Patents by Inventor Joshua D. Isom

Joshua D. Isom 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).

  • Publication number: 20120034536
    Abstract: A fluidized contaminant separator and water-control loop (10) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving media (61) within a fluidized bed (62) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. A fuel-control heat exchanger (57) upstream from the scrubber (58) removes heat from the fuel stream. A water-control loop (78) directs flow of the separated contaminants and water stream from an accumulator (68) through an ion exchange bed (88) which removes contaminants from the stream. Decontaminated water is directed back into the scrubber (58) to flow through the fluidized bed (62). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material (88) minimizes costs and maintenance requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Leslie L. Vandine, Derek W. Hildreth, John L. Preston, Paul R. Hanrahan, Reni Lynn
  • Publication number: 20120021306
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a fuel cell includes first and second heat exchanger portions that provide a fluid flow passage. The second heat exchanger portion is arranged downstream from the first heat exchanger portion. The first and second heat exchanger portions include a coolant flow passage, which is provided by tubes in one example. The first and second heat exchanger portions are configured to transfer heat between the fluid flow and coolant flow passages. The first heat exchanger portion is configured to provide a first heat transfer rate capacity. The second heat exchanger portion includes a second heat transfer rate capacity that is greater than the first heat transfer rate capacity. In one example, the first heat exchanger portion includes tubes and does not include any fins, and the second heat exchanger includes spaced apart fins supporting the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: UTC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Kazuo Saito, John W. Kowalski, Bryan F. Dufner, Sitaram Ramaswamy, Ricardo O. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110281187
    Abstract: A system and method for operating fuel cell power plant 10 includes enclosing fuel bearing components, such as fuel cell stack 28 and reformer 24, into a fuel compartment 12 separate from motorized components in a motor compartment 14, and consuming leaked fuel in the fuel compartment 12 using a fuel bearing component such as cell stack 28 and/or burner 26, thereby reducing fuel emissions from the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: UTC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: John L. Preston, Peter F. Foley, Paul R. Hanrahan, Joshua D. Isom
  • Publication number: 20110112878
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for virtual monitoring of aircraft fleet loads are provided. The method includes calculating virtual load data associated with an aircraft from a set of orthogonal waveforms. The method also includes calculating a set of coefficients as a function of parametric data and high frequency data associated with an aircraft. The method further includes storing the set of coefficients on the aircraft and transmitting the set of coefficients to a ground-based system configured to reproduce the virtual load data based on a copy of the set of orthogonal waveforms and the received set of coefficients in order to perform aircraft fleet management.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, James P. Cycon, Erez Eller, Mark W. Davis
  • Publication number: 20110003214
    Abstract: Fuel processing by a reformer (42) and a shift reactor (44) converts hydrocarbon feedstock (12) and steam (36) to hydrogen-rich reformate (11), such as for use in a fuel cell power plant (47). Some of the reformate is recycled through a restriction (18) to the inlet (15) of a feedstock pump (14), thereby increasing its pressure sufficiently to cause recycle flow through a hydrodesulfurizer (21) and the secondary inlet (26) of an ejector (28) driven by the steam (36). Recycle pressure (48) is maintained by steam pressure through a valve (34) regulated by a controller (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Peter F. Foley, Joshua D. Isom, John L. Preston
  • Publication number: 20100219987
    Abstract: A method of real-time rotor fault detection includes measuring a set of loads to obtain measured signals and virtually monitoring the set of loads to obtain estimated signals. The estimated signals are subtracted from the measured signals to obtain residuals and the residuals are compared to a categorical model. A categorical output representative of a rotor fault is identified within the categorical model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Brian Edward Morris
  • Publication number: 20100187319
    Abstract: Provision is made in an organic rankine cycle power plant for modulating the flow of hot gases from a thermal source to the evaporator. The modulation device may be a blower on the downstream side of the evaporator or a valve on the upstream side thereof. The modulation device is controlled by generation of a digital signal to enable or disenable the modulation device and an analog signal for adjusting the position of the modulation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: UTC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Kent R. McCord
  • Patent number: 6818336
    Abstract: A control method and arrangement (48, 50, 150, I, T, P, FFL) are provided in a fuel cell power plant (10) for regulating (48, FC) fuel flow to a steam-based fuel processing system (FPS) (14) associated with a low-temperature fuel cell stack assembly (12). A portion of the fuel provided by the FPS (14) is used to provide steam for the FPS. The fuel flow to the FPS is regulated as a function of the power demand (I) on the fuel cell (12) and at least the enthalpy of the steam (P, T), such that the steam enthalpy is regulated to meet increases and decreases in power demand without exceeding steam pressure limits. In addition to reliance on-steam pressure (P) as a fundamental measure of steam enthalpy, the control may additionally use reaction temperature (T) at, or in, a reformer, such as a catalytic steam reformer (132), to regulate fuel flow and thus, steam enthalpy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Ha-Anh H. Pho, Zakiul Kabir, Paul R. Margiott, George Vartanian
  • Patent number: 6740435
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for reacting a hydrogen rich gas; a fuel processor system for converting a hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture into said hydrogen rich gas; and a system for preparing the hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture which includes (a) structure for superheating a hydrocarbon fuel so as to provide a superheated fuel, and (b) structure for mixing water with the superheated fuel so as to provide the hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Leslie L. Van Dine, Bryan Murach, Paul R. Margiott, Joshua D. Isom
  • Publication number: 20040038091
    Abstract: A control method and arrangement (48, 50, 150, I, T, P, FFL) are provided in a fuel cell power plant (10) for regulating (48, FC) fuel flow to a steam-based fuel processing system (FPS) (14) associated with a low-temperature fuel cell stack assembly (12). A portion of the fuel provided by the FPS (14) is used to provide steam for the FPS. The fuel flow to the FPS is regulated as a function of the power demand (I) on the fuel cell (12) and at least the enthalpy of the steam (P, T), such that the steam enthalpy is regulated to meet increases and decreases in power demand without exceeding steam pressure limits. In addition to reliance on-steam pressure (P) as a fundamental measure of steam enthalpy, the control may additionally use reaction temperature (T) at, or in, a reformer, such as a catalytic steam reformer (132), to regulate fuel flow and thus, steam enthalpy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Ha-Anh H. Pho, Zakiul Kabir, Paul R. Margiott, George Vartanian
  • Patent number: 6605378
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant having a plurality of functionally integrated components including a fuel cell assembly provided with a fuel stream, an oxidant stream and a coolant stream. The fuel cell power plant functionally integrates a mass and heat recovery device for promoting a transfer of thermal energy and moisture between a first gaseous stream and a second gaseous stream, and a burner for processing the fuel exhausted from the fuel cell assembly during operation thereof. A housing chamber is utilized in which the oxidant stream exhausted from the fuel cell assembly merges with a burner gaseous stream exhausted from the burner. The resultant airflow from the common chamber is directed back to the mass and heat recovery device as the first gaseous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Zakiul Kabir, Joshua D. Isom, Albert P. Grasso
  • Publication number: 20030148157
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant 10 having a fuel cell assembly 20 that may be operable at a high hydrogen utilization. The fuel cell assembly is provided with an inlet fuel stream 207, an inlet oxidant stream 210, and an inlet coolant stream 208, and further has an exhaust oxidant 75 stream and an exhaust coolant stream 205. A housing chamber 110 accepts the exhaust coolant stream and exposes it to a first gaseous stream. A mass and heat recovery device 95 accepts the first gaseous stream after the first gaseous stream is exposed to the exhaust coolant stream, and it promotes a transfer of thermal energy and moisture from the first gaseous stream to a second gaseous stream. The first gaseous stream includes the exhaust oxidant stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Albert P. Grasso, Leslie L. Van Dine, George Vartanian, Kazuo Saito, Zakiul Kabir, Joshua D. Isom
  • Publication number: 20030027025
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for reacting a hydrogen rich gas; a fuel processor system for converting a hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture into said hydrogen rich gas; and a system for preparing the hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture which includes (a) structure for superheating a hydrocarbon fuel so as to provide a superheated fuel, and (b) structure for mixing water with the superheated fuel so as to provide the hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Leslie L. Van Dine, Bryan Murach, Paul R. Margiott, Joshua D. Isom
  • Publication number: 20020009625
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant having a plurality of functionally integrated components including a fuel cell assembly provided with a fuel stream, an oxidant stream and a coolant stream. The fuel cell power plant functionally integrates a mass and heat recovery device for promoting a transfer of thermal energy and moisture between a first gaseous stream and a second gaseous stream, and a burner for processing the fuel exhausted from the fuel cell assembly during operation thereof. A housing chamber is utilized in which the oxidant stream exhausted from the fuel cell assembly merges with a burner gaseous stream exhausted from the burner. The resultant airflow from the common chamber is directed back to the mass and heat recovery device as the first gaseous stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Zakiul Kabir, Joshua D. Isom, Albert P. Grasso