Patents by Inventor Leszek Niewolak

Leszek Niewolak 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: 10096824
    Abstract: Storage material, for storing electrical energy by reduction or oxidation of an active component, comprises the active component in at least a reduced and/or oxidized form and a reactive framework structure that is capable of chemically integrating at least one form of the active component in the form of a mixed oxide or an alloy into the reactive framework structure during the charging or discharging process. In the case of an oxidic framework structure, said integration can occur by formation of at least one stable mixed oxide of the active component and an oxide from the framework structure. In the case of the metallic framework structure, said integration can occur by forming an alloy of active component and at least one metal of the framework structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hospach, Norbert H. Menzler, Martin Bram, Hans Peter Buchkremer, Leszek Niewolak, Willem J. Quadakkers, Joanna Zurek
  • Publication number: 20160087269
    Abstract: A storage material for storing electrical energy by reduction or oxidation of an active component, wherein the storage material, in addition to the active component, additionally has a reactive framework structure in at least a reduced and/or oxidized form, which is capable of chemically integrating at least one form of the active component in the form of a mixed oxide or an alloy into the framework structure during the charging or discharging process. This integration can occur in the case of an oxidic framework structure, in particular, in the formation of at least one stable mixed oxide of the active component and an oxide from the framework structure. In the ease of the metallic framework structure, the integration occurs by forming an alloy of active components and at least one metal of the framework structure. The capability of the framework structure to integrate the active component is dependent on the general conditions of temperature and oxygen partial pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas HOSPACH, Norbert H. MENZLER, Martin BRAM, Hans Peter BUCHKREMER, Leszek NIEWOLAK, Willem J. QUADAKKERS, Joanna ZUREK
  • Patent number: 8232020
    Abstract: An interconnector is made of ferritic chromium steel, on which a cupriferous layer is disposed. This layer prevents interdiffusion between the chromium steel and additional components with which the interconnector has direct contact. According to the state of the art, such diffusion occurs particularly if these additional components contain nickel. In addition, the interconnector may comprise a chromium-containing oxide layer as a barrier against interdiffusion. For this purpose, the interconnector steel can also be preoxidized before applying the cupriferous layer. The interconnector has a significantly longer service life than interconnectors according to the state of the art, and it has improved electrical conductivity because the electrical contact surface thereof is free of oxides and has high transverse conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH
    Inventors: Leszek Niewolak, Willem J. Quadakkers, Lorenz Singheiser
  • Publication number: 20090253020
    Abstract: An interconnector is made of ferritic chromium steel, on which a cupriferous layer is disposed. This layer prevents interdiffusion between the chromium steel and additional components with which the interconnector has direct contact. According to the state of the art, such diffusion occurs particularly if these additional components contain nickel. In addition, the interconnector may comprise a chromium-containing oxide layer as a barrier against interdiffusion. For this purpose, the interconnector steel can also be preoxidized before applying the cupriferous layer. The interconnector has a significantly longer service life than interconnectors according to the state of the art, and it has improved electrical conductivity because the electrical contact surface thereof is free of oxides and has high transverse conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH
    Inventors: Leszek Niewolak, Willem J. Quadakkers, Lozenz Singheiser
  • Publication number: 20090104494
    Abstract: Provided is a ferritic steel that is particularly creep-resistant at temperatures from 600 to 1000° C. The ferritic steel comprising precipitations of an intermetallic phase of the Fe2(M, Si)-type or Fe7(M, Si)s-type, wherein M is a metal, particularly niobium, molybdenum, tungsten and/or tantalum. The precipitations being formed at high temperatures. The alloy can additionally comprise chromium. The steel can be used, among other things, for the bipolar plate in a stack of high-temperature fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Willem J. Quadakkers, Leszek Niewolak, Phillip James Ennis