Patents by Inventor Kei Hosoi

Kei Hosoi 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: 7989121
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. A fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layers and the oxidant electrode layers, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collectors and the air electrode current collectors, respectively. Alternatively, indents are provided on the surface of each of the separators, which surface is in contact with one of the current collectors, to increase the dwell volume and hence the retaining time of the gas in the interior of the current collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7914941
    Abstract: An electric power generation cell 1 is constituted by arranging a fuel electrode layer 4 on one side of a solid electrolyte layer 3 and an air electrode layer 2 on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer 3. The solid electrolyte layer 3 is constituted of an oxide ion conductor mainly composed of a lanthanum gallate based oxide. The fuel electrode layer 4 is constituted of a porous sintered compact having a highly dispersed network structure in which a skeletal structure formed of a consecutive array of metal grains is surrounded by mixed conductive oxide grains. For the air electrode layer 2, a porous sintered compact mainly composed of cobaltite is used. This configuration reduces the overpotentials of the respective electrodes and the IR loss of the solid electrolyte layer 3, and accordingly can actualize a solid oxide type fuel cell excellent in electric power generation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: The Kansai Electric Power Co., Japan Fine Ceramics Center, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Inagaki, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Tsunehisa Sasaki, Kazuhiro Miura, Takehisa Fukui, Satoshi Ohara, Kei Hosoi, Koji Hoshino, Kazunori Adachi
  • Patent number: 7754359
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell provided with a power cell (1) in which a fuel electrode layer (4) is arranged on one surface of a solid electrolyte layer (3) and an air electrode layer (2) is arranged on the other surface thereof, wherein the solid electrolyte layer (3) has a two layer structure including a first electrolyte layer (3a) made of a ceria based oxide material and a second electrolyte layer (3b) made of a lanthanum gallate based oxide material, and the second electrolyte layer is formed on the side of the air electrode layer. Preferably, the material composition for the fuel electrode layer (4) is a mixture of Ni and CeSmO2, wherein the composition ratio of component materials is graded along the thickness thereof in such a way that the quantity of Ni is made less than the quantity of CeSmO2 near the boundary interface with said solid electrolyte layer, and the mixing ratio of Ni is gradually increased with an increasing distance away from the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corp., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Hoshino, Kei Hosoi, Takashi Yamada, Jun Akikusa
  • Publication number: 20100021792
    Abstract: An electric power generation cell 1 is constituted by arranging a fuel electrode layer 4 on one side of a solid electrolyte layer 3 and an air electrode layer 2 on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer 3. The solid electrolyte layer 3 is constituted of an oxide ion conductor mainly composed of a lanthanum gallate based oxide. The fuel electrode layer 4 is constituted of a porous sintered compact having a highly dispersed network structure in which a skeletal structure formed of a consecutive array of metal grains is surrounded by mixed conductive oxide grains. For the air electrode layer 2, a porous sintered compact mainly composed of cobaltite is used. This configuration reduces the overpotentials of the respective electrodes and the IR loss of the solid electrolyte layer 3, and accordingly can actualize a solid oxide type fuel cell excellent in electric power generation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Toru Inagaki, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Tsunehisa Sasaki, Kazuhiro Miura, Takehisa Fukui, Satoshi Ohara, Kei Hosoi, Koji Hoshino, Kazunori Adachi
  • Publication number: 20090169970
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators (8) outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In the first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators (8) to the fuel electrode layers and the oxidant electrode layers, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collectors and the air electrode current collectors, respectively. Each separator (8) is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate (21) in which a first gas discharge opening (25) is arranged in the central part and second gas discharge openings (24) are circularly arranged in the peripheral part, and a thin metal plate (22) with an indented surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20090098433
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In a first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layer and the oxidant electrode layer, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector, respectively. Each separator is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate in which a first gas discharge opening is arranged in a central part and second gas discharge openings are circularly arranged in a peripheral part, and a thin metal plate with an indented surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7517605
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In a first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layer and the oxidant electrode layer, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector, respectively. Each separator is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate in which a first gas discharge opening is arranged in a central part and second gas discharge openings are circularly arranged in a peripheral part, and a thin metal plate with an indented surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20070166593
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell provided with a power cell (1) in which a fuel electrode layer (4) is arranged on one surface of a solid electrolyte layer (3) and an air electrode layer (2) is arranged on the other surface thereof, wherein the solid electrolyte layer (3) has a two layer structure including a first electrolyte layer (3a) made of a ceria based oxide material and a second electrolyte layer (3b) made of a lanthanum gallate based oxide material, and the second electrolyte layer is formed on the side of the air electrode layer. It is preferable that the first electrolyte layer is formed thinner than the second electrolyte layer. According to such a configuration, there can be provided a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an inexpensive solid electrolyte layer which reduces the contact resistances in the interfaces between the solid electrolyte layer and the respective electrode layers, and thereby improves the generation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Koji Hoshino, Kei Hosoi, Takashi Yamada, Jun Akikusa
  • Publication number: 20070092775
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In a first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layer and the oxidant electrode layer, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector, respectively. Each separator is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate in which a first gas discharge opening is arranged in a central part and second gas discharge openings are circularly arranged in a peripheral part, and a thin metal plate with an indented surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7201991
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In a first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layer and the oxidant electrode layer, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector, respectively. Each separator is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate in which a first gas discharge opening is arranged in a central part and second gas discharge openings are circularly arranged in a peripheral part, and a thin metal plate with an indented surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20070015015
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a solid oxide fuel cell assembled with an internal reforming mechanism stable and efficient over a long period. To achieve the object, in the present invention, a fuel-electrode layer 3 and an air-electrode layer 4 are disposed on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte layer 2; a fuel-electrode-side porous metal 6 and an air-electrode-side porous metal 7 are disposed on the outer surfaces of the fuel-electrode layer 3 and the air-electrode layer 4, respectively; and a separator 8 is disposed on each of the outer surfaces of the fuel-electrode-side porous metal 6 and the air-electrode-side porous metal 7. Then, the solid oxide fuel cell is constructed by closely adhering them all. The pores 6a in the fuel-electrode-side porous metal 6 is partially or fully filled with a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst 10, and reforming reaction is driven by the reforming catalyst 10 before a fuel gas reaches the fuel-electrode layer 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Koji Hoshino, Norihisa Chitose, Takashi Yamada, Norikazu Komada, Kazunori Adachi, Kei Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20050221161
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators (8) outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In the first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators (8) to the fuel electrode layers and the oxidant electrode layers, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collectors and the air electrode current collectors, respectively. Each separator (8) is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate (21) in which a first gas discharge opening (25) is arranged in the central part and second gas discharge openings (24) are circularly arranged in the peripheral part, and a thin metal plate (22) with an indented surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20050221140
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell provided with a power cell (1) in which a fuel electrode layer (4) is arranged on one surface of a solid electrolyte layer (3) and an air electrode layer (2) is arranged on the other surface thereof, wherein the solid electrolyte layer (3) has a two layer structure including a first electrolyte layer (3a) made of a ceria based oxide material and a second electrolyte layer (3b) made of a lanthanum gallate based oxide material, and the second electrolyte layer is formed on the side of the air electrode layer. It is preferable that the first electrolyte layer is formed thinner than the second electrolyte layer. According to such a configuration, there can be provided a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an inexpensive solid electrolyte layer which reduces the contact resistances in the interfaces between the solid electrolyte layer and the respective electrode layers, and thereby improves the generation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Koji Hoshino, Kei Hosoi, Takashi Yamada, Jun Akikusa
  • Publication number: 20050089749
    Abstract: An electrode of a solid oxide fuel cell has a skeleton (11) constituted of a porous sintered compact having a three dimensional network structure, the porous sintered compact being made of an oxide ion conducting material and/or a mixed oxide ion conducting material; grains (12) made of an electron conducting material and/or a mixed oxide ion conducting material are adhered onto the surface of the skeleton; and the grains are baked inside the voids (13) of the porous sintered compact under the conditions such that the grains are filled inside the voids. The electrode drastically improves the electrode properties and alleviates the thermal shock and the thermal strain to a great extent. It is preferable that the electrode is used in the form such that the electrode is formed to be integrated with the electrolyte on one surface or on both surfaces of an oxide ion conducting, dense solid electrolyte layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Kazunori Adachi, Kei Hosoi, Toru Inagaki, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Tsunehisa Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20050064277
    Abstract: An electric power generation cell 1 is constituted by arranging a fuel electrode layer 4 on one side of a solid electrolyte layer 3 and an air electrode layer 2 on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer 3. The solid electrolyte layer 3 is constituted of an oxide ion conductor mainly composed of a lanthanum gallate based oxide. The fuel electrode layer 4 is constituted of a porous sintered compact having a highly dispersed network structure in which a skeletal structure formed of a consecutive array of metal grains is surrounded by mixed conductive oxide grains. For the air electrode layer 2, a porous sintered compact mainly composed of cobaltite is used. This configuration reduces the overpotentials of the respective electrodes and the IR loss of the solid electrolyte layer 3, and accordingly can actualize a solid oxide type fuel cell excellent in electric power generation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Toru Inagaki, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Tsunehisa Sasaki, Kazuhiro Miura, Takehisa Fukui, Satoshi Ohara, Kei Hosoi, Koji Hoshino, Kazunori Adachi