Patents by Inventor Kunihiro Ukai
Kunihiro 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).
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Patent number: 11952671Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes at least one hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte membrane, an anode on one main surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on the other main surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, and a cathode separator on the cathode, the at least one hydrogen pump unit transferring, to the cathode, hydrogen supplied to the anode and pressurizing the hydrogen, a first fixing member for preventing movement of the cathode separator in a direction in which the cathode separator is stacked, a first end plate on the anode separator at one end in the stacking direction, a second end plate on the cathode separator at the other end in the stacking direction, and a first gas flow channel through which hydrogen in the cathode is supplied to a first space between the second end plate and the cathode separator.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Norihiko Kawabata, Osamu Sakai, Hidenobu Wakita, Jin Zhang, Yukimune Kani
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Publication number: 20230332078Abstract: A method for operating a food processing apparatus is provided. The food processing apparatus includes a reaction vessel that has a space that accumulates a liquid reactant used for a food product; a catalytic reactor that includes a reaction tube and a light source; and an introducing tube for introducing the reactant into the reaction vessel. The reaction tube has an outer surface where a photocatalyst is provided. The reaction tube transmits light. The light source generates heat at a time of light emission in which the light source emits light from an inner side of the reaction tube. The method for operating the food processing apparatus includes introducing the reactant into the reaction vessel from the introducing tube. In the introducing, the reactant is introduced up to a position at which a liquid surface of the reactant is positioned higher than an opening portion of the introducing tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: KUNIHIRO UKAI, DAISUKE INO, YASUHIRO HASHIMOTO, HIDENOBU WAKITA, SATORU YAMAJI
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Patent number: 11730912Abstract: A hydrogen supply apparatus includes: an air path having an inlet and an outlet; a fan that is disposed in the air path and produces a flow of air from the inlet to the outlet; a first pipe having an end that forms a first supply port through which to supply hydrogen gas to the air path; a flow control device that is attached to the first pipe and adjusts a flow rate of the hydrogen gas; and a hydrogen gas sensor, disposed downstream of the fan or the end in a direction of flow of the air that detects a concentration of the hydrogen gas in the air path, where the end is disposed between the fan and the outlet or between the fan and the inlet in the air path.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Kazuhito Hato, Kunihiro Ukai
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Publication number: 20230257685Abstract: A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having an internal space for storing a reactant that is in a liquid state and that is used for food, a cooler that cools a reactant stored in the reaction tank, and a catalytic reactor disposed in the internal space. The catalytic reactor includes a reaction tube, a light source disposed in the interior of the reaction tube, and a heat insulator disposed between the reaction tube and the light source. The outer surface of the reaction tube is provided with a photocatalyst. The reaction tube allows light radiated from the light source to pass therethrough. The reaction tube has a first end, and the first end is closed so as to serve as a bottom surface of the reaction tube. The interior of the reaction tube is filled with a dry gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: KUNIHIRO UKAI, YASUHIRO HASHIMOTO, DAISUKE INO
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Publication number: 20230256409Abstract: A method for operating a food processing device includes an irradiation step. The food processing device includes a reaction vessel and a catalyst reactor. The reaction vessel receives a mixture in a liquid form including a raw material for a food product and water. The catalyst reactor is disposed in the reaction vessel. The catalyst reactor includes a reaction tube and a light source disposed in the reaction tube. The reaction tube has an outer surface on which a photocatalyst is provided, and transmits light emitted from the light source. The method for operating the food processing device includes the irradiation step of performing irradiation with light from the light source while water is in contact with the outer surface of the reaction tube in a period after a reaction product is removed from the reaction vessel and before a raw material is subsequently introduced into the reaction vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: KUNIHIRO UKAI, DAISUKE INO, YASUHIRO HASHIMOTO, HIDENOBU WAKITA
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Publication number: 20230255243Abstract: A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having an internal space for storing a reactant that is in a liquid state and that is used for food, a cooler that cools a reactant stored in the reaction tank, and a catalytic reactor disposed in the internal space. The catalytic reactor includes a reaction tube, a light source disposed in the interior of the reaction tube, and a heat insulator disposed between the reaction tube and the light source. The outer surface of the reaction tube is provided with a photocatalyst. The reaction tube allows light radiated from the light source to pass therethrough. The reaction tube has a first end, and the first end is closed so as to serve as a bottom surface of the reaction tube. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulator is lower than the thermal conductivity of the reaction tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: KUNIHIRO UKAI, DAISUKE INO, YASUHIRO HASHIMOTO
