Patents by Inventor Mari KAWABUCHI

Mari KAWABUCHI 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: 11870080
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal support cell, in which an anode layer containing nickel, an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer are stacked on a metal support portion. In the method for activating the anode layer in the solid oxide fuel cell, first, an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the anode layer to oxidize the nickel. Next, a hydrogen-containing gas HG is introduced into the anode layer to reduce the nickel oxide formed by oxidizing the nickel, and to increase conduction paths of the nickel that electrically connect the electrolyte layer to the metal support part in the anode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Fukuyama, Mari Kawabuchi, Kazuyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 10957922
    Abstract: A control method for a fuel cell system that includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to generate power upon receipt of supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas includes an anode protection execution determination process of performing execution determination of an anode protection process of applying a predetermined protection current to the fuel cell in order to restrain catalyst oxidation in an anode of the fuel cell. In the anode protection execution determination process, an internal impedance of the fuel cell at an anode response frequency at which an anode reaction resistance of the fuel cell is detectable is acquired, and based on the internal impedance at the anode response frequency, whether the anode protection process is to be executed or not is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mari Kawabuchi, Dong Song, Yosuke Fukuyama
  • Publication number: 20200343561
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal support cell, in which an anode layer containing nickel, an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer are stacked on a metal support portion. In the method for activating the anode layer in the solid oxide fuel cell, first, an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the anode layer to oxidize the nickel. Next, a hydrogen-containing gas HG is introduced into the anode layer to reduce the nickel oxide formed by oxidizing the nickel, and to increase conduction paths of the nickel that electrically connect the electrolyte layer to the metal support part in the anode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Yosuke FUKUYAMA, Mari KAWABUCHI, Kazuyuki SATO
  • Publication number: 20190341638
    Abstract: A control method for a fuel cell system that includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to generate power upon receipt of supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas includes an anode protection execution determination process of performing execution determination of an anode protection process of applying a predetermined protection current to the fuel cell in order to restrain catalyst oxidation in an anode of the fuel cell. In the anode protection execution determination process, an internal impedance of the fuel cell at an anode response frequency at which an anode reaction resistance of the fuel cell is detectable is acquired, and based on the internal impedance at the anode response frequency, whether the anode protection process is to be executed or not is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mari KAWABUCHI, Dong SONG, Yosuke FUKUYAMA