Patents by Inventor Pierre Rivard

Pierre Rivard 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).

  • Publication number: 20130224819
    Abstract: There are provided methods for producing at least one biogas comprising submitting an organic material to an anaerobic digestion process in an apparatus effective for carrying such a process so as to produce the at least one biogas, pressurizing the produced at least one biogas, and using the at least one biogas for conveying the organic material through the apparatus. Apparatuses for producing at least one biogas are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Pierre Rivard
  • Patent number: 7338727
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Xuesong Chen, David Frank, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Publication number: 20050069748
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Xuesong Chen, David Frank, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 6790546
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Xuesong Chen, David Frank, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 6746789
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Xuesong Chen, David Frank, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Publication number: 20040106020
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying oxidant supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The oxidant is supplied in excess of the fuel to the reactor, so as to generate a stream of oxidant which is both heated and humidified. For an air breathing stack, this heated oxidant can simply be mixed with air flowing through the fuel cell stack. For a closed system, a heated and humidified oxidant flow, and optionally a fuel flow are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: David Frank, Xuesong Chen, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 6706429
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying oxidant supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The oxidant is supplied in excess of the fuel to the reactor, so as to generate a stream of oxidant which is both heated and humidified. For an air breathing stack, this heated oxidant can simply be mixed with air flowing through the fuel cell stack. For a closed system, a heated and humidified oxidant flow, and optionally a fuel flow are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: David Frank, Xuesong Chen, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 6519539
    Abstract: This invention discloses a self-contained, portable, cost-effective apparatus for measuring the real and imaginary components of a fuel cell's complex impedance at discrete frequencies. The apparatus comprises a CPU, a signal generation device, a fuel cell, a load bank, current and voltage sensing circuitry and a waveform acquisition device. The measurements can be done in real time and automated. The fuel cell's internal resistance can be calculated thereby providing an indication of the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Norman A. Freeman, Stephane Masse, Ravi B. Gopal, Pierre Rivard
  • Publication number: 20020098397
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Xuesong Chen, David Frank, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Publication number: 20020098134
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Xuesong Chen, David Frank, Pierre Rivard, Joe Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 5753383
    Abstract: A power supply includes a fuel cell stack, a thermoelectric module and a burner module. The fuel cell stack generates a primary source of electricity and secondary source of heat. The thermoelectric module generates a secondary source of electricity. The burner module is juxtaposed to the fuel cell stack and the thermoelectric module, to provide primary heat to the system and to generate a temperature differential across the thermoelectric module, and to pre-heat a fuel and an oxidant for the fuel cell stack. The burner module is regulated to maintain a given system temperature, or when needed by the thermoelectric generator for secondary power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Inventors: Joseph Cargnelli, Pierre Rivard, Boyd Taylor