Patents by Inventor Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier 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: 8142951Abstract: The invention concerns a monopolar fuel cell endplate (4) of the type with proton exchanging membrane consisting of a cathode or anode monopolar half-plate (41) attached to a closure plate (42). The monopolar half-plate comprises, in its central part, a cathode or anode active region (411), and, at its periphery, at least two oxidant boxes, if the monopolar half-plate is cathodic, or fuel boxes, if the monopolar half-plate is anodic. Each oxidant or fuel box comprises at least one channel (414) emerging outside the active region (411) to enable oxidant or fuel to be circulated outside the monopolar plate on the monopolar plate side, the oxidant or fuel boxes not comprising an opening emerging into the central region of the closure plate, such that the central part of said closure plate is not swept either with fuel or with oxidant.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Francis Roy, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Patent number: 8142940Abstract: A flat fuel cell including: at least two unit cells, a casing provided with supports for each of said unit cells, said supports offering a bearing surface to a periphery of the unit cells, a sealing member interposed between the periphery of each unit cell and the surface of an associated support, and a cover forming a compression element coming into abutment on the periphery of each unit cell opposite the sealing member and cooperating directly with the associated support in order to provide compression of the sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Philippe Manicardi, Audrey Montaut, Jean Oriol
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Patent number: 8105727Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2006Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Damien Lemasson, Guillaume Joncquet, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Publication number: 20110262821Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid delivery head for an electrochemical cell, for example a fuel cell. The delivery head combines the inlets and outlets of the lines for delivering the fluids, notably hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen delivery line feeds an active part of the fuel cell and includes a cavity in communication with a discharge pipe via a solenoid valve. The invention performs several functions with a minimum of elements and with reduced bulk.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SAInventors: Sadok Garnit, Francis Roy, Guillaume Joncquet, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Patent number: 8029938Abstract: The electric power source comprises a fuel cell and at least one flow channel the inlet and outlet whereof are respectively connected to a reactive fluid source and to a tank designed to contain the reactive fluid feeding the fuel cell and the water produced by the fuel cell. An inlet valve is arranged between the reactive fluid source and the inlet of the flow channel and is controlled by a control device. Once the tank has been filled with reactive fluid, the inlet valve is closed for a predetermined first time period. It is then opened for a predetermined second time period so as to evacuate the water accumulated in the fuel cell during the first time period to the tank, and to refill the tank with reactive fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Commissariat l'Energie AtomiqueInventor: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Publication number: 20110189552Abstract: The invention relates to a draining device for a fuel cell (FC). The effluents from a hydrogen FC comprising a recirculation circuit have to be regularly drained in order to guarantee optimum operation. The draining devices of the prior art are characterized by significant variations in the hydrogen concentration of the effluents. The invention consists in incorporating the draining means in the device for separating the liquid and gas phases of the effluents. Advantageously, means for fine regulation of the draining flow rate are provided, which makes it possible to limit the losses of hydrogen the drained effluents.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicants: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives, Peugeot Citroen Automobiles S.A.Inventors: Sadok Garnit, Francis Roy, Guillaume Joncquet, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Patent number: 7964321Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, of the type that comprises anode and cathode bipolar half plates (1, 1?) which are placed next to one another. The central part of each bipolar half plate comprises an active zone (2), while the periphery thereof comprises a plurality of cut-outs (4, 4?, 5, 5?, 6) which are intended to form at least two oxidant tanks, two fuel tanks and two coolant tanks. Moreover, at least one bipolar half plate comprises at least one connecting rib (8, 8?, 10, 12) between a peripheral cut-out and the active zone. Projecting out from the outer face, each coolant tank cut-out is surrounded by a sealing rib (7, 7?) and the periphery of each bipolar half plate comprises a rib (15, 15?) for sealing the active zone, which connects the coolant tank sealing ribs and which surrounds the oxidant and fuel tanks. Furthermore, each channel formed by a rib segment (15, 15?) between two coolant tanks is blocked by a blocking means (17, 17?).Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Francis Roy, Damien Lemasson, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
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Publication number: 20100129725Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell bipolar plate (22) comprising at least one ridge (47, 23a, 33a, 40a, 27a, 35a, 41a, 23a) on at least one of the faces (51) thereof, such as seal at least one fluid circuit in the cell from among the oxidant, fuel and coolant inlet circuits and the oxidant, fuel and coolant outlet circuits, said circuits being formed by stacking openings which are provided in the plate (22) and which form an inlet and an outlet for the oxidant and the fuel (33, 40, 35, 41) respectively and openings which form an inlet and an outlet for the coolant (23, 27) respectively during the assembly of the constituent cells (1) of the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicants: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Commissariat A L'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Francis Roy, Guillaume Joncquet, Gery Adriansen, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
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Patent number: 7718299Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a first through-hole positioned within one of its peripheral edges for circulating a reactive fluid, an anode compartment extending at one of its two main faces, and a cathode compartment extending at the opposite main face. At least one of the compartments is formed completely or partially by a region recessed with respect to the corresponding main face. The recessed region is connected to the through-hole via an intake channel that is recessed within the peripheral edge of the corresponding main face for the reactive fluid to flow into the compartment. A second through-hole located near the first through-hole is provided and is intended for circulating the reactive fluid. The main face opposite the face housing the recessed region comprises a generally non-emergent groove that connects the first and second through-holes.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Sylvain Madeleine, Philippe Manicardi, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Patent number: 7713647Abstract: The invention mainly concerns a fuel cell seal (52) designed to be affixed on a bipolar plate (22) in the form of a membrane whereof the profile corresponds approximately to the peripheral frame (50) of the bipolar plate (22) and comprising a central opening (66) coinciding approximately with the central zone (46) dispensing the reagents of the bipolar plate (22). The invention also concerns a fuel cell comprising an electrode membrane assembly (70) which includes in particular an active region (74), which is the site of anode and cathode reactions, and a peripheral frame (75) and which is sandwiched between two bipolar plates (22) whereon is affixed the inventive seal (52).Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Damien Lemasson, Xavier Glipa, Francis Roy, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
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Publication number: 20100098982Abstract: The invention concerns a monopolar fuel cell endplate (4) of the type with proton exchanging membrane consisting of a cathode or anode monopolar half-plate (41) attached to a closure plate (42). The monopolar half-plate comprises, in its central part, a cathode or anode active region (411), and, at its periphery, at least two oxidant boxes, if the monopolar half-plate is cathodic, or fuel boxes, if the monopolar half-plate is anodic. Each oxidant or fuel box comprises at least one channel (414) emerging outside the active region (411) to enable oxidant or fuel to be circulated outside the monopolar plate on the monopolar plate side, the oxidant or fuel boxes not comprising an opening emerging into the central region of the closure plate, such that the central part of said closure plate is not swept either with fuel or with oxidant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2006Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicants: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUEInventors: Francis Roy, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Publication number: 20090155670Abstract: Flat fuel cell comprising at least two unit cells, a casing provided with supports for each of said unit cells, said supports offering a bearing surface to a periphery of the unit cells, sealing means interposed between the periphery of each unit cell and the surface of an associated support, and a cover forming a compression element coming into abutment on the periphery of each unit cell opposite the sealing means and cooperating directly with the associated support in order to provide compression of the sealing means.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUEInventors: Jean-Philippe POIROT-CROUVEZIER, Philippe Manicardi, Audrey Montaut, Jean Oriol
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Publication number: 20090075154Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a first through-hole positioned within one of its peripheral edges for circulating a reactive fluid, an anode compartment extending at one of its two main faces, and a cathode compartment extending at the opposite main face. At least one of the compartments is formed completely or partially by a region recessed with respect to the corresponding main face. The recessed region is connected to the through-hole via an intake channel that is recessed within the peripheral edge of the corresponding main face for the reactive fluid to flow into the compartment. A second through-hole located near the first through-hole is provided and is intended for circulating the reactive fluid. The main face opposite the face housing the recessed region comprises a generally non-emergent groove that connects the first and second through-holes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Sylvain Madeleine, Philippe Manicardi, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Publication number: 20090042074Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, of the type that comprises a cathode bipolar half plate and an anode bipolar half plate which are placed next to one another. Each bipolar half plate (1) consists of a plate, the central part of which comprises an active zone (2), while the periphery thereof comprises a plurality of cut-outs (4) which are intended to form at least two oxidant tanks, at least two fuel tanks and at least two coolant tanks. Moreover, at least one bipolar half plate comprises at least one connecting rib (8) between a peripheral cut-out and the active zone. The invention is characterised in that each cut-out (4) that is intended to form a coolant tank is surrounded by a tank-sealing rib (7) which projects out from the outer face of the bipolar half plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2006Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicants: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUEInventors: Francis Roy, Damien Lemasson, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
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Publication number: 20080318102Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2006Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicants: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUEInventors: Damien Lemasson, Guillaume Joncquet, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Publication number: 20080268324Abstract: The invention mainly concerns a fuel cell seal (52) designed to be affixed on a bipolar plate (22) in the form of a membrane whereof the profile corresponds approximately to the peripheral frame (50) of the bipolar plate (22) and comprising a central opening (66) coinciding approximately with the central zone (46) dispensing the reagents of the bipolar plate (22). The invention also concerns a fuel cell comprising an electrode membrane assembly (70) which includes in particular an active region (74), which is the site of anode and cathode reactions, and a peripheral frame (75) and which is sandwiched between two bipolar plates (22) whereon is affixed the inventive seal (52).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2006Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicants: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUEInventors: Damien Lemasson, Xavier Glipa, Francis Roy, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
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Publication number: 20050202300Abstract: The electric power source comprises a fuel cell and at least one flow channel the inlet and outlet whereof are respectively connected to a reactive fluid source and to a tank designed to contain the reactive fluid feeding the fuel cell and the water produced by the fuel cell. An inlet valve is arranged between the reactive fluid source and the inlet of the flow channel and is controlled by a control device. Once the tank has been filled with reactive fluid, the inlet valve is closed for a predetermined first time period. It is then opened for a predetermined second time period so as to evacuate the water accumulated in the fuel cell during the first time period to the tank, and to refill the tank with reactive fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2003Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventor: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier