Patents by Inventor Nathaniel Ian Joos

Nathaniel Ian Joos 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: 12365999
    Abstract: An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Joseph Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 12272847
    Abstract: This specification describes a system and method for controlling the voltage produced by a fuel cell. The system involves providing a bypass line between an air exhaust from the fuel cell and an air inlet of the fuel cell. At least one controllable device is configured to allow the flow rate through the bypass line to be altered. A controller is provided to control the controllable device. The method involves varying the rate of recirculation of air exhaust to air inlet so as to provide a desired change in fuel cell voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte
  • Patent number: 12065128
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system and methods for managing and controlling emissions produced by a vehicle and/or powertrain which includes one or more power sources selected from a fuel cell, a fuel cell stack, a battery, and combinations thereof, a processor, one or more inputs, a controller, and one or more emission control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignees: CUMMINS INC., HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron William Beinborn, David P. Genter, Nathaniel Ian Joos, Archit Koti, Guangji Ji
  • Patent number: 11804611
    Abstract: A fuel cell module is configured or operated, or both, such that after a shut down procedure a fuel cell stack is discharged and has its cathode electrodes at least partially blanketed with nitrogen during at least some periods of time. If the fuel cell module is restarted in this condition, electrochemical reactions are limited and do not quickly re-charge the fuel cell stack. To decrease start up time, air is moved into the cathode electrodes before the stack is re-charged. The air may be provided by a pump, fan or blower driven by a battery or by the flow or pressure of stored hydrogen. For example, an additional fan or an operating blower may be driven by a battery until the fuel cell stack is able to supply sufficient current to drive the operating blower for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 11767598
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a membrane located between two flow field plates. On a first side of the membrane, there is a porous support surrounded by a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate. There is a gap between the porous support and the seal at the surface of the membrane. On a second side of the membrane, there is a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate located inside of the gap in plan view. The electrochemical cell is useful, for example, in high pressure or differential pressure electrolysis in which the second side of the membrane will be consistently exposed to a higher pressure than the first side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rami Michel Abouatallah, Rainey Yu Wang, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 11761103
    Abstract: An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Joseph Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 11757119
    Abstract: A method of performing a leak check of a hydrogen supply valve of a fuel cell system includes supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell stack of the system for a predetermined time period closing the supply valve and purge valves, and opening a cathode exhaust valve. The method further includes supplying oxygen to the fuel cell stack for the predetermined time period, continuously measuring a test voltage of the fuel cell stack during the predetermined time period while oxygen is being supplied to the fuel cell stack, and determining that the hydrogen supply valve is leaking in response to the test voltage exceeding a predetermined leak voltage for the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATIONS
    Inventors: Nader Zaag, Sonia Sorbera, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Publication number: 20230084555
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a membrane located between two flow field plates. On a first side of the membrane, there is a porous support surrounded by a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate. There is a gap between the porous support and the seal at the surface of the membrane. On a second side of the membrane, there is a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate located inside of the gap in plan view. The electrochemical cell is useful, for example, in high pressure or differential pressure electrolysis in which the second side of the membrane will be consistently exposed to a higher pressure than the first side of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Rami Michel ABOUATALLAH, Rainey Yu Wang, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Publication number: 20230061237
    Abstract: This specification describes a system and method for controlling the voltage produced by a fuel cell. The system involves providing a bypass line between an air exhaust from the fuel cell and an air inlet of the fuel cell. At least one controllable device is configured to allow the flow rate through the bypass line to be altered. A controller is provided to control the controllable device. The method involves varying the rate of recirculation of air exhaust to air inlet so as to provide a desired change in fuel cell voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte
  • Patent number: 11495807
    Abstract: A fuel cell module is configured or operated, or both, such that after a shut down procedure a fuel cell stack is discharged and has its cathode electrodes at least partially blanketed with nitrogen during at least some periods of time. If the fuel cell module is restarted in this condition, electrochemical reactions are limited and do not quickly re-charge the fuel cell stack. To decrease start up time, air is moved into the cathode electrodes before the stack is re-charged. The air may be provided by a pump, fan or blower driven by a battery or by the flow or pressure of stored hydrogen. For example, an additional fan or an operating blower may be driven by a battery until the fuel cell stack is able to supply sufficient current to drive the operating blower for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventor: Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 11479866
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a membrane located between two flow field plates. On a first side of the membrane, there is a porous support surrounded by a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate. There is a gap between the porous support and the seal at the surface of the membrane. On a second side of the membrane, there is a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate located inside of the gap in plan view. The electrochemical cell is useful, for example, in high pressure or differential pressure electrolysis in which the second side of the membrane will be consistently exposed to a higher pressure than the first side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Rami Michel Abouatallah, Rainey Yu Wang, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 11456470
    Abstract: This specification describes a system and method for controlling the voltage produced by a fuel cell. The system involves providing a bypass line between an air exhaust from the fuel cell and an air inlet of the fuel cell. At least one controllable device is configured to allow the flow rate through the bypass line to be altered. A controller is provided to control the controllable device. The method involves varying the rate of recirculation of air exhaust to air inlet so as to provide a desired change in fuel cell voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte
  • Patent number: 11411232
    Abstract: A process for starting a PEM fuel cell module includes blowing air through the cathode side of the module using external power. An amount hydrogen is released into the anode side of the module under a pressure greater than the pressure of the air on the cathode side, while the anode is otherwise closed. Cell voltages in the module are monitored for the appearance of a charged state sufficient to start the module. When the charged state is observed, the module is converted to a running state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11362349
    Abstract: A process for starting a PEM fuel cell module includes blowing air through the cathode side of the module using external power. An amount hydrogen is released into the anode side of the module under a pressure greater than the pressure of the air on the cathode side, while the anode is otherwise closed. Cell voltages in the module are monitored for the appearance of a charged state sufficient to start the module. When the charged state is observed, the module is converted to a running state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte, Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20220119967
    Abstract: An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Joseph Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 11268201
    Abstract: An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Joseph Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 11101477
    Abstract: A fuel cell module is configured or operated, or both, such that after a shut down procedure a fuel cell stack is discharged and has its cathode electrodes at least partially blanketed with nitrogen during at least some periods of time. If the fuel cell module is restarted in this condition, electrochemical reactions are limited and do not quickly re-charge the fuel cell stack. To decrease start up time, air is moved into the cathode electrodes before the stack is re-charged. The air may be provided by a pump, fan or blower driven by a battery or by the flow or pressure of stored hydrogen. For example, an additional fan or an operating blower may be driven by a battery until the fuel cell stack is able to supply sufficient current to drive the operating blower for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 10985392
    Abstract: This specification describes a system and method for controlling the voltage produced by a fuel cell. The system involves providing a bypass line between an air exhaust from the fuel cell and an air inlet of the fuel cell. At least one controllable device is configured to allow the flow rate through the bypass line to be altered. A controller is provided to control the controllable device. The method involves varying the rate of recirculation of air exhaust to air inlet so as to provide a desired change in fuel cell voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte
  • Patent number: 10930950
    Abstract: A process for starting a PEM fuel cell module includes blowing air through the cathode side of the module using external power. An amount hydrogen is released into the anode side of the module under a pressure greater than the pressure of the air on the cathode side, while the anode is otherwise closed. Cell voltages in the module are monitored for the appearance of a charged state sufficient to start the module. When the charged state is observed, the module is converted to a running state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 10847813
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has first and second flow fields on opposite sides of a membrane. The first flow field has a set of generally linear channels in which the flow of a fluid in the field is contained between parallel elongate ridges. The second flow field is defined by a set of parallel discontinuous ridges. Preferably most ridge segments in the second flow field are oblique, for example perpendicular, to and overlap with two or more ridges of the first flow field. The flow fields may be used in, for example, water electrolysis cells including high or differential pressure polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rainey Yu Wang, Rami Michel Abouatallah, Nathaniel Ian Joos