Patents by Inventor Lutz Rohland
Lutz Rohland 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: 8343321Abstract: The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side. The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products. Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KGInventors: Ralf Zuber, Klaus Schaack, Sandra Wittpahl, Holger Dziallas, Peter Seipel, Pia Braun, Lutz Rohland
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Patent number: 8173204Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of electrochemistry and describes a method and an apparatus for producing fuel cell components, in particular membrane electrode units (“MEUs”) for membrane fuel cells. In the case of the method according to the invention, anode and cathode electrodes are applied to two neighboring heated rollers that are subjected to a vacuum. The applied vacuum has the effect that they are introduced exactly in position into a roller nip and then laminated with an ion-conducting membrane. Due to the extended heat influencing zone, high production rates are achieved with the method according to the invention. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a rolling mill with heatable vacuum rollers. It has advantages due to the simple construction and the absence of transfer locations.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2005Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KGInventor: Lutz Rohland
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Publication number: 20120012457Abstract: The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side. The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products. Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KGInventors: Ralf ZUBER, Sandra WITTPAHL, Klaus SCHAACK, Holger DZIALLAS, Peter SEIPEL, Pia BRAUN, Lutz ROHLAND
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Patent number: 7993499Abstract: The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side. The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products. Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KGInventors: Ralf Zuber, Klaus Schaack, Sandra Wittpahl, Holger Dziallas, Peter Seipel, Pia Braun, Lutz Rohland
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Publication number: 20090220834Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane-electrode assembly having a multicomponent sealing rim, with the rim components being joined by means of two different joining methods. The rim construction of the membrane-electrode assembly comprises at least two materials (sealing material A and frame B) which are joined to one another both by adhesion and by physical locking. The frame B has at least one perforation through which the sealing material penetrates and establishes an intermeshing connection. Adhesive bonding methods, lamination processes and/or injection moulding processes are suitable for producing the multicomponent rim and the corresponding membrane-electrode assembly. The multicomponent rim construction has a high bond strength. The membrane-electrode assembly having a multicomponent rim is used in electrochemical devices such as fuel cells (PEMFCs, DMFCs, etc.), electrolysers or electrochemical sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO., KGInventors: Klaus Schaack, Lutz Rohland
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Publication number: 20080086871Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of electrochemistry and describes a method and an apparatus for producing fuel cell components, in particular membrane electrode units (“MEUs”) for membrane fuel cells. In the case of the method according to the invention, anode and cathode electrodes are applied to two neighbouring heated rollers that are subjected to a vacuum. The applied vacuum has the effect that they are introduced exactly in position into a roller nip and then laminated with an ion-conducting membrane. Due to the extended heat influencing zone, high production rates are achieved with the method according to the invention. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a rolling mill with heatable vacuum rollers. It has advantages due to the simple construction and the absence of transfer locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2005Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventor: Lutz Rohland
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Publication number: 20080067061Abstract: The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side. The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products. Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2004Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KGInventors: Ralf Zuber, Sandra Wittpahl, Klaus Schaack, Holger Dziallas, Peter Seipel, Pia Braun, Lutz Rohland
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Publication number: 20070289707Abstract: A process for manufacture of integrated membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs), which comprise an ionomer membrane, at least one gas diffusion layer (GDL), at least one catalyst layer deposited on the GDL and/or the ionomer membrane, and at least one protective film material is disclosed. The components are assembled together by a lamination process comprising the steps of heating the components to a temperature in the range of 20 to 250° C. and laminating the materials by applying a laminating force in the range of 50 to 1300 N with a pair of rolls. The claimed lamination process is simple and inexpensive and is used for manufacture of advanced, integrated MEAs for electrochemical devices such as PEM fuel cells and DMFC.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2005Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: Umicore AG & Co KGInventors: Lutz Rohland, Claus-Rupert Hohenthanner
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Publication number: 20010022987Abstract: A process for the production of pellets containing nicotinamide by droplet-processing of molten nicotinamide by means of laminar jet disintegration in a tower and cooling of the molten droplets by heat exchange until solidified spherical particles are formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2000Publication date: September 20, 2001Inventors: Martin Korfer, Lutz Rohland, Tobias Dartsch, Friedel Schultheis, Hans-Albrecht Hasseberg, Bernd Bachmann, Gerald Pfaff
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Patent number: 6126972Abstract: A process for the preparation of aqueous sodium methioninate solutions having a low sodium carbonate content from the crude hydrolysis mixtures obtained in the hydrolysis of 5-(.beta.-methylmercaptoethyl)-hydantoin with from 1.1 to 6 equivalents of sodium hydroxide and/or sodium carbonate, by separating off sodium carbonate monohydrate while heating, and granulates subsequently prepared from those solutions by various processes.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Degussa-Huls AGInventors: Martin Korfer, Lutz Rohland, Wolfram Binder, Hans Joachim Hasselbach, Hans Christian Alt, Klaus Huthmacher, Heidemarie Kniesel