Patents by Inventor Motomichi Katou

Motomichi Katou 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: 9879879
    Abstract: The cogeneration system includes: a cogeneration apparatus which generates electric power using supplied fuel gas and supplies the electric power and heat; a heat accumulator which accumulates the heat supplied by the cogeneration apparatus; a controller which controls at least start and stop of the cogeneration apparatus; and a display unit that displays a remaining power generation duration which is a length of time for which the cogeneration apparatus can continue power generation. The controller further calculates the remaining power generation duration based on a remaining heat accumulation capacity which is a difference between (a) a maximum accumulable heat amount which is the amount of heat the heat accumulator is capable of accumulating and (b) a current accumulated heat amount that is the amount of heat currently accumulated in the heat accumulator, and causes the display unit to display the calculated remaining power generation duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagasato, Masato Kihara, Motomichi Katou
  • Patent number: 9553322
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel processor; a fuel cell stack; a first water tank; a combustor; a water discharge passage connected to a water drain port formed in the first water tank to discharge the water from inside of the first water tank; a water filling detector configured to detect that at least one of the water drain port and the water discharge passage is filled with water; a water supply unit for supplying the water to the first water tank; and a controller configured to execute a water filling step of supplying the water to the first water, supply the combustible gas to the combustor via the first water tank and cause the combustor to combust the combustible gas, when the water filling detector detects that at least one of the water drain port and the water discharge passage is filled with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Takahashi, Motomichi Katou
  • Patent number: 9520603
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a fuel cell (60); a fuel processor (41) including a reformer (43) and a CO reducer (44, 45); a combustor (42); a first air supply device (46); an electric heater (50); a power supply device (200); a power outage detector (11); and a controller (10). The controller is configured such that, in a power outage state where the power outage detector has detected the power outage before the fuel cell generates electric power, the controller performs at least one of: increasing a supply amount of the combustion air to be greater than in a power supplied state where the power outage detector does not detect the power outage; and decreasing a supply amount of the combustible gas to be less than in the power supplied state, and decreases an amount of heating by the electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Takahashi, Motomichi Katou, Masato Kihara
  • Patent number: 9219284
    Abstract: A controller in a fuel cell system operates a fuel cell in a normal mode or in a special mode. In the normal mode, the fuel cell is operated to satisfy at least one of a first operation condition and a second operation condition, under the first operation condition an operation time of the fuel cell per unit period is equal to or shorter than a unit allowable operation time, under the second operation condition the number of times of operation of the fuel cell per unit time is equal to or less than a unit allowable number of times of operation, and in the special mode, the fuel cell is operated without being limited by at least one of the first operation condition and the second operation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Motomichi Katou
  • Patent number: 8958923
    Abstract: A distributed power supply system is configured to execute a process for determining whether or not to permit a diagnostic process in such a manner that it is determined whether or not a difference between a set upper limit value and an actual measurement current value is not less than a load current value, the set upper limit value being a predetermined upper limit value set with respect to a detected current of a current sensor, the measurement current value being detected by the current sensor in a state where the diagnostic process is not executed, and the load current value being a value of a current flowing from a commercial power utility to a power load during execution of the diagnostic process; and if it is determined that the difference is not less than the load current value, the controller permits the diagnostic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nin Kake, Shinji Miyauchi, Hiroaki Kaku, Keiichi Sato, Hiroshi Nagasato, Akihito Ootani, Toru Kushisaka, Motomichi Katou, Manabu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140322624
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a stack; an antifreezing heater; a surplus power heater; a switching unit; and an electric power conversion unit. Where a first supply path denotes a power supply path from a system power supply to the antifreezing heater, a second supply path denotes a power supply path from the stack to the antifreezing heater, and a third supply path denotes a power supply path from the stack to the surplus power heater, when a power failure happens, the switching unit disconnects the first supply path, disconnects the second supply path and connects the third supply path until an output electric power of the stack is converted to the power necessary for operating the antifreezing heater, and connects the second supply path and disconnects the third supply path after the output power of the stack is converted to the power necessary for operating the antifreezing heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masumi Kasai, Atsushi Nakayama, Motomichi Katou
  • Publication number: 20140305386
    Abstract: The cogeneration system includes: a cogeneration apparatus which generates electric power using supplied fuel gas and supplies the electric power and heat; a heat accumulator which accumulates the heat supplied by the cogeneration apparatus; a controller which controls at least start and stop of the cogeneration apparatus; and a display unit that displays a remaining power generation duration which is a length of time for which the cogeneration apparatus can continue power generation. The controller further calculates the remaining power generation duration based on a remaining heat accumulation capacity which is a difference between (a) a maximum accumulable heat amount which is the amount of heat the heat accumulator is capable of accumulating and (b) a current accumulated heat amount that is the amount of heat currently accumulated in the heat accumulator, and causes the display unit to display the calculated remaining power generation duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagasato, Masato Kihara, Motomichi Katou
