Patents by Inventor James Frederick McElroy

James Frederick McElroy 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: 7572530
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate metabolic oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel reserve in an electrolysis mode. The system may also be used as a secondary power source or for energy peak shaving applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, James Frederick McElroy, Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar
  • Patent number: 7201979
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate a hydrocarbon fuel in an electrolysis mode. The system includes a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and a reactor adapted to convert an exhaust emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a hydrocarbon gas when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in an electrolysis mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: James Frederick McElroy, John E. Finn
  • Patent number: 7045238
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate metabolic oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel reserve in an electrolysis mode. The system may also be used as a secondary power source or for energy peak shaving applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Ion America Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, James Frederick McElroy, Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar
  • Patent number: 6924053
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a hydrogen recovery unit connected to a fuel supply inlet conduit and to a fuel exhaust outlet conduit. The hydrogen recovery unit is adapted to selectively transfer at least a portion of hydrogen from the fuel exhaust stream to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Ion America Corporation
    Inventor: James Frederick McElroy
  • Patent number: 6908702
    Abstract: A neutrally buoyant airship, such as a blimp, contains a lifting body which allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air and a fuel cell located in the airship. A method of generating power in the neutrally buoyant airship, comprising providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a solid oxide fuel cell to generate power, and providing heat from the fuel cell to a remotely located lifting body, wherein the lifting body allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Ion America Corporation
    Inventors: James Frederick McElroy, K. R. Sridhar
  • Publication number: 20040245385
    Abstract: A neutrally buoyant airship, such as a blimp, contains a lifting body which allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air and a fuel cell located in the airship. A method of generating power in the neutrally buoyant airship, comprising providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a solid oxide fuel cell to generate power, and providing heat from the fuel cell to a remotely located lifting body, wherein the lifting body allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: ION AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Frederick McElroy, K.R. Sridhar
  • Publication number: 20040191597
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell stack, a fuel supply inlet conduit adapted to provide a hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream into the solid oxide fuel cell stack and a fuel exhaust outlet conduit adapted to remove a fuel exhaust stream from the solid oxide fuel cell stack. The system also includes a water vapor and enthalpy recovery unit operatively connected to the fuel supply inlet conduit and to the fuel exhaust outlet conduit. The water vapor and enthalpy recovery unit is adapted to selectively transfer at least a portion of water vapor and heat from the fuel exhaust stream to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream. The system also includes a hydrogen recovery unit connected to the fuel supply inlet conduit and to the fuel exhaust outlet conduit. The hydrogen recovery unit is adapted to selectively transfer at least a portion of hydrogen from the fuel exhaust stream to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Ion America Corporation
    Inventor: James Frederick McElroy
  • Publication number: 20040191598
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate metabolic oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel reserve in an electrolysis mode. The system may also be used as a secondary power source or for energy peak shaving applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: ION AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, James Frederick McElroy, Fred Mitlitsky, K.R. Sridhar
  • Publication number: 20040191595
    Abstract: A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate a hydrocarbon fuel in an electrolysis mode. The system includes a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell and a reactor adapted to convert an exhaust emitted from the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell to a hydrocarbon gas when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operates in an electrolysis mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: ION AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Frederick McElroy, John E. Finn
  • Publication number: 20030207164
    Abstract: A neutrally buoyant airship, such as a blimp, contains a lifting body which allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air and a fuel cell located in the airship. A method of generating power in the neutrally buoyant airship, comprising providing a fuel and a oxidizer to a solid oxide fuel cell to generate power, and providing heat from the fuel cell to a remotely located lifting body, wherein the lifting body allows the airship to remain neutrally buoyant in air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: ION AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Frederick McElroy, K.R. Sridhar
  • Publication number: 20030196893
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrochemical cell having a high-temperature low-hydration (HTLH) ion exchange membrane serving as an electrolyte layer. The membrane may be a non-fluorinated ionomer membrane, such as an acid-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membrane. The HTLH membrane is sandwiched by an anode having a hydrogen-carrying fluid feed chamber with an inlet for receiving a hydrogen-carrying fluid, and a cathode having a hydrogen product chamber with an outlet for discharging a hydrogen product gas. The anode and cathode are electrically couplable to an electric current source for powering the electrochemical cell to produce hydrogen gas in a reduction reaction at the cathode. The hydrogen-carrying fluid may be water, in which case the electrochemical cell serves as an electrolyzer; or, the hydrogen carrying fluid may be a hydrogen gas, in which case the cell serves as a hydrogen pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: James Frederick McElroy, Darren Scott Sokoloski