Patents by Inventor Marc Weisser
Marc Weisser 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: 7135244Abstract: A system for supplying an evaporated and/or superheated hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon/water mixture to at least two components of a gas generation system of a fuel cell system, in particular to at least two stages of a multi-stage reforming process. In one embodiment, the system contains at least two heat exchangers, each of which contains a media-side area and an area that serves to input thermal energy. Furthermore, each of the heat exchangers is connected to least one of the components of the gas generation system and the two heat exchangers are connected to each other. In an alternate embodiment, the system contains one heat exchanger, the media-side area of which is connected to a valve device, which distributes the evaporated and/or superheated mixture to at least two conduits, each of which leads to one of the two components of the gas generation system.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2000Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: NuCellSys GmbHInventors: Stefan Boneberg, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 7001575Abstract: A device feeds educts to parallel spaces separated from one another by way of a distributor unit. Outlets of the distributor unit are assigned to the spaces, and evaporator structures for the evaporation of liquid media are provided in the spaces. Each outlet of the distributor unit project into a space. The boiling point of the medium in the distributor unit is maintained above the temperature of the medium in the distributor unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: NuCellSys GmbHInventors: Roland Cwik, Andreas Ebert, Oskar Lamla, Bruno Motzet, Martin Schuessler, Tomas Stefanovski, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20050287409Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Michael Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark Voss, Uwe Benz, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20050242157Abstract: A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Applicant: BALLARD POWER SYSTEM AGInventors: Uwe Benz, Horst Michels, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6953009Abstract: A vaporizer, a fuel cell system including the vaporizer, and a method of vaporizing fuel in a fuel cell system are disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reservoir (24) for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel cell (10) for consuming a fuel and generating electricity therefrom. A fuel vaporizer (28) is interposed between the fuel reservoir (24) and the fuel cell (10) for receiving liquid fuel and vaporizing it and delivering it ultimately to the fuel cell (10). The fuel vaporizer (28) includes a heat exchanger which includes a hot fluid inlet (65), a hot fluid outlet (67) and a core (50) interconnecting the inlet (65) and the outlet (68). The core (50) has alternating fuel flow structures (68) and hot fluid structures (69) with the fuel flow structures (68,69) having an inlet (56) and an outlet (58).Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Modine Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark G. Voss, Marc Weisser, Bruno Motzet, Sven Thumm, Dennis C. Granetzke
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Patent number: 6936364Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignees: Modine Manufacturing Company, XCELLSiS GmbHInventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark Voss, Uwe Benz, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6932949Abstract: A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Uwe Benz, Horst Michels, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6756020Abstract: A combined component for afterburning anode exhaust gases from a fuel cell system and for vaporizing educts to be fed to the fuel cell system has an exhaust gas catalyzer for afterburning the anode exhaust gases, with a substantially cylindrical casing having an inlet and an outlet connection disposed coaxially to the long axis of the casing, one on a casing cover and the other on a casing bottom. A first gas-permeable inner tube is disposed coaxially to the long axis of the casing and fixedly joined at the gas inlet end to the casing cover, while a second gas-permeable outer tube which is also disposed coaxially with the long axis of the casing and has a radius rA greater than the radius rI of the inner tube but smaller than the radius rG of the casing. The latter is connected gas-tight to the casing cover at the inlet end. A bulk catalyst is disposed in the area between the inner and the outer tube for the catalytic oxidation of the anode exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Dietmar Heil, Bruno Motzet, Konrad Schwab, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6696188Abstract: A device is used to evaporate and/or superheat a hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon/water mixture for a gas generation system of a fuel cell installation. The hydrocarbon or the hydrocarbon/water mixture flows through a medium-side region of a heat exchanger, which is in thermally conductive communication with a heat-transfer-side region of the heat exchanger. A burner is arranged upstream of the heat-transfer-side region of the heat exchanger, as seen in the direction of flow. An exhaust gas from a combustion which takes place in the burner flows through the heat-transfer-side region of the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Stefan Boneberg, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20030215679Abstract: A vaporizer, a fuel cell system including the vaporizer, and a method of vaporizing fuel in a fuel cell system are disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reservoir (24) for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel cell (10) for consuming a fuel and generating electricity therefrom. A fuel vaporizer (28) is interposed between the fuel reservoir (24) and the fuel cell (10) for receiving liquid fuel and vaporizing it and delivering it ultimately to the fuel cell (10). The fuel vaporizer (28) includes a heat exchanger which includes a hot fluid inlet (65), a hot fluid outlet (67) and a core (50) interconnecting the inlet (65) and the outlet (68). The core (50) has alternating fuel flow structures (68) and hot fluid structures (69) with the fuel flow structures (68,69) having an inlet (56) and an outlet (58).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: Modine Manufacturing Company and Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark G. Voss, Marc Weisser, Bruno Motzet, Sven Thumm, Dennis C. Granetzke