  • Patent number: 8859155
    Abstract: Included are: a basic operation plan creating section 2 configured to create a basic operation plan based on durable years (e.g., 10 years) and a durable operating time (e.g., 40000 hours) of a fuel cell 1, such that the fuel cell 1 is operated within the range of at least one of a first allowable operating time (e.g., 11 hours) per predetermined unit period (e.g., per day) and the number of durable start-ups (e.g., 4000 times) per predetermined unit period; a special operation plan creating section 3 configured to create a special operation plan such that the fuel cell 1 is operated within the range of at least one of a second allowable operating time (e.g., 20 hours) per predetermined unit period (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Motomichi Katou, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Takanori Shimada
  • Publication number: 20140248545
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a fuel cell (60); a fuel processor (41) including a reformer (43) and a CO reducer (44, 45); a combustor (42); a first air supply device (46); an electric heater (50); a power supply device (200); a power outage detector (11); and a controller (10). The controller is configured such that, in a power outage state where the power outage detector has detected the power outage before the fuel cell generates electric power, the controller performs at least one of: increasing a supply amount of the combustion air to be greater than in a power supplied state where the power outage detector does not detect the power outage; and decreasing a supply amount of the combustible gas to be less than in the power supplied state, and decreases an amount of heating by the electric heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Takahashi, Motomichi Katou, Masato Kihara
  • Publication number: 20140232194
    Abstract: A power supply system including: a power storage device which is connected to a system power supply and is chargeable and dischargeable; a second load which is connected in parallel to the power storage device; a power generation device which is connected to the second load, generates power, supplies the generated power to the second load, and performs a shutdown process for stopping power generation using power supplied from the power storage device; and a determination device which determines whether or not a remaining amount of power in the power storage device is greater than a shutdown power amount which is an amount of power necessary for the power generation device to perform the shutdown process, in which the power generation device performs, while in operation, the shutdown process or supplying of power to the power storage device according to the determination by the determination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujikawa, Hiroaki Kaku, Motomichi Katou
  • Publication number: 20140225442
    Abstract: A distributed power generation system includes: an inverter connected to the first connection point; a first power generation device, a current sensor provided on the electric wire in a position between the utility power supply and the first connection point; and a controller wherein in a case where a current flowing in a direction from the first connection point to the power supply utility is a positive current, the controller determines that there is an abnormality in an installation state of the current sensor, or performs notification of the abnormality in the installation state of the current sensor, when an electric power difference obtained by subtracting electric power consumed in the power load from the electric power output from the inverter is greater than a first threshold which is greater than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Sato, Motomichi Katou, Hiroaki Kaku, Nin Kake, Hiroshi Nagasato
  • Publication number: 20140203647
    Abstract: The distributed power generation system includes: an inverter connected to the first connection point; a first power generator; a current sensor provided on the power line between the commercial power supply and the first connection point; and a controller. In a case where a current flowing in a direction from the first connection point to the commercial power supply is a positive current, in a state where the inverter is disconnected, the controller determines that there is an abnormality in an installation state of the current sensor, or gives a notification of the abnormality in the installation state of the current sensor, if differential power that is obtained by subtracting power consumed by the electrical load from output power of the inverter is greater than a first threshold greater than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Sato, Motomichi Katou, Hiroaki Kaku, Nin Kake, Hiroshi Nagasato
  • Patent number: 8778547
    Abstract: A power generating system of the present invention includes: a package (70); a power generator (1); a combustible gas passage (23); a first device configured to operate by a first voltage using a DC power generated by the power generator (1); a second power supply circuit (13) configured to generate the DC power of the first voltage; a first connecting unit (8) arranged between the first device and the second power supply circuit (13); a control circuit (7) configured to control the first device using the DC power of the first voltage; and a first power supply circuit (11) configured to generate a power of a second voltage higher than the first voltage, and the package (70) is divided by a dividing wall (71) into a first space (72) in which the power generator (1), the combustible gas passage (23), the first device, the first connecting unit (8), and the control circuit (7) are arranged and a second space (73) in which the first power supply circuit (11) and the second power supply circuit (13) are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Takubo, Motomichi Katou
  • Publication number: 20140030619
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel processor; a fuel cell stack; a first water tank; a combustor; a water discharge passage connected to a water drain port formed in the first water tank to discharge the water from inside of the first water tank; a water filling detector configured to detect that at least one of the water drain port and the water discharge passage is filled with water; a water supply unit for supplying the water to the first water tank; and a controller configured to execute a water filling step of supplying the water to the first water, supply the combustible gas to the combustor via the first water tank and cause the combustor to combust the combustible gas, when the water filling detector detects that at least one of the water drain port and the water discharge passage is filled with water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Takahashi, Motomichi Katou
  • Publication number: 20130337352
    Abstract: A controller (81) in a fuel cell system (1A) operates a fuel cell (60) in a normal mode or in a special mode which is switched by the controller (81); in which in the normal mode, the fuel cell (60) is operated so as to satisfy at least one of a first operation condition and a second operation condition, the first operation condition being a condition in which an operation time of the fuel cell per unit period is equal to or shorter than a unit allowable operation time defined based on a total durable operation time of at least one of the fuel cell and the auxiliary device, the second operation condition being a condition in which the number of times of operation of the fuel cell per unit time is equal to or less than a unit allowable number of times of operation defined based on a total durable number of times of operation of at least one of the fuel cell and the auxiliary device, and in the special mode, the fuel cell (60) is operated without being limited by at least one of the first operation condition an
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Motomichi Katou
  • Patent number: 8415064
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (11) configured to generate electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas; an anode off gas channel (34) through which an anode off gas discharged from an anode (2a) of the fuel cell (11) flows; a gas-liquid separator (10) disposed on the anode off gas channel (34) to separate moisture from the anode off gas, and including a water reservoir (18) configured to store the separated moisture as water; a temperature detector (28) configured to detect a temperature of the water reservoir (18); and an operation allowing device (52) configured not to allow an operation of the fuel cell system in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature detector (28) is equal to or higher than a first threshold that is higher than a standard ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Hitoshi Oishi, Motomichi Katou
  • Publication number: 20120321977
    Abstract: Included are: a basic operation plan creating section 2 configured to create a basic operation plan based on durable years (e.g., 10 years) and a durable operating time (e.g., 40000 hours) of a fuel cell 1, such that the fuel cell 1 is operated within the range of at least one of a first allowable operating time (e.g., 11 hours) per predetermined unit period (e.g., per day) and the number of durable start-ups (e.g., 4000 times) per predetermined unit period; a special operation plan creating section 3 configured to create a special operation plan such that the fuel cell 1 is operated within the range of at least one of a second allowable operating time (e.g., 20 hours) per predetermined unit period (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Motomichi Katou, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Takanori Shimada
  • Publication number: 20120218794
    Abstract: A distributed power supply system is configured to execute a process for determining whether or not to permit a diagnostic process in such a manner that it is determined whether or not a difference between a set upper limit value and an actual measurement current value is not less than a load current value, the set upper limit value being a predetermined upper limit value set with respect to a detected current of a current sensor, the measurement current value being detected by the current sensor in a state where the diagnostic process is not executed, and the load current value being a value of a current flowing from a commercial power utility to a power load during execution of the diagnostic process; and if it is determined that the difference is not less than the load current value, the controller permits the diagnostic process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nin Kake, Shinji Miyauchi, Hiroaki Kaku, Keiichi Sato, Hiroshi Nagasato, Akihito Ootani, Toru Kushisaka, Motomichi Katou, Manabu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8159087
    Abstract: The invention provides a power generation system having a power generator (1) configured to generate DC power; an electric power load (5); a current detector configured to detect a current flowing between a system power supply (8) and an interconnection point (9); and a switch (4) configured to switch to supply the DC power from the power generator (1) and AC power which is fed from the system power supply (8) through the interconnection point (9), to the electric power load (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Motomichi Katou, Yasuhiro Mori
  • Publication number: 20120070755
    Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system including: a measurement section configured to measure an accumulated energized period; a calendar section configured to specify a time and a date; a memory having stored therein a matrix in which time-of-year segments which are defined by dividing a one-year period are arranged in rows, and energized period segments which are defined by dividing a target value of the accumulated energized period are arranged in columns, wherein the matrix stores, as elements, upper limit values of a power generation period per unit time of a fuel cell stack, and the upper limit values are set such that the sum of power generation periods calculated for all of the elements coincides with a pre-measured life period of the fuel cell stack; a calculation section configured to apply the time and the date and the accumulated energized period to the matrix, and to determine an upper limit value of the power generation period per unit time; and an operation controller configured to set, in conside
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kaku, Motomichi Katou, Takanori Shimada, Yoshikazu Tanaka