Patents by Inventor Lawrence J. Bregoli
Lawrence J. Bregoli 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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Publication number: 20110039178Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (10) includes a fuel cell (12) having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (16), disposed between an anode support plate (14) and a cathode support plate (18), the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer (80, 82) having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams (22, 24) is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream (26), such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Ned E. Cipollini, Timothy W. Patterson, Marianne Pemberton, Jonathan Puhalski, Carl A. Reiser, Richard D. Sawyer, Margaret M. Steinbugler, Jung S. Yi
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Patent number: 7258945Abstract: A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: UTC Power CorporationInventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Ned E. Cipollini, Timothy W. Patterson, Marianne Pemberton, Jonathan Puhalski, Carl A. Reiser, Richard D. Sawyer, Margaret M. Steinbugler, Jung S. Yi
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Patent number: 6913845Abstract: Each cell of a fuel cell stack is provided, between the anode 37 and cathodes 38, with either (a) a permanent shunt (20) which may be a discrete resistor (42-44), a diode (95), a strip of compliant carbon cloth (65), or a small amount of conductive carbon black (22) in the ionomer polymer mixture of which the proton exchange membrane (39) is formed, or (b) a removeable shunt such as a conductor (69) which may be rotated into and out of contact with the fuel cell anodes and cathodes, or a conductor (85) which may be urged into contact by means of a shape memory alloy actuator spring (90, 91), which may be heated.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLCInventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Richard D. Breault, Emily A. Dykeman, Jeremy P. Meyers, Timothy W. Patterson, Tommy Skiba, Chris Vargas, Deliang Yang, Jung S. Yi
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Publication number: 20040106034Abstract: A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Ned E. Cipollini, Timothy W. Patterson, Marianne Pemberton, Jonathan Puhalski, Carl A. Reiser, Richard D. Sawyer, Margaret M. Steinbugler, Jung S. Yi
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Publication number: 20040081866Abstract: Each cell of a fuel cell stack is provided, between the anode 37 and cathodes 38, with either (a) a permanent shunt (20) which may be a discrete resistor (42-44), a diode (95), a strip of compliant carbon cloth (65), or a small amount of conductive carbon black (22) in the ionomer polymer mixture of which the proton exchange membrane (39) is formed, or (b) a removeable shunt such as a conductor (69) which may be rotated into and out of contact with the fuel cell anodes and cathodes, or a conductor (85) which may be urged into contact by means of a shape memory alloy actuator spring (90, 91), which may be heated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Richard D. Breault, Emily A. Dykeman, Jeremey P. Meyers, Timothy W. Patterson, Tommy Skiba, Chris Vargas, Deliang Yang, Jung S. Yi
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Publication number: 20020071978Abstract: Fuel Cell Having a Hydrophilic Substrate Layer A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Ned E. Cipollini, Timothy W. Patterson, Marianne Pemberton, Jonathan Puhalski, Carl A. Reiser, Richard D. Sawyer, Margaret M. Steinbugler, Jung S. Yi
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Patent number: 5478663Abstract: The reactant manifolds and corners of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack are sealed with particulate lithium aluminate members which are sufficiently porous so as to resist significant electrolyte migration therethrough. The seal members which are disposed in vertical planes of the stack are preferentially formed from lithium aluminate grains which are bonded together by a silica-free glass binder. The seal members which are disposed in horizontal planes in the stack are preferably formed from lithium aluminate grains which are bonded together by surface hydrolysis. Alumina-clad stainless steel labyrinth seal members are associated with each of the horizontal seal members to inhibit electrolyte migration from the cell electrolyte matrices to the vertical seal members.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1994Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignee: International Fuel Cells CorporationInventors: Ned E. Cipollini, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Donald L. Maricle
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Patent number: 4810594Abstract: A method for making a fuel cell electrode is disclosed. A layer of hydrophobic polymer and an electro-catalyst is deposited on the surface of a porous electrode substrate and press-sintered by heating the catalyst layer to a temperature between the melting point and decomposition temperature of the polymer and simultaneously compressing the layer at a pressure between 20 pounds per square inch and 100 pounds per square inch. The heating and compressing are continued for a time period of between 10 minutes and 20 minutes. A fuel cell electrode made by the above method and a method for generating electricity using such an electrode are also disclosed. A press-sintered fuel cell electrode provides improved peak performance as well as improved tolerance to electrolyte solidification.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1988Date of Patent: March 7, 1989Assignee: International Fuel Cells CorporationInventors: Lawrence J. Bregoli, Francis J. Luczak
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Patent number: 4548876Abstract: An integrated current collecting electrode for a molten carbonate fuel cell includes a corrugated metal conductive strip positioned in contact with a catalyst layer. The corrugations of the metal strip form a plurality of gas channels immediately adjacent the surface of the catalyst through which a reactant gas flows. Each channel is filled with a particulate material to maintain separation between the metal strip and the catalyst in ensuring gas channel integrity. The catalyst may be in the form of a compacted, particulate material provided the particle size of the material within the gas channels is larger than that of the catalyst particles to prevent catalyst migration to the metal conductor and provide reactant gas access to the catalyst layer. The gas channels formed by the corrugations of the metal strip are arranged in an offset pattern along the direction of gas flow for improved reactant gas distribution to the catalyst layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1984Date of Patent: October 22, 1985Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: Lawrence J. Bregoli
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Patent number: 4322482Abstract: Thru-cracks in the electrolyte retaining matrix of a molten carbonate fuel cell caused by thermal cycling of the cell between operating and room temperature are prevented by an improved matrix comprising a major proportion of submicron support particles and a minor proportion, perhaps only a few percent, of much larger crack attenuator particles. In one embodiment wherein the electrolyte is to be a binary lithium-potassium carbonates composition, the matrix comprises 90 volume percent submicron lithium aluminate support particles and 10 volume percent alumina crack attenuator particles with an average size of 100 microns.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1980Date of Patent: March 30, 1982Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Calvin L. Bushnell, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Craig R. Schroll
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Patent number: 4206270Abstract: Porous cathodes for molten carbonate type fuel cells are made from perovskites. The perovskites tested to date all appear to be good cathode catalysts for the reduction of oxygen in molten carbonate electrolyte and are also stable in the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1978Date of Patent: June 3, 1980Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: H. Russell Kunz, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Francis J. Luczak
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Patent number: 3979225Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed in which the cathode is a gaseous diffusion fuel cell electrode operating with an acid electrolyte and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) alone or with oxygen. The cathode half cell reaction produces nitric oxide (NO) and water and the NO.sub.2 is externally regenerated by reaction of NO with oxygen to produce the nitrogen dioxide for reuse in the cell. When both NO.sub.2 and oxygen are used, oxidation of the NO formed back to the NO.sub.2 occurs within the cathode itself so it is possible to get more than 100% utilization of the NO.sub.2 in the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1974Date of Patent: September 7, 1976Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Stanley W. Smith, Lawrence J. Bregoli