Patents by Inventor Kenji Ukai

Kenji Ukai 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: 20100159355
    Abstract: This invention provides an electrolyte sheet for solid oxide fuel cells, characterized in: being formed by a doctor blade method or an extrusion molding method; being a scandia partially stabilized zirconia sheet, wherein 4 mol % to 6 mol % scandia is doped in a solid zirconia; a crystal structure thereof has a polycrystalline structure having a main body of tetragonal and including monoclinic phase, wherein a ratio of monoclinic phase (M), calculated by below described formula (1) from a diffraction peak intensity using X-ray diffraction, is 1% to 80%; and a Weibull modulus (m) thereof is not less than 10: a ratio of monoclinic phase(M:%)=[{monoclinic(1,1,1)+monoclinic(?1,1,1)}/{tetragonal and cubic(1,1,1)+monoclinic(1,1,1)+monoclinic(?1,1,1)}]×100??(1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuo Hata, Yasunobu Mizutani, Kouji Hisada, Kenji Ukai, Misuzu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7608357
    Abstract: A powder material for a fuel electrode of a solid oxide fuel cell is provided, along with a fuel electrode for a solid oxide fuel cell prepared by sintering the fuel electrode powder material, and a solid oxide fuel cell including the fuel electrode. The fuel electrode powder material includes a nickel based powder material containing at least one of nickel and nickel oxide and at least one of titanium oxide (IV) and a titanium source capable of changing into titanium oxide (IV) by heat treatment in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignees: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Yasunobu Mizutani, Kouji Hisada, Misuzu Yokoyama, Shoji Futaki, Hiroyuki Toya
  • Patent number: 7422822
    Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures is provided, including a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode and bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, and an air electrode bonded to the other side of the first electrolyte comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte. The electrodes are coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignees: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
  • Publication number: 20070148521
    Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures is provided, including a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode and bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, and an air electrode bonded to the other side of the first electrolyte comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte. The electrodes are coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicants: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji UKAI, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7235325
    Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures, is provided, including a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode and bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, and an air electrode bonded to the other side of the first electrolyte comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte. The electrodes are coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignees: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7108938
    Abstract: A single cell for a solid oxide fuel cell and a solid oxide fuel cell using the same practicable and excellent in generation performance and durability, wherein a fuel electrode including a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 1000° C. of 0.20 S/cm or more is bonded to one side of a solid electrolyte plate with the conductivity of 0.07 S/cm or more and bending strength of 700 MPa or more, and an air electrode including a compound of perovskite type transition metal oxide with a third solid electrolyte is bonded to the other side. A surface of the fuel electrode is coated with a layer, and an air electrode surface is coated with a layer, and an aqueous solution where a noble metal compound is dissolved in water is impregnated into the air electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Toho Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada
  • Publication number: 20060110633
    Abstract: A material for a fuel electrode of a solid oxide fuel cell with which volume change of the fuel electrode can be reduced as compared to the conventional one even if the fuel electrode is exposed to an oxidation-reduction cycle, a fuel electrode for a solid oxide fuel cell prepared by sintering the fuel electrode material, and a solid oxide fuel cell capable of stably maintaining power generation even if a fuel electrode thereof is exposed to an oxidation-reduction cycle. The fuel electrode material includes a material powder containing at least one of nickel and nickel oxide, wherein the material powder further contains at least one of titanium oxide (IV) and a titanium source capable of changing into titanium oxide (IV) by heat treatment in air. The fuel electrode material is sintered to prepare the fuel electrode, which is provided for the solid oxide fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicants: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Yasunobu Mizutani, Kouji Hisada, Misuzu Yokoyama, Shoji Futaki, Hiroyuki Toya
  • Publication number: 20050255355
    Abstract: A single cell for SOFC operating at low temperatures, excellent in generating performance and reliability even in a low-temperature region of the order of 600 to 900° C., and in adhesion to a separator with low current-collecting loss when used in SOFC. The cell has a first solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 800° C. of 0.015 S/cm or more and bending strength of 600 MPa or more, a fuel electrode comprised of a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with the conductivity of 0.08 S/cm or more, bonded to one side of the first electrolyte, and an air electrode comprised of a compound of first perovskite type oxide with a third solid electrolyte, bonded to the other side optionally via an intermediate layer comprised of a fourth solid electrolyte, and the electrodes are preferably coated with fuel and air electrode contact layers, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicants: Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada, Kazuo Hata, Norikazu Aikawa, Masatoshi Shimomura
  • Patent number: 6835485
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a solid oxide fuel cell having a supported electrolyte film, which shows sufficiently high reliability, yields a high output, and exhibits high output power density per unit volume. The present invention is characterized by use of a first cermet comprising catalyst and a second solid electrolyte, which has a bending strength of more than 500 MPa and exhibits oxide ion conductivity, for a fuel electrode substrate in an SOFC having a supported electrolyte film equipped with an electrolyte-electrode assembly that is made by bonding the fuel electrode substrate and an air electrode on both sides of an electrolyte film consisting of the first solid electrolyte capable of exhibiting oxide ion conductivity. As a preferred embodiment, stabilized zirconia containing 2 to 4 mol % yttria or 3 to 6 mol % scandia is preferred for the second solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Toho Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Yasunobu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6787261
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell in which the catalytic activity of a fuel electrode is high and in which no poisoning by carbon occurs even when internal reforming is performed under a condition of a low S/C ratio and further in which the time course degradation of the fuel electrode is less when internal reforming is performed. In a solid oxide fuel cell having an oxide ion conductive solid electrolyte, and a fuel electrode and an air electrode connected to both faces thereof, a cermet of a catalyst and of the second solid electrolyte whose oxide ion conductivity is more than or equal to 0.2 S/cm at 1000 ° C. is used as the fuel electrode. More specifically, it is desirable that the second solid electrolyte is scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) containing 9 to 12 mol % of scandia. In addition, the second solid electrolyte may further be ScSZ containing yttria or ceria less than or equal to 2 mol %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Toho Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Yasunobu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20040072060
    Abstract: A single cell for a solid oxide fuel cell and a solid oxide fuel cell using the same practicable and excellent in generation performance and durability, wherein a fuel electrode including a cermet of a catalyst and a second solid electrolyte with oxide ion conductivity at 1000° C. of 0.20 S/cm or more is bonded to one side of a solid electrolyte plate with the conductivity of 0.07 S/cm or more and bending strength of 700 MPa or more, and an air electrode including a compound of perovskite type transition metal oxide with a third solid electrolyte is bonded to the other side. A surface of the fuel electrode is coated with a layer, and an air electrode surface is coated with a layer, and an aqueous solution where a noble metal compound is dissolved in water is impregnated into the air electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Toho Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Kouji Hisada
  • Publication number: 20020076603
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell in which the catalytic activity of a fuel electrode is high and in which no poisoning by carbon occurs even when internal reforming is performed under a condition of a low S/C ratio and further in which the time course degradation of the fuel electrode is less when internal reforming is performed. In a solid oxide fuel cell having an oxide ion conductive solid electrolyte, and a fuel electrode and an air electrode connected to both faces thereof, a cermet of a catalyst and of the second solid electrolyte whose oxide ion conductivity is more than or equal to 0.2 S/cm at 1000° C. is used as the fuel electrode. More specifically, it is desirable that the second solid electrolyte is scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) containing 9 to 12 mol % of scandia. In addition, the second solid electrolyte may further be ScSZ containing yttria or ceria less than or equal to 2 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: TOHO GAS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Yasunobu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20020048701
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a solid oxide fuel cell having a supported electrolyte film, which shows sufficiently high reliability, yields a high output, and exhibits high output power density per unit volume. The present invention is characterized by use of a first cermet comprising catalyst and a second solid electrolyte, which has a bending strength of more than 500 MPa and exhibits oxide ion conductivity, for a fuel electrode substrate in an SOFC having a supported electrolyte film equipped with an electrolyte-electrode assembly that is made by bonding the fuel electrode substrate and an air electrode on both sides of an electrolyte film consisting of the first solid electrolyte capable of exhibiting oxide ion conductivity. As a preferred embodiment, stabilized zirconia containing 2 to 4 mol % yttria or 3 to 6 mol % scandia is preferred for the second solid electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Applicant: Toho Gas Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Yasunobu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 4753423
    Abstract: A synthetic resin-coated spring comprising a spring body and a synthetic resin coating layer formed on the spring body. The synthetic resin coating layer contains an olefin polymer modified with an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof. A method for making the coated spring is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd, Mitsubishi Steel Manufacture Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ukai, Katsumi Yano, Nobumasa Umezawa, Satoru Yamaguchi, Takao Itoga