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Publication number: 20230242853Abstract: A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having a first space for storing a liquid reactant to be used for a food; a stirrer including a first stirring body that stirs the reactant in the reaction tank by rotating; catalytic reactors, the catalytic reactors each including a reaction tube and a light source disposed in the reaction tube, the reaction tube having an outer surface provided with a photocatalyst, the reaction tube allowing light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough; and a temperature adjuster that adjusts the temperature of the reactant in the reaction tank. The catalytic reactors are disposed around a first rotary shaft of the first stirring body to be spaced from each other. The temperature adjuster surrounds the catalytic reactors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: KUNIHIRO UKAI, YASUHIRO HASHIMOTO, DAISUKE INO
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Publication number: 20230240338Abstract: A food processing device includes a reaction vessel, a stirrer including a stirring body, and catalyst reactors. Each catalyst reactor includes a reaction tube and a light source. The reaction tube has an outer surface on which a photocatalyst is provided, and transmits light. The catalyst reactors are arranged around a rotating shaft. The light source includes light emitters disposed at different positions. When viewed in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, the catalyst reactors have equal phases. The phase of each catalyst reactor is a phase of a reference direction of the reaction tube of the catalyst reactor with respect to a straight line connecting centers of the rotating shaft and the reaction tube. The reference direction of the reaction tube is a direction determined on the basis of a direction in which light is emitted from the light emitters and a positional relationship between the light emitters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: KUNIHIRO UKAI, YASUHIRO HASHIMOTO, DAISUKE INO
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Publication number: 20230203677Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes at least one hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, a cathode, an anode separator, and a cathode separator; an anode end plate disposed on the anode separator positioned in a first end in a stacking direction; a cathode end plate disposed on the cathode separator positioned in a second end in the stacking direction; a fixing member that prevents members from the anode end plate to the anode separator positioned in the first end from moving in the stacking direction; a gas flow channel through which hydrogen generated in the cathode is supplied to a space disposed between the anode end plate and the anode separator positioned in the first end; and a pressure transmitting member that is disposed in the space and transmits a pressure from the anode separator positioned in the first end to the anode end plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Kunihiro UKAI, Tsuneyuki EJIMA, Norihiko KAWABATA
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Patent number: 11602472Abstract: A hydrogen-containing gas supply system includes one or more hydrogen-containing gas suppliers, one or more acquirers, and a controller. The one or more hydrogen-containing gas suppliers supply a hydrogen-containing gas to one or more areas in a building. The one or more acquirers acquire information indicating that a person is present in the one or more areas. When it is determined that a person is present in a certain area of the one or more areas in accordance with the information acquired by the acquirers, the controller causes at least one of the one or more hydrogen-containing gas suppliers to supply the hydrogen-containing gas to the certain area.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Kazuhito Hato
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Patent number: 11598013Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen compressor includes: a cell including a proton conductive electrolyte membrane having a pair of principal surfaces, a cathode disposed on a first one of the principal surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, and an anode disposed on a second one of the principal surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode; a dew point adjuster that adjusts a dew point of a hydrogen-containing gas to be supplied to the anode; and a controller that, when the temperature of the cell increases, controls the dew point adjuster to increase the dew point of the hydrogen-containing gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidenobu Wakita, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Kunihiro Ukai
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Patent number: 11577196Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, an anode gas diffusion layer, a cathode gas diffusion layer, an anode separator, a cathode separator, a first end plate and a second end plate that are disposed on the respective ends of at least one hydrogen pump unit in which the electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layers, the gas diffusion layers, and the separators are stacked on each other, a fastener that fastens the end plates and at least one hydrogen pump unit, and a voltage applier. The electrochemical hydrogen pump transfers hydrogen from the anode catalyst layer to the cathode catalyst layer and pressurizes hydrogen when the voltage applier applies the voltage. The cathode gas diffusion layer includes a water-repellent carbon fiber layer in a main surface thereof that is on a side of the cathode catalyst layer, and is compressed by the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Takayuki Nakaue, Hidenobu Wakita
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Patent number: 11549187Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes: at least one hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, a cathode, an anode separator, and a cathode separator; an anode end plate disposed on the anode separator positioned in a first end in a stacking direction, the first end is one end and the second end is another end; a cathode end plate disposed on the cathode separator positioned in a second end in the stacking direction; a fixing member that prevents at least members from the cathode end plate to the cathode separator positioned in the second end from moving in the stacking direction; a first gas flow channel through which hydrogen generated in the cathode is supplied to a first space disposed between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator positioned in the second end; and a first pressure transmitting member disposed in the first space.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Tsuneyuki Ejima, Norihiko Kawabata
