Patents by Inventor Michael Krumpelt
Michael Krumpelt 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: 20100066036Abstract: Compressive composite seals for solid oxide fuel cell applications are provided. A compressive composite seal structure includes a glass phase to provide a gas tight seal, a reinforcing secondary phase to provide mechanical stability, and a compressive core. The compressive core is filled with an inert gas or air, providing a degree of compressibility, or alternatively is filled with a selected material to provide a more specific degree of compressibility and strength, such as a lower melting point glass. The compressive composite seal structure maintains an effective seal during the operating conditions of the SOFC. The self healing glass phase with the reinforcing secondary phase providing mechanical stability provides an elastic response at high temperature, effectively reduces crack propagation and if the temperature or pressure goes too high, the seal remains reliable and effective.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Terry A. Cruse, Michael Krumpelt, Brian J. Ingram
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Patent number: 7563292Abstract: A method of producing a H2 rich gas stream includes supplying an O2 rich gas, steam, and fuel to an inner reforming zone of a fuel processor that includes a partial oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst or a combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst. The method also includes contacting the O2 rich gas, steam, and fuel with the partial oxidation catalyst and the steam reforming catalyst or the combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst in the inner reforming zone to generate a hot reformate stream. The method still further includes cooling the hot reformate stream in a cooling zone to produce a cooled reformate stream. Additionally, the method includes removing sulfur-containing compounds from the cooled reformate stream by contacting the cooled reformate stream with a sulfur removal agent.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Shabbir Ahmed, Sheldon H. D. Lee, John David Carter, Michael Krumpelt, Deborah J. Myers
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Patent number: 7507690Abstract: The invention addressed two critical issues in fuel processing for fuel cell application, i.e. catalyst cost and operating stability. The existing state-of-the-art fuel reforming catalyst uses Rh and platinum supported over refractory oxide which add significant cost to the fuel cell system. Supported metals agglomerate under elevated temperature during reforming and decrease the catalyst activity. The catalyst is a perovskite oxide or a Ruddlesden-Popper type oxide containing rare-earth elements, catalytically active firs row transition metal elements, and stabilizing elements, such that the catalyst is a single phase in high temperature oxidizing conditions and maintains a primarily perovskite or Ruddlesden-Popper structure under high temperature reducing conditions. The catalyst can also contain alkaline earth dopants, which enhance the catalytic activity of the catalyst, but do not compromise the stability of the perovskite structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2004Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC.Inventors: Michael Krumpelt, Di-Jia Liu
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Publication number: 20090017341Abstract: A composition of matter and method of use of an electrode for intermediate temperature electrochemical devices. An electrode consists essentially of a perovskite based oxide having a composition of La1-xSr1-xMn1-yCryO3-? and the electrode can be used at intermediate operating temperatures of 650-800° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Brian J. Ingram, Michael Krumpelt, Terry A. Cruse
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Patent number: 7195835Abstract: An ion conducting membrane comprising dendrimeric polymers covalently linked into a network structure. The dendrimeric polymers have acid functional terminal groups and may be covalently linked via linking compounds, cross-coupling reactions, or copolymerization reactions. The ion conducting membranes may be produced by various methods and used in fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Daniel G. Colombo, Michael Krumpelt, Deborah J. Myers, John P. Kopasz
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Publication number: 20060094792Abstract: An ion conducting membrane comprising dendrimeric polymers covalently linked into a network structure. The dendrimeric polymers have acid functional terminal groups and may be covalently linked via linking compounds, cross-coupling reactions, or copolymerization reactions. The ion conducting membranes may be produced by various methods and used in feul cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2005Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventors: Daniel Colombo, Michael Krumpelt, Deborah Myers, John Kopasz
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Patent number: 6977122Abstract: An ion conducting membrane comprising dendrimeric polymers covalently linked into a network structure. The dendrimeric polymers have acid functional terminal groups and may be covalently linked via linking compounds, cross-coupling reactions, or copolymerization reactions. The ion conducting membranes may be produced by various methods and used in fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2002Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: Daniel G. Colombo, Michael Krumpelt, Deborah J. Myers, John P. Kopasz
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Patent number: 6967063Abstract: A method for reforming a sulfur-containing carbonaceous fuel in which the sulfur-containing carbonaceous fuel is mixed with H2O and an oxidant, forming a fuel/H2O/oxidant mixture. The fuel H2O/oxidant mixture is brought into contact with a catalyst composition comprising a dehydrogenation portion, an oxidation portion and a hydrodesulfurization portion, resulting in formation of a hydrogen-containing gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: Michael Krumpelt, John P. Kopasz, Shabbir Ahmed, Richard Li-chih Kao, Sarabjit Singh Randhava
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Patent number: 6916570Abstract: An oxygen ion conducting ceramic oxide that has applications in industry including fuel cells, oxygen pumps, oxygen sensors, and separation membranes. The material is based on the idea that substituting a dopant into the host perovskite lattice of (La,Sr)MnO3 that prefers a coordination number lower than 6 will induce oxygen ion vacancies to form in the lattice. Because the oxygen ion conductivity of (La,Sr)MnO3 is low over a very large temperature range, the material exhibits a high overpotential when used. The inclusion of oxygen vacancies into the lattice by doping the material has been found to maintain the desirable properties of (La,Sr)MnO3, while significantly decreasing the experimentally observed overpotential.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: John Vaughey, Michael Krumpelt, Xiaoping Wang, J. David Carter
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Publication number: 20050031519Abstract: An oxygen ion conducting ceramic oxide that has applications in industry including fuel cells, oxygen pumps, oxygen sensors, and separation membranes. The material is based on the idea that substituting a dopant into the host perovskite lattice of (La,Sr)MnO3 that prefers a coordination number lower than 6 will induce oxygen ion vacancies to form in the lattice. Because the oxygen ion conductivity of (La,Sr)MnO3 is low over a very large temperature range, the material exhibits a high overpotential when used. The inclusion of oxygen vacancies into the lattice by doping the material has been found to maintain the desirable properties of (La,Sr)MnO3, while significantly decreasing the experimentally observed overpotential.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: John Vaughey, Michael Krumpelt, Xiaoping Wang, J. Carter
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Patent number: 6843960Abstract: A method for preparing compositionally graded metallic plates and compositionally graded metallic plates suitable for use as interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells are provided. The method of the invention, utilizing powder metallurgy, enables making metallic plates of generally any desired composition to meet the corrosion requirements of fuel cells and other applications, and enables making metallic plates of graded composition from one surface of the plate to the other. A powder of the desired alloy composition is obtained, then solvents, dispersants, a plasticizer and an organic binder are added to form a slip. The slip is then formed into a layer on a desired substrate that can be flat or textured. Once dried, the layer is removed from the substrate and the binder is burned out. The layer is sintered in a reducing atmosphere at a set temperature for a predefined duration specific to the materials used and the desired final properties.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: Michael Krumpelt, Terry Alan Cruse, John David Carter, Jules L. Routbort, Romesh Kumar
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Patent number: 6821498Abstract: An oxygen ion conducting ceramic oxide that has applications in industry including fuel cells, oxygen pumps, oxygen sensors, and separation membranes. The material is based on the idea that substituting a dopant into the host perovskite lattice of (La,Sr)MnO3 that prefers a coordination number lower than 6 will induce oxygen ion vacancies to form in the lattice. Because the oxygen ion conductivity of (La,Sr)MnO3 is low over a very large temperature range, the material exhibits a high overpotential when used. The inclusion of oxygen vacancies into the lattice by doping the material has been found to maintain the desirable properties of (La,Sr)MnO3, while significantly decreasing the experimentally observed overpotential.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: John Vaughey, Michael Krumpelt, Xiaoping Wang, J. David Carter
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Publication number: 20040204315Abstract: The invention addressed two critical issues in fuel processing for fuel cell application, i.e. catalyst cost and operating stability. The existing state-of-the-art fuel reforming catalyst uses Rh and platinum supported over refractory oxide which add significant cost to the fuel cell system. Supported metals agglomerate under elevated temperature during reforming and decrease the catalyst activity. The catalyst is a perovskite oxide or a Ruddlesden-Popper type oxide containing rare-earth elements, catalytically active first row transition metal elements, and stabilizing elements, such that the catalyst is a single phase in high temperature oxidizing conditions and maintains a primarily perovskite or Ruddlesden-Popper structure under high temperature reducing conditions. The catalyst can also contain alkaline earth dopants, which enhance the catalytic activity of the catalyst, but do not compromise the stability of the perovskite structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: The University of ChicagoInventors: Michael Krumpelt, Di-Jia Liu
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Publication number: 20040163311Abstract: A method of producing a H2 rich gas stream includes supplying an O2 rich gas, steam, and fuel to an inner reforming zone of a fuel processor that includes a partial oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst or a combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst. The method also includes contacting the O2 rich gas, steam, and fuel with the partial oxidation catalyst and the steam reforming catalyst or the combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst in the inner reforming zone to generate a hot reformate stream. The method still further includes cooling the hot reformate stream in a cooling zone to produce a cooled reformate stream. Additionally, the method includes removing sulfur-containing compounds from the cooled reformate stream by contacting the cooled reformate stream with a sulfur removal agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2004Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventors: Shabbir Ahmed, Sheldon H. D. Lee, John David Carter, Michael Krumpelt, Deborah J. Myers
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Patent number: 6713040Abstract: A method of producing a H2 rich gas stream includes supplying an O2 rich gas, steam, and fuel to an inner reforming zone of a fuel processor that includes a partial oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst or a combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst. The method also includes contacting the O2 rich gas, steam, and fuel with the partial oxidation catalyst and the steam reforming catalyst or the combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst in the inner reforming zone to generate a hot reformate stream. The method still further includes cooling the hot reformate stream in a cooling zone to produce a cooled reformate stream. Additionally, the method includes removing sulfur-containing compounds from the cooled reformate stream by contacting the cooled reformate stream with a sulfur removal agent.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Argonne National LaboratoryInventors: Shabbir Ahmed, Sheldon H. D. Lee, John David Carter, Michael Krumpelt
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Patent number: 6670305Abstract: A monolithic catalyst with micro-scale flow channels and methods of making such a monolithic catalyst are provided. The monolithic catalyst includes a plurality of thin catalyst walls. The walls have a set thickness in a range from 1 to 150 &mgr;m. The thin catalyst walls define a plurality of flow channels. A fugitive material is used to form the flow channels. The flow channels have a set width in a range from 1 to 200 &mgr;m. The flow channels are formed by an organic fugitive material, which burns off during processing. By using the thin catalyst walls and flow channels having a set width in a range from 1 to 200 &mgr;m, a reduced diffusion path length that molecules travel between the bulk gas and the active site is provided. Accelerating the mass transport thus improves the overall reaction rate, which allows processing of more reactants. Thus, the volume of the required catalyst is reduced, allowing more compact reactors.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: Joong-Myeon Bae, John David Carter, Michael Krumpelt, Shabbir Ahmed
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Publication number: 20030231973Abstract: A method for preparing compositionally graded metallic plates and compositionally graded metallic plates suitable for use as interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells are provided. The method of the invention, utilizing powder metallurgy, enables making metallic plates of generally any desired composition to meet the corrosion requirements of fuel cells and other applications, and enables making metallic plates of graded composition from one surface of the plate to the other. A powder of the desired alloy composition is obtained, then solvents, dispersants, a plasticizer and an organic binder are added to form a slip. The slip is then formed into a layer on a desired substrate that can be flat or textured. Once dried, the layer is removed from the substrate and the binder is burned out. The layer is sintered in a reducing atmosphere at a set temperature for a predefined duration specific to the materials used and the desired final properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2002Publication date: December 18, 2003Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGOInventors: Michael Krumpelt, Terry Alan Cruse, John David Carter, Jules L. Routbort, Romesh Kumar
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Publication number: 20030232230Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) repeat unit includes an oxide electrolyte, an anode, a metallic fuel flow field, a metallic interconnect, and a metallic air flow field. The multilayer laminate is made by casting tapes of the different functional layers, laminating the tapes together and sintering the laminate in a reducing atmosphere. Solid oxide fuel cell stacks are made by applying a cathode layer, bonding the unit into a gas manifold plate, and then stacking the cells together. This process leads to superior mechanical properties in the SOFC due to the toughness of the supporting metallic layers. It also reduces contact resistances in stacking the cells since there is only one physical contact plane for each repeat unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2002Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: John David Carter, Joong-Myeon Bae, Terry Alan Cruse, James Michael Ralph, Romesh Kumar, Michael Krumpelt
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Publication number: 20030188475Abstract: A dynamic, compact, lightweight fuel processor that is capable of converting carbonaceous fuels to hydrogen rich gases suitable for all types of fuel cells or chemical processing applications. The fuel processor and process are based on the autothermal hydrodesulfurizing reforming reaction, followed by clean up of byproduct sulfur-containing gases and carbon monoxide that poison the fuel cell electrocatalyst. The fuel processor uses proprietary catalysts and hardware designs that enable the conversion in an energy efficient manner while maintaining desirable performance characteristics such as rapid start-stop and fast response to load change capabilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: Shabbir Ahmed, Sheldon H. Lee, Steven G. Calderone, Richard L. Kao, Elias H. Camara, Steven A. Lottes, Michael Krumpelt, Todd L. Harvey
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Publication number: 20030129115Abstract: An oxygen ion conducting ceramic oxide that has applications in industry including fuel cells, oxygen pumps, oxygen sensors, and separation membranes. The material is based on the idea that substituting a dopant into the host perovskite lattice of (La,Sr)MnO3 that prefers a coordination number lower than 6 will induce oxygen ion vacancies to form in the lattice. Because the oxygen ion conductivity of (La,Sr)MnO3 is low over a very large temperature range, the material exhibits a high overpotential when used. The inclusion of oxygen vacancies into the lattice by doping the material has been found to maintain the desirable properties of (La,Sr)MnO3, while significantly decreasing the experimentally observed overpotential.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: The University of ChicagoInventors: John Vaughey, Michael Krumpelt, Xiaoping Wang, J. David Carter