Patents by Inventor Mitsuaki Echigo

Mitsuaki Echigo 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: 11973253
    Abstract: A small-size and light-weight electrochemical module in which, when a stack expands the stack can be clamped appropriately. The electrochemical module includes: an electrochemical element stack obtained by stacking, in a predetermined stacking direction, a plurality of electrochemical elements having a configuration in which an electrolyte layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode that are respectively arranged on two sides of the electrolyte layer, are formed along a substrate; an elastic plate-like member arranged along at least one of a first flat face and a second flat face of the electrochemical element stack; and a clamp that includes a first clamping portion extending along the first flat face and a second clamping portion extending along the second flat face and clamps the electrochemical element stack via the plate-like member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Shinke, Mitsuaki Echigo
  • Patent number: 11967740
    Abstract: An electrochemical element including a plate-like support provided with an internal passage therein. The plate-like support includes a gas-permeable portion through which gas is permeable between the internal passage and the outside of the plate-like support and an electrochemical reaction portion that is formed by stacking at least a film-like electrode layer, a film-like electrolyte layer, and a film-like counter electrode layer in the stated order in a predetermined stacking direction on an outer face of the plate-like support so as to entirely or partially cover the gas-permeable portion. A first gas, that is one of reducing component gas and oxidative component gas, flows through the internal passage, and the internal passage is provided with a turbulence forming body that forms a turbulence state of the first gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Norihisa Shinke, Tadayuki Sogi, Kazuyuki Minami
  • Patent number: 11936076
    Abstract: A metal support for an electrochemical element where the metal support includes a plate face, has a plate shape as a whole, and has a warping degree of 1.5×10?2 or less determined by calculating a least square value through the least squares method using at least three points in the plate face of the metal support, calculating a first difference between the least square value and a positive-side maximum displacement value on a positive side with respect to the least square value and a second difference between the least square value and a negative-side maximum displacement value on a negative side that is opposite to the positive side with respect to the least square value, and dividing the sum of the first difference and the second difference by a maximum length of the plate face of the metal support that passes through a center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Tsuda, Mitsuaki Echigo, Tadayuki Sogi, Kazuyuki Minami, Kyohei Manabe
  • Publication number: 20240047702
    Abstract: A substrate, with an electrode layer for a metal-supported electrochemical element of a solid oxide fuel cell or a solid oxide electrolytic cell, including a metal support, an electrode layer formed on/over the metal support, and an intermediate layer formed on/over the electrode layer, wherein the intermediate layer has a region with a surface roughness (Ra) of 1.0 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Yuji Tsuda, Kyohei Manabe, Kazuyuki Minami, Osamu Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20230392249
    Abstract: Provided is an alloy material including a metal oxide thin layer that can be formed using a simple method at low cost and can further suppress volatilization of Cr, which causes deterioration of a fuel cell, compared with a case where conventional expensive materials are used. Disclosed is a manufacturing method for an alloy material including a coating treatment step for coating a substrate made of a Fe—Cr based alloy with Co, and an oxidation treatment step for performing oxidation treatment on the substrate in a moisture-containing atmosphere after the coating treatment step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20230352698
    Abstract: -- A coating composition enables film formation at low cost with a simple method by using a zirconium alkoxide and an yttrium compound as starting raw materials, and enables a dense yttria-stabilized zirconia layer to be obtained, The coating composition containing the zirconium alkoxide, the yttrium compound, a chelate compound, a catalyst, water, and an organic solvent is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyoshi, Mitsuaki Echigo, Kyohei Manabe
  • Patent number: 11767586
    Abstract: Provided is an alloy material including a metal oxide thin layer that can be formed using a simple method at low cost and can further suppress volatilization of Cr, which causes deterioration of a fuel cell, compared with a case where conventional expensive materials are used. Disclosed is a manufacturing method for an alloy material including a coating treatment step for coating a substrate made of a Fe—Cr based alloy with Co, and an oxidation treatment step for performing oxidation treatment on the substrate in a moisture-containing atmosphere after the coating treatment step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 11757122
    Abstract: An electrochemical module including, a stack obtained by stacking, in a predetermined stacking direction, a plurality of electrochemical elements having a configuration in which an electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a counter electrode layer are formed along a substrate, via an annular sealing portion through which first gas, that is one of reducing component gas and oxidative component gas, flows; a container including an upper cover for pressing a first flat face in the stacking direction of the stack and a lower cover for pressing a second flat face on a side opposite to the first flat face, the stack clamped between the upper cover and the lower cover; an elastic lower plate-like member arranged between the first flat face and the upper cover; and a first gas supply portion and a first gas discharge portion connected to the second flat face in communication with the annular sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Shinke, Kazuyuki Minami, Mitsuaki Echigo
  • Publication number: 20230282844
    Abstract: The present invention includes metal materials 42a and 52a made of thermally expandable members that thermally expand, and insulating metal oxide layers 42b and 52b. The metal materials 42a and 52a and the metal oxide layers 42b and 52b formed in an annular shape have through holes 42c and 52c thereinside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Norihisa Shinke, Mitsuaki Echigo, Kyohei Manabe, Hisao Ohnishi, Masakazu Yoda, Tadayuki Sogi, Akio Inaya
  • Patent number: 11749824
    Abstract: Provided are a metal plate configured such that sufficient strength and performance are ensured and the workability and cost of mass production are improved, and an electrochemical element and the like including the metal plate. A metal plate 1 includes a thick portion 110, and a thin portion 120 that is thinner than the thick portion 110. The thin portion 120 is provided with a penetration space 1c passing through the thin portion 120 in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 11749821
    Abstract: A fuel cell single unit including: a fuel cell element in which an anode layer and a cathode layer are formed so as to sandwich an electrolyte layer; a reducing gas supply path for supplying a gas containing hydrogen to the anode layer; an oxidizing gas supply path for supplying a gas containing oxygen to the cathode layer; and an internal reforming catalyst layer, which has a reforming catalyst for steam-reforming a fuel gas, in at least a part of the reducing gas supply path is provided. An external reformer, which has a reforming catalyst for steam-reforming the fuel gas, is provided upstream of the reducing gas supply path, and the fuel gas partially reformed by the external reformer is supplied to the reducing gas supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Onishi, Noritoshi Shinke, Yuji Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20230234084
    Abstract: Provided is a film forming apparatus capable of stably supplying a large amount of ceramic raw material powder for a long time and forming a homogeneous and dense film. A film forming apparatus 1 for forming a film on a base material K includes an aerosol transport path 10 for ejecting an aerosol obtained by dispersing a ceramic raw material powder in a gas, from an ejection end 10a toward the base material K, in which a flow path cross-section at an ejection end 10a of the aerosol transport path 10 has a substantially circular shape with an area of 10 mm2 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Kyohei Manabe, Katsuki Higaki, Hisao Ohnishi, Mitsuaki Echigo, Tadayuki Sogi, Jun Akedo, Rintaro Aoyagi, Hiroaki Matsui, Kentaro Shinoda, Hiroki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11677080
    Abstract: Provided is a low-cost electrochemical element that includes a high-performance electrode layer. The electrochemical element includes an electrode layer, and the electrode layer contains small particles and large particles. The small particles have a particle diameter of 200 nm or less in the electrode layer, and the large particles have a particle diameter of 500 nm or more in the electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Minami, Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Yuji Tsuda, Kyohei Manabe, Osamu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11670779
    Abstract: A metal support for an electrochemical element has a plate shape as a whole, and is provided with a plurality of penetration spaces that pass through the metal support from a front face to a back face. The front face is a face to be provided with an electrode layer. Each of front-side openings that are openings of the penetration spaces formed in the front face has an area of 3.0×10?4 mm2 or more and 3.0×10?3 mm2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Kazuyuki Minami, Yuji Tsuda, Kyohei Manabe, Osamu Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20230160079
    Abstract: -- An electrolysis cell unit capable of efficiently electrolyzing water and carbon dioxide is obtained. An electrolysis cell unit includes at least an electrolysis cell in which an electrode layer and a counter electrode layer are formed with an electrolyte layer interposed therebetween and a discharge path for discharging hydrogen generated in the electrode layer, in which the electrolysis cell being formed in a thin layer on a support and a reverse water-gas shift reaction unit that generates carbon monoxide using carbon dioxide and the hydrogen by a reverse water-gas shift reaction being provided in at least a portion of the discharge path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Yuji Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20230149889
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon production system capable of efficiently producing hydrocarbon containing a high-calorie gas by securing hydrogen and carbon monoxide required for hydrocarbon synthesis using water and carbon dioxide as raw materials is obtained. The hydrocarbon production system includes an electrolytic reaction unit that converts water and carbon dioxide into hydrogen and carbon monoxide through an electrolytic reaction, a catalytic reaction unit that converts a product generated by the electrolytic reaction unit into hydrocarbon through a catalytic reaction, and branch paths and that branch a portion of an outlet component of the catalytic reaction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20230147978
    Abstract: Provided is a low-cost electrochemical element that has excellent performance, reliability, and durability. Also, provided is a manufacturing method for an electrochemical element including a metal substrate (metal support) and an electrode layer formed on/over the metal substrate. The method includes an electrode layer forming step of forming an electrode layer having a region with a surface roughness of 1.0 ?m or less on/over the metal substrate, and an electrolyte layer forming step of forming an electrolyte layer by spraying aerosolized metal oxide powder onto the electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Yuji Tsuda, Kyohei Manabe, Kazuyuki Minami
  • Publication number: 20230111972
    Abstract: A reverse water-gas shift catalyst that can be used at a high temperature is obtained, and a production method thereof is obtained. The reverse water-gas shift catalyst is obtained by at least supporting one or both of nickel and iron as a catalytically active component on a carrier containing a ceria-based metal oxide or a zirconia-based metal oxide as a main component, and a ratio of the carrier to the entire catalyst is 55% by weight or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Yuji Tsuda, Takenori Hirano
  • Publication number: 20230114967
    Abstract: As a hydrocarbon production system that synthesizes hydrocarbons using water and carbon dioxide as raw materials, a hydrocarbon production system capable of producing hydrocarbons by securing hydrogen and carbon monoxide required for hydrocarbon synthesis is provided. In a hydrocarbon production system that produces hydrocarbons from at least water and carbon dioxide, the hydrocarbon production system includes at least an electrolytic reaction unit, a reverse water-gas shift reaction unit, and a hydrocarbon synthesis reaction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Ohnishi, Yuji Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20230110742
    Abstract: In a metal support mostly used for a metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), a SOFC system that improves the power generation efficiency by allowing a gas to smoothly flow into or flow out from the through-holes is achieved. A metal support is formed in a plate shape as a whole and has a plurality of through-holes penetrating from a front surface on which an electrode layer is provided to a back surface, and the metal support has inclined through-holes, as the through-holes each of which has a central axis inclined with respect to a thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Yuji Tsuda, Hisao Ohnishi