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Patent number: 11431005Abstract: Disclosed is a high-temperature operating fuel cell system including: a fuel cell stack; a combustor that combusts a cathode off-gas and an anode off-gas; a heat insulator that covers at least part of the fuel cell stack and at least part of the combustor; a first preheater that covers at least part of the heat insulator and preheats an oxidant gas; an oxidant gas feeder that supplies the oxidant gas to the first preheater; a vacuum heat insulator that covers at least part of the first preheater; a sensor that detects information indicating stopping of a power generation operation; and a controller. When a determination is made that the power generation has stopped, the controller controls the oxidant gas feeder to supply the oxidant gas to the first preheater so that the temperature of the vacuum heat insulator is equal to or lower than a prescribed temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideki Nakata, Kunihiro Ukai, Masakazu Aoki
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Publication number: 20210376339Abstract: This invention provides an electrochemical hydrogen pump which allows reduction efficiency due to increase of contact resistances to be suppressed with a light-weight and compact structure. An electrochemical hydrogen pump (24) comprises: single battery cells (m1-m3) that each include an anode separator (7), an anode diffusion layer (5), an anode electrode layer (3), an electrolyte membrane (2), a cathode electrode layer (4), a cathode diffusion layer (6), and a cathode separator (8); and pressurization spaces that are provided in positions sandwiching the anode diffusion layer and the cathode diffusion layer therebetween. The pressurization spaces include an anode pressurization space (27) provided in an anode-side member and a cathode pressurization space (28) provided in a cathode-side member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Norihiko KAWABATA, Osamu SAKAI, Kunihiro UKAI, Takayuki NAKAUE
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Publication number: 20210285427Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a first primary surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on a second primary surface of the electrolyte membrane, and an anode separator on the anode. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer on the first primary surface of the electrolyte membrane and an anode gas diffusion layer on the anode catalyst layer. The anode gas diffusion layer includes a porous carbon sheet that is a powder molded body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: TAKAYUKI NAKAUE, KUNIHIRO UKAI
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Patent number: 11081709Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a reformer to generate a hydrogen-containing gas; an electric power generation raw material supply unit; a reforming material supply unit configured to supply at least one of reforming water and reforming air, to the reformer; an oxidizing gas supply unit to supply an oxidizing gas to a cathode of the fuel cell; a combustor to ignite an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell; and a controller. In an operation stop process of the fuel cell system, the controller causes the oxidizing gas supply unit to supply the oxidizing gas, causes the electric power generation raw material supply unit and the reforming material supply unit to intermittently supply the electric power generation raw material and at least one of the water and the air to the reformer, and causes the ignitor to perform an ignition operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignees: PANASONIC CORPORATION, MORIMURA SOFC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Shigenori Onuma, Kunihiro Ukai, Hiroshi Shirahama, Takeshi Saito, Yosuke Akagi, Taiichiro Sakamoto, Toshiharu Ooe, Toshiharu Otsuka
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Publication number: 20210197120Abstract: A compression apparatus includes a compressor including an anode gas diffusion layer, an anode catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane, a cathode catalyst layer, and a cathode gas diffusion layer that are stacked in this order, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the catalyst layers, in which application of the voltage by the voltage applicator causes movement of, through the electrolyte membrane onto the cathode catalyst layer, a proton extracted from an anode fluid supplied onto the anode catalyst layer, to produce compressed hydrogen, and a remover that includes a water-permeable membrane, a first flow path through which a cathode gas from the compressor flows, and a second flow path through which a low-pressure gas flows. The remover removes water vapor and/or liquid water in the cathode gas flowing through the first flow path. The compressor and the remover are provided as a single body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: YUKIMUNE KANI, KUNIHIRO UKAI
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Patent number: 10989184Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes a hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte film, an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, an anode gas diffusion layer, an anode separator, a cathode gas diffusion layer, and a cathode separator, a first end plate and a second end plate, a fastener, and a voltage applicator. The electrochemical hydrogen pump transfers and pressurizes hydrogen on the cathode catalyst layer, when a voltage is applied by the voltage applicator. Cathode gas flow channels in which the cathode gas flows are connected to each other. The amount of thickness reduction of the cathode gas diffusion layer due to compression resulting from fastening of the fastener is larger in the hydrogen pump unit positioned at at least one end of the stacked hydrogen pump units than in the hydrogen pump unit positioned at neither end of the stacked hydrogen pump units.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Hiromi Kita, Takayuki Nakaue
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Publication number: 20210079546Abstract: A hydrogen system includes: a compressor in which protons extracted from an anode fluid supplied to an anode move to a cathode through an electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is generated; and a first eliminator including: a water-permeable membrane; a cathode gas flow path through which a cathode gas discharged from the cathode of the compressor flows, the cathode gas flow path being provided on one main surface of the water-permeable membrane; and an accommodation portion provided on the other main surface of the water-permeable membrane and filled with a liquid at a pressure lower than that of the cathode gas. The first eliminator removes moisture contained in the cathode gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: HIDENOBU WAKITA, TOMOYA KAMATA, OSAMU SAKAI, KUNIHIRO UKAI, YUKIMUNE KANI, KEIICHI YAMAMOTO, MISA YOROZUYA