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Publication number: 20030138681Abstract: The invention relates to a system for supplying at least two components of a gas producing system of a fuel cell installation, especially the stages of a multi-stage reformation process, with an evaporated and/or superheated hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon/water mixture. The inventive system comprises at least two heat exchangers that have one zone for the media and one zone for the supply of thermal energy each. The heat exchangers are associated with one of the components each, the zone used for the supply of thermal energy to the at least two heat exchangers being connected in tandem. Alternatively, the inventive system comprises a heat exchanger and downstream of the media zone thereof a valve device which supplies the evaporated and/or superheated volume flow to at least one respective section of pipes that leads to one of the at least two components, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Stefan Boneberg, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20030077490Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2001Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark Voss, Uwe Benz, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6510892Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluidically parallel first layers which define first heat exchanger ducts through which a first medium is capable of flowing, and in each case has a second layer between the two first layers. The respective second layer is in thermal contact with the two adjacent first layers and defines at least one second heat exchanger duct through which a second medium is capable of flowing in parallel. The respective second layer comprises two fluidically parallel layer plies. A controllable supply of the second medium to the one and/or the other layer ply in each case is provided. Such a heat exchanger can be used, in particular, as an evaporator with an integrated starting and main evaporator part, and particularly as an evaporator in a reforming plant of a fuel-cell vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Stefan Boneberg, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6470569Abstract: A process for producing a compact catalytic reactor, in which reaction spaces or heat-transfer spaces are formed by stacking at least partially structured plates alternately one on top of the other, a catalyst is introduced into the reaction spaces, and the plates are provided with a layer of solder at least in the edge region, but not in the region provided with catalyst material, and, after stacking them one on top of the other, are soldered to form a reactor. In addition, the plates may be provided with a bent-up edge region a for easy positioning and for increasing the leak tightness. Finally, an unstructured intermediate plate may also be respectively provided between the structured plates.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2001Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Marco Lippert, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20020148269Abstract: In a method of producing microstructured metal sheets, microstructures are made in a metal sheet surface in a continuous embossing step on one side of the metal sheet, while the surface structure of the other side is essentially not changed. The embossing step is carried out by means of an embossing roller which has a negative of the microstructure to be embossed. The flanks of the microstructure form an angle of at least 5° with respect to the perpendicular line, and the negative contains compensating structures in the regions surrounding the microstructure for rendering the forming uniform along the roller slit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AG.Inventors: Joachim Ruck, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6389696Abstract: Plate heat exchanger has heat transfer plates which exhibit a patterning and are stacked one above the other. Primary sided flow channels for a first heat exchanger medium to be evaporated, and secondary sided channels for a second heat exchanger heat carrier medium are formed between the plates. The primary sided and/or the secondary sided flow channels are formed between two adjacent heat transfer plates, whose patterning meshes at least partially, while maintaining a minimum spacing.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Xcellsis GmbHInventors: Dietmar Heil, Bruno Motzet, Konrad Schwab, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20020046828Abstract: A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Inventors: Uwe Benz, Horst Michels, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20020041839Abstract: A device feeds educts to parallel spaces separated from one another by way of a distributor unit. Outlets of the distributor unit are assigned to the spaces, and evaporator structures for the evaporation of liquid media are provided in the spaces. Each outlet of the distributor unit project into a space. The boiling point of the medium in the distributor unit is maintained above the temperature of the medium in the distributor unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2001Publication date: April 11, 2002Inventors: Roland Cwik, Andreas Ebert, Oskar Lamla, Bruno Motzet, Martin Schuessler, Tomas Stefanovski, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20010030041Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluidically parallel first layers which define first heat exchanger ducts through which a first medium is capable of flowing, and in each case has a second layer between the two first layers. The respective second layer is in thermal contact with the two adjacent first layers and defines at least one second heat exchanger duct through which a second medium is capable of flowing in parallel. The respective second layer comprises two fluidically parallel layer plies. A controllable supply of the second medium to the one and/or the other layer ply in each case is provided. Such a heat exchanger can be used, in particular, as an evaporator with an integrated starting and main evaporator part, and particularly as an evaporator in a reforming plant of a fuel-cell vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: Stefan Boneberg, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20010023760Abstract: A device for evaporating and/or superheating a medium, in particular a hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon/water mixture for a gas generation system of a fuel-cell plant, includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has, in its media-side region, at least one pair of films and in each case an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice which are connected in each case to a media space between the two films of the at least one pair of films. The media-side region is in thermally conductive contact with a region located on the heat transfer medium side. The media space is formed between the two films by depressions introduced on the medium-facing side of at least one of the films. The surface, facing away from the medium, in each case of at least one of the films of the at least one pair of films is provided with heat conducting ribs, the height of the heat conducting ribs being greater than the depth of the depressions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2001Publication date: September 27, 2001Inventors: Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser