Patents by Inventor K. R. Sridhar

K. R. Sridhar 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: 12173418
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for electrolysis at very large scale (e.g., exceeding 100 megawatts (MW), and at gigawatt (GW) scale having a solid oxide electolyzer cell (SOEC) system including one or more SOEC columns, and one or more heat exchangers, each of the heat exchangers configured to receive input stream that is used to heat respective SOEC columns, wherein each of the heat exchangers is located along respective SOEC columns such that the input steam exiting the heat exchanger is directed towards adjacent SOEC columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K R Sridhar, David Weingaertner, Carlton Cottuli, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 11840320
    Abstract: A method of operating a vessel includes providing hydrogen or a fuel mixture containing hydrogen and a hydrocarbon fuel to a power generator disposed on the vessel, and providing power from the power generator to an electrical load of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Carl Cottuli, Suminderpal Singh, K. R. Sridhar
  • Patent number: 9947955
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a base, a cover dome removably positioned on the base, and a plurality of fuel cell stacks removably positioned on the base below the cover dome. A modular fuel cell system includes a plurality of the fuel cell stack modules, where each fuel cell stack module may be electrically disconnected, removed from the fuel cell system, repaired or serviced without stopping an operation of the other fuel cell stack modules in the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Swaminathan Venkataraman, William David Lyle, Arne Ballantine
  • Patent number: 9597966
    Abstract: A method for charging electric vehicles includes receiving information regarding an electric vehicle. At least a portion of the information is received through a vehicle interface configured to place a battery of the electric vehicle into electrical communication with a fuel cell system. A charge is delivered from the fuel cell system to the battery of the electric vehicle through the vehicle interface without use of a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) converter. The charge is delivered based at least in part on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Stuart Aaron, Arne Ballantine, Peter Light, Scott Reynolds, Ramesh Srinivasan, Ranganathan Gurunathan
  • Patent number: 9214679
    Abstract: A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes providing a solid oxide electrolyte and depositing at least one electrode on the electrolyte by PVD, such as sputtering. A method of making an interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes providing an electrically conductive interconnect, and depositing a layer on the interconnect by PVD, such as depositing a LSM barrier layer by sputtering. The SOFC and the interconnect may be located in the same fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dien Nguyen, Tad Armstrong, Emad El Batawi, Avinash Verma, Ravi Oswal, K. R. Sridhar, Ujwal Deshpande
  • Patent number: 9190693
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a base, a cover dome removably positioned on the base, and a plurality of fuel cell stacks removably positioned on the base below the cover dome. A modular fuel cell system includes a plurality of the fuel cell stack modules, where each fuel cell stack module may be electrically disconnected, removed from the fuel cell system, repaired or serviced without stopping an operation of the other fuel cell stack modules in the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Swaminathan Venkataraman, William David Lyle, Arne Watson Ballantine
  • Patent number: 9166246
    Abstract: A method of operating a high temperature fuel cell system containing a plurality of fuel cell stacks includes operating one or more of the plurality of fuel cell stacks at a first output power while operating another one or more of the plurality of the fuel cell stacks at a second output power different from the first output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 8685579
    Abstract: A method of operating a high temperature fuel cell system containing a plurality of fuel cell stacks includes operating one or more of the plurality of fuel cell stacks at a first output power while operating another one or more of the plurality of the fuel cell stacks at a second output power different from the first output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Enery Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 8663859
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottmann, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8624549
    Abstract: A method for charging electric vehicles includes receiving information regarding an electric vehicle. At least a portion of the information is received through a vehicle interface configured to place a battery of the electric vehicle into electrical communication with a fuel cell system. A charge is delivered from the fuel cell system to the battery of the electric vehicle through the vehicle interface without use of a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) converter. The charge is delivered based at least in part on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Stuart Aaron, Arne Ballantine, Peter Light, Scott Reynolds, Ramesh Srinivasan, Ranganathan Gurunathan
  • Publication number: 20120321975
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottmann, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8277992
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottmann, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8071241
    Abstract: A method in which a high temperature electrochemical system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, generates hydrogen and optionally electricity in a fuel cell mode. At least a part of the generated hydrogen is separated and stored or provided to a hydrogen using device. A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system stores carbon dioxide in a fuel cell mode. The system generates a methane fuel in an electrolysis mode from the stored carbon dioxide and water by using a Sabatier subsystem. Alternatively, the system generates a hydrogen fuel in an electrolysis mode from water alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, James F. McElroy, John E. Finn, Fred Mitlitsky, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 7878280
    Abstract: A hydrogen fueled vehicle includes a vehicle body, a hydrocarbon fuel tank, and a low pressure hydrogen gas storage vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, James F. McElroy
  • Patent number: 7781112
    Abstract: An electrochemical system includes a reversible fuel cell system which generates electrical energy and reactant product from fuel and oxidizer in a fuel cell mode and which generates the fuel and oxidant from the reactant product and the electrical energy in an electrolysis mode. The system also includes a reactant product delivery device which is adapted to supply the reactant product to the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode, in addition to or instead of the reactant product generated by the reversible fuel cell system in the fuel cell mode, and a fuel removal device which is adapted to remove the fuel generated by the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode from the electrochemical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 7700210
    Abstract: A method of operating a high temperature fuel cell system containing a plurality of fuel cell stacks includes operating one or more of the plurality of fuel cell stacks at a first output power while operating another one or more of the plurality of the fuel cell stacks at a second output power different from the first output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 7575822
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottman, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • 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: 7482078
    Abstract: A high temperature electrochemical system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, generates hydrogen and optionally electricity in a fuel cell mode. At least a part of the generated hydrogen is separated and stored or provided to a hydrogen using device. A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system stores carbon dioxide in a fuel cell mode. The system generates a methane fuel in an electrolysis mode from the stored carbon dioxide and water by using a Sabatier subsystem. Alternatively, the system generates a hydrogen fuel in an electrolysis mode from water alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, James F. McElroy, John E. Finn, Fred Mitlitsky, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 7364810
    Abstract: An electrochemical system includes a reversible fuel cell system which generates electrical energy and reactant product from fuel and oxidizer in a fuel cell mode and which generates the fuel and oxidant from the reactant product and the electrical energy in an electrolysis mode. The system also includes a reactant product delivery device which is adapted to supply the reactant product to the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode, in addition to or instead of the reactant product generated by the reversible fuel cell system in the fuel cell mode, and a fuel removal device which is adapted to remove the fuel generated by the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode from the electrochemical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottmann