Patents by Inventor Keiji Tsukamoto

Keiji Tsukamoto 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: 11380915
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a power generation facility configured to supply power to a consumer and a server configured to communicate with the facility. The facility includes a fuel cell configured to generate, using fuel gas supplied via a supply path of the fuel gas to the consumer, power to be supplied to the consumer, and a measurement unit configured to measure a supply amount of the fuel gas used for the power generation. The server includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information concerning a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the consumer, and a specifying unit configured to specify, based on a measurement result of the measurement unit received from the facility and the information, a supply amount of the fuel gas not used for the power generation in the supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Masashi Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20210218042
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a power generation facility configured to supply power to a consumer and a server configured to communicate with the facility. The facility includes a fuel cell configured to generate, using fuel gas supplied via a supply path of the fuel gas to the consumer, power to be supplied to the consumer, and a measurement unit configured to measure a supply amount of the fuel gas used for the power generation. The server includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information concerning a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the consumer, and a specifying unit configured to specify, based on a measurement result of the measurement unit received from the facility and the information, a supply amount of the fuel gas not used for the power generation in the supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Keiji TSUKAMOTO, Masashi SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 10826096
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system for preventing carbon deposition in a fuel cell stack to be supplied with reformed gas. A fuel cell system 10A of the present invention includes a partial oxidation reformer 22 for partially oxidizing raw fuel to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a shift reactor 23 for shift reacting the carbon monoxide with steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a fuel cell stack 20 for generating electric power by electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and the hydrogen which is produced in at least one of the partial oxidation reformer 22 and the shift reactor 23, and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe P6 for supplying steam contained in exhaust gas of the fuel cell stack 20 to the shift reactor 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Mizuno, Shigeru Toda, Keiji Tsukamoto, Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 10328416
    Abstract: A fuel reforming catalyst which contains an inorganic porous support, a catalytically active species, and catalyst particles including CeO2 and ZrO2 and in which the concentration of ZrO2 in the catalyst particles is higher in the vicinity of the particle surface than in the particle interior and the concentration of CeO2 in the catalyst particles is equal in the particle interior and in the vicinity of the particle surface is proposed for the purpose of providing a new fuel reforming catalyst which can effectively lower the concentration of the hydrocarbon of C2 or more in the gas which has passed through a steam reforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Moriuchi, Kazuya Kinoshita, Yunosuke Nakahara, Keiji Tsukamoto, Kazuyuki Yamada, Hideo Urata
  • Patent number: 10297854
    Abstract: A fuel cell of a fuel cell stack includes a power generation reaction area, a marginal area around the power generation reaction area, and a first reactant gas flow area and a second reactant gas flow area. The first reactant gas flow area and the second reactant gas flow area are provided outside the power generation reaction area and inside the marginal area. The fuel cell stack includes a first load applying unit configured to apply a first load to the marginal area in the stacking direction and a second load applying area configured to apply a second load to the power generation reaction area in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 10170776
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes combustion gas channel members connected to a combustor and extending upward along the fuel cell stack. The combustion gas channel members have combustion gas channels, and combustion gas ejection holes. A combustion gas produced in the combustor flows through the combustion gas channels upward, and the combustion gas ejection holes are connected to the combustion gas channels for releasing the combustion gas toward side surfaces of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Homma, Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20170288246
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system for preventing carbon deposition in a fuel cell stack to be supplied with reformed gas. A fuel cell system 10A of the present invention includes a partial oxidation reformer 22 for partially oxidizing raw fuel to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a shift reactor 23 for shift reacting the carbon monoxide with steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a fuel cell stack 20 for generating electric power by electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and the hydrogen which is produced in at least one of the partial oxidation reformer 22 and the shift reactor 23, and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe P6 for supplying steam contained in exhaust gas of the fuel cell stack 20 to the shift reactor 23.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jun Mizuno, Shigeru Toda, Keiji Tsukamoto, Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 9698440
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and a hydrodesulfurizer. A fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas supply channel, and the reformer and the hydrodesulfurizer are provided for the fuel gas supply channel. A fuel exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell stack into a fuel exhaust gas channel, and a recycling channel is connected to the fuel exhaust gas channel, for circulating some of the fuel exhaust gas to return to a position of the fuel gas supply channel, the position provided upstream of the reformer and the hydrodesulfurizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Ayaka Nango, Jun Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20170165642
    Abstract: A fuel reforming catalyst which contains an inorganic porous support, a catalytically active species, and catalyst particles including CeO2 and ZrO2 and in which the concentration of ZrO2 in the catalyst particles is higher in the vicinity of the particle surface than in the particle interior and the concentration of CeO2 in the catalyst particles is equal in the particle interior and in the vicinity of the particle surface is proposed for the purpose of providing a new fuel reforming catalyst which can effectively lower the concentration of the hydrocarbon of C2 or more in the gas which has passed through a steam reforming reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Seiji MORIUCHI, Kazuya KINOSHITA, Yunosuke NAKAHARA, Keiji TSUKAMOTO, Kazuyuki YAMADA, Hideo URATA
  • Patent number: 9614233
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a first casing containing the fuel cell stack, and a second casing containing the first casing, an exhaust gas combustor, and a heat exchanger. The exhaust gas combustor has a combustion gas discharge opening opened to a combustion gas chamber formed between the first casing and the second casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Shigeru Toda, Hiroki Homma, Hideichi Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20170069919
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes combustion gas channel members connected to a combustor and extending upward along the fuel cell stack. The combustion gas channel members have combustion, gas channels, and combustion gas ejection holes. A combustion gas produced in the combustor flows through the combustion gas channels upward, and the combustion gas ejection holes are connected to the combustion gas channels for releasing the combustion gas toward side surfaces of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Homma, Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9537171
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and an exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell stack has an oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel and a fuel exhaust gas channel at one end in a stacking direction of fuel cells. An exhaust gas combustor connected to the oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel and the fuel exhaust gas channel are provided at the one end of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction. A reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9362575
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, an exhaust gas combustor for combusting a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack thereby to produce a combustion gas, and a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with the combustion gas. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided so as to surround the exhaust gas combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9318758
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a lower end plate for placing a stack body on the lower end plate, a load plate for applying a load to the stack body in a stacking direction, and a fuel cell support member provided between the load plate and the stack body. The fuel cell support member includes composite layers made of composite material of alumina fiber and vermiculite. The fuel cell support member includes a first support section for applying a load to sandwiching sections at a position corresponding to electrolyte electrode assemblies, and a second support section for applying a load to reactant gas supply sections in the stacking direction. The density of the first support section is smaller than the density of the second support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Shinohara, Keiji Tsukamoto, Hideo Urata
  • Patent number: 9318756
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, an exhaust gas combustor for producing the combustion gas, and a start-up combustor for producing the combustion gas. The exhaust gas combustor is provided integrally in the heat exchanger. The start-up combustor is provided adjacent to one end of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto, Go Muto
  • Publication number: 20160064747
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a first casing containing the fuel cell stack, and a second casing containing the first casing, an exhaust gas combustor, and a heat exchanger. The exhaust gas combustor has a combustion gas discharge opening opened to a combustion gas chamber formed between the first casing and the second casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Shigeru Toda, Hiroki Homma, Hideichi Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20160064761
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and a hydrodesulfurizer. A fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas supply channel, and the reformer and the hydrodesulfurizer are provided for the fuel gas supply channel. A fuel exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell stack into a fuel exhaust gas channel, and a recycling channel is connected to the fuel exhaust gas channel, for circulating some of the fuel exhaust gas to return to a position of the fuel gas supply channel, the position provided upstream of the reformer and the hydrodesulfurizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Ayaka Nango, Jun Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20150364782
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and an exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell stack has an oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel and a fuel exhaust gas channel at one end in a stacking direction of fuel cells. An exhaust gas combustor connected to the oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel and the fuel exhaust gas channel are provided at the one end of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction. A reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventor: Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9190684
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, a steam reformer for reforming a mixed gas of the raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the steam reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and an exhaust gas combustor for producing the combustion gas. A fuel gas discharge chamber of the steam reformer is connected to a fuel gas supply passage of the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas channel, a fuel gas outlet of the partial oxidation reformer is connected to a mixed gas supply chamber of the steam reformer through a fuel gas pipe, and a water vapor pipe extending from the evaporator is merged to the fuel gas pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20150311559
    Abstract: A fuel cell of a fuel cell stack includes a power generation reaction area, a marginal area around the power generation reaction area, and a first reactant gas flow area and a second reactant gas flow area. The first reactant gas flow area and the second reactant gas flow area are provided outside the power generation reaction area and inside the marginal area. The fuel cell stack includes a first load applying unit configured to apply a first load to the marginal area in the stacking direction and a second load applying area configured to apply a second load to the power generation reaction area in the stacking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Keiji Tsukamoto, Hiroki Homma