively, a stack of tubular separation membranes or a stack of tubular membrane reactors may be embedded in the matrix. The matrix material may comprise solid state foam, metal filament, or metal, cermet, or ceramic wool.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2003Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Alberta Research Council, Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho
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Patent number: 7732076Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one longitudinally extending tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a longitudinally extending heater mounted in thermal proximity to the fuel cell to provide heat to the fuel cell during start up and during operation as needed. The heater and fuel cell can be encased within a tubular thermal casing; the inside of the casing defines a first reactant chamber for containing a first reactant, such as oxidant. The fuel cell comprises a ceramic solid state electrolyte layer and inner and outer electrode layers concentrically arranged around and sandwiching the electrolyte layer. The outer electrode layer is fluidly communicable with the first reactant, and the inner electrode layer is fluidly isolated from the first reactant and fluidly communicable with a second reactant, such as fuel.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Rong Zheng, Gary Kovacik, Hongsang Rho, Partho Sarkar, Luis Yamarte, Mark L. Richardson
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Patent number: 7452622Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-supported tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell, and a fuel cell made from such method. The method comprises the steps of coating a wooden substrate member with a conductive substrate layer, coating the substrate layer with an inner electrode layer, coating the inner electrode layer with an electrolyte layer, drying and sintering the coated substrate member such that the substrate member combusts, coating the electrolyte layer with an outer electrode layer, and then drying and sintering the layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson, Luis Yamarte
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Publication number: 20070243444Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one longitudinally extending tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a longitudinally extending heater mounted in thermal proximity to the fuel cell to provide heat to the fuel cell during start up and during operation as needed. The heater and fuel cell can be encased within a tubular thermal casing; the inside of the casing defines a first reactant chamber for containing a first reactant, such as oxidant. The fuel cell comprises a ceramic solid state electrolyte layer and inner and outer electrode layers concentrically arranged around and sandwiching the electrolyte layer. The outer electrode layer is fluidly communicable with the first reactant, and the inner electrode layer is fluidly isolated from the first reactant and fluidly communicable with a second reactant, such as fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2005Publication date: October 18, 2007Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL, INC.Inventors: Rong Zheng, Gary Kovacik, Hongsang Rho, Partho Sarkar, Luis Yamarte, Mark Richardson
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Patent number: 7258936Abstract: This invention relates to controlling a load-following solid oxide fuel cell system such that the fuel cells in the system are operating within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency. The system has a controller that is programmed to detect a load change on a fuel cell stack, and when the load decreases, reduces the fuel flow rate to the stack or deactivates one or more fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range corresponding to the decreased load; and when the load increases, the controller increases the fuel flow rate to the stack or activates fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within the acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Alberta Research Council, Inc.Inventors: Rong Zheng, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary J. Kovacik, Partha Sarkar
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Patent number: 7235321Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an outer tubular solid oxide fuel cell, a solid phase porous matrix located inside the outer fuel cell and attached to its inner electrode layer, and at least one inner tubular solid oxide fuel cell embedded in the matrix. The outer fuel cell has an inner electrode layer configured to receive a first reactant fluid, an outer electrode layer configured to receive a second reactant fluid, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the electrode layers. The inner fuel cell has an outer electrode layer configured to receive the first reactant fluid, an inner electrode layer configured to receive the second reactant fluid, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the inner and outer electrode layers. The matrix has sufficient mechanical strength to support the inner fuel cell and sufficient porosity to enable the first reactant fluid to flow through the matrix to the inner and outer fuel cell respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2004Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Alberta Research Council, Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson
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Publication number: 20070003806Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and a heat exchanger wrapped around the stack. The fuel cell stack comprises a fuel cell that operates at high elevated temperatures, such as a solid oxide fuel cell; the fuel cell can have a tubular configuration and comprise a pair of concentrically arranged electrode layers sandwiching a concentrically arranged electrolyte layer. The heat exchanger wraps around the fuel cell stack and comprises a flexible, thermally conductive first layer and an overlapping flexible, thermally conductive second layer spaced from the first layer. The first and second layers define adjacent annular oxidant supply and oxidant exhaust channels when wrapped around the stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary Kovacik
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Publication number: 20060134489Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells each comprising concentric inner and outer electrode layers sandwiching a concentric electrolyte layer. The fuel cells extend in the same direction and are arranged in a cluster with at least one fuel cell having an electrolyte layer with a different composition and different maximum operating temperature than another fuel cell in the cluster. The fuel cell having the electrolyte layer with a higher maximum operating temperature is located closer to the core of the cluster than the fuel cell having the electrolyte layer with a lower maximum operating temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2004Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Lorne Johanson, Hongsang Rho
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Publication number: 20060127725Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an outer tubular solid oxide fuel cell, a solid phase porous matrix located inside the outer fuel cell and attached to its inner electrode layer, and at least one inner tubular solid oxide fuel cell embedded in the matrix. The outer fuel cell has an inner electrode layer configured to receive a first reactant fluid, an outer electrode layer configured to receive a second reactant fluid, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the electrode layers. The inner fuel cell has an outer electrode layer configured to receive the first reactant fluid, an inner electrode layer configured to receive the second reactant fluid, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the inner and outer electrode layers. The matrix has sufficient mechanical strength to support the inner fuel cell and sufficient porosity to enable the first reactant fluid to flow through the matrix to the inner and outer fuel cell respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2004Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson
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Publication number: 20060051643Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-supported tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell, and a fuel cell made from such method. The method comprises the steps of coating a wooden substrate member with a conductive substrate layer, coating the substrate layer with an inner electrode layer, coating the inner electrode layer with an electrolyte layer, drying and sintering the coated substrate member such that the substrate member combusts, coating the electrolyte layer with an outer electrode layer, and then drying and sintering the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2003Publication date: March 9, 2006Applicant: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson, Luis Yamarte
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Publication number: 20050214613Abstract: This invention relates to a stack comprising a continuous solid-phase matrix and tubular fuel cells embedded in the matrix. Each fuel cell comprises an inner electrode layer, an outer electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the inner and outer electrode layers. The matrix is sufficiently porous to allow a first reactant to flow through the matrix and to the outer electrode of each fuel cell, and have sufficient mechanical strength to support the fuel cells in the stack. The fuel cells are embedded such that a second reactant may be flowed through the inside of each tubular fuel cell and to the inner electrode thereof. Alternatively, a stack of tubular separation membranes or a stack of tubular membrane reactors may be embedded in the matrix. The matrix material may comprise solid state foam, metal filament, or metal, cermet, or ceramic wool.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2003Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho
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Publication number: 20050196657Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an outer tubular solid oxide fuel cell, a solid phase porous matrix located inside the outer fuel cell and attached to its inner electrode layer, and at least one inner tubular solid oxide fuel cell embedded in the matrix. The outer fuel cell has an inner electrode layer configured to receive a first reactant fluid, an outer electrode layer configured to receive a second reactant fluid, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the electrode layers. The inner fuel cell has an outer electrode layer configured to receive the first reactant fluid, an inner electrode layer configured to receive the second reactant fluid, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the inner and outer electrode layers. The matrix has sufficient mechanical strength to support the inner fuel cell and sufficient porosity to enable the first reactant fluid to flow through the matrix to the inner and outer fuel cell respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2004Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson
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Patent number: 6936367Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, external circuit electrical leads coupled to the fuel cell electrodes, and a thermal enclosure assembly enclosing the stack. The stack includes a plurality of inner tubular solid oxide fuel cells, the inside of the inner fuel cells being fluidly couplable to a first reactant source, and a porous support matrix embedding the inner fuel cells and being fluidly couplable to a second reactant source such that a second reactant is flowable through the matrix and to the outer surface of the embedded fuel cells. The stack may also include an outer tubular solid oxide fuel cell surrounding the matrix and the inner fuel cells such that the second reactant is flowable through the matrix and to an inside surface of the outer fuel cell and wherein the outer surface of the outer fuel cell is fluidly couplable to a first reactant source.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Lorne Johanson, Hongsang Rho
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Publication number: 20050112419Abstract: This invention relates to controlling a load-following solid oxide fuel cell system such that the fuel cells in the system are operating within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency. The system has a controller that is programmed to detect a load change on a fuel cell stack, and when the load decreases, reduces the fuel flow rate to the stack or deactivates one or more fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range corresponding to the decreased load; and when the load increases, the controller increases the fuel flow rate to the stack or activates fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within the acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Inventors: Rong Zheng, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary Kovacik, Partho Sarkar
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Patent number: 6893762Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-supported tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell, and a fuel cell made from such method. The method comprises the steps of coating a wooden substrate member with a conductive substrate layer, coating the substrate layer with an inner electrode layer, coating the inner electrode layer with an electrolyte layer, drying and sintering the coated substrate member such that the substrate member combusts, coating the electrolyte layer with an outer electrode layer, and then drying and sintering the layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Alberta Research Council, Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Lorne Johanson, Hongsang Rho
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Patent number: 6824907Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell sub-stack comprising a plurality of tubular fuel cells, and a solid-state matrix in which the fuel cells are embedded. Each fuel cell comprises an inner electrode layer, an outer electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the inner and outer electrode layers. The matrix is electronic or mixed (electronic and ionic) conductive, porous enough for a first reactant to flow through the matrix and to the outer electrode of each fuel cell, and strong enough to support the fuel cells in the stack. The fuel cells are embedded such that a second reactant may be flowed through the inside of each tubular fuel cell and to the inner electrode thereof. The sub-stack may be combined with other sub-stacks to form a fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Alberta Reasearch Council, Inc.Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho