Patents by Inventor Pinakin Patel
Pinakin Patel 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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Patent number: 12027734Abstract: A humidity transfer assembly includes a pressure vessel and a humidity transfer device disposed in the pressure vessel. The humidity transfer device includes an enclosure, a first inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply anode exhaust thereto, a first outlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to output anode exhaust therefrom, and a second inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply feed gas thereto. The humidity transfer device is configured to transfer steam from anode exhaust to feed gas and to output feed gas into the pressure vessel.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Jonathan Malwitz, Ludwig Lipp, Jesse Roy
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Publication number: 20220238898Abstract: A humidity transfer assembly includes a pressure vessel and a humidity transfer device disposed in the pressure vessel. The humidity transfer device includes an enclosure, a first inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply anode exhaust thereto, a first outlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to output anode exhaust therefrom, and a second inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply feed gas thereto. The humidity transfer device is configured to transfer steam from anode exhaust to feed gas and to output feed gas into the pressure vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Pinakin PATEL, Jonathan MALWITZ, Ludwig LIPP, Jesse ROY
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Patent number: 11296340Abstract: A humidity transfer assembly includes a pressure vessel and a humidity transfer device disposed in the pressure vessel. The humidity transfer device includes an enclosure, a first inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply anode exhaust thereto, a first outlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to output anode exhaust therefrom, and a second inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply feed gas thereto. The humidity transfer device is configured to transfer steam from anode exhaust to feed gas and to output feed gas into the pressure vessel.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Jonathan Malwitz, Ludwig Lipp, Jesse Roy
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Patent number: 11264625Abstract: A cooling plate assembly includes an anode half-plate having an anode upper surface and an opposing anode lower surface, and a cathode half-plate having a cathode upper surface and an opposing cathode lower surface, the cathode lower surface configured to engage the anode upper surface. The assembly further includes a cooling tube disposed between and engaging the anode upper surface and the cathode lower surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Jonathan Malwitz, Ray Kopp, Ludwig Lipp, Jesse Roy
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Publication number: 20210091398Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Fred C. JAHNKE, Matthew LAMBRECH, Pinakin PATEL, Mohammad FAROOQUE, Chao-Yi YUH
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Patent number: 10892507Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Pinakin Patel, Mohammad Farooque, Chao-Yi Yuh
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Patent number: 10763523Abstract: A fuel cell system for generating electrical power and high level heat comprising at least one high temperature fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side and adapted to generate electrical power, and a gas oxidizer/high level heat recovery assembly comprising an oxidizer adapted to oxidize one or more of exhaust output from the at least one high temperature fuel cell stack and a gas derived from the exhaust, and to generate high level heat, and a high level heat recovery system adapted to recover the high level heat generated in the oxidizer.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech, Pinakin Patel
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Publication number: 20200083546Abstract: A cooling plate assembly includes an anode half-plate having an anode upper surface and an opposing anode lower surface, and a cathode half-plate having a cathode upper surface and an opposing cathode lower surface, the cathode lower surface configured to engage the anode upper surface. The assembly further includes a cooling tube disposed between and engaging the anode upper surface and the cathode lower surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Pinakin PATEL, Jonathan MALWITZ, Ray KOPP, Ludwig LIPP, Jesse ROY
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Publication number: 20200075976Abstract: A humidity transfer assembly includes a pressure vessel and a humidity transfer device disposed in the pressure vessel. The humidity transfer device includes an enclosure, a first inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply anode exhaust thereto, a first outlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to output anode exhaust therefrom, and a second inlet line fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to supply feed gas thereto. The humidity transfer device is configured to transfer steam from anode exhaust to feed gas and to output feed gas into the pressure vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Jonathan Malwitz, Ludwig Lipp, Jesse Roy
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Patent number: 10573907Abstract: A load-following fuel cell system for a grid system operating with a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources includes a baseload power generation module and a load-following power generation module. The baseload power generation module provides a baseload power to the grid system and includes a high-efficiency fuel cell system. The high-efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping module and a bottoming module. The topping module and the bottoming module are connected in series and the topping module provides an exhaust stream to the bottoming module. The load-following power generation module provides a load-following power to the grid system and includes an energy storage system that separates and stores hydrogen contained in the exhaust stream and a power generation system having one or more fuel cells. The power generation system receives the hydrogen from the energy storage system to provide the load-following power.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Fred Jahnke, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, George Berntsen, Ludwig Lipp, Pinakin Patel
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Patent number: 10541433Abstract: An energy storage system for an electrical grid running on a renewable energy source includes a baseload power module, a waste converter module, and a load-following power module. The baseload power module includes a first fuel cell system configured to provide a baseload power to the electrical grid. The waste converter module is configured to extract and store hydrogen from an exhaust stream produced by the first fuel cell system. The load-following power module includes a second fuel cell system configured to receive hydrogen from the waste converter module and convert the hydrogen to electrical energy to support the electrical grid.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Ludwig Lipp, Nicholas Pasquale
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Publication number: 20180261857Abstract: A load-following fuel cell system for a grid system operating with a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources includes a baseload power generation module and a load-following power generation module. The baseload power generation module provides a baseload power to the grid system and includes a high-efficiency fuel cell system. The high-efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping module and a bottoming module. The topping module and the bottoming module are connected in series and the topping module provides an exhaust stream to the bottoming module. The load-following power generation module provides a load-following power to the grid system and includes an energy storage system that separates and stores hydrogen contained in the exhaust stream and a power generation system having one or more fuel cells. The power generation system receives the hydrogen from the energy storage system to provide the load-following power.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Fred JAHNKE, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, George BERNTSEN, Ludwig LIPP, Pinakin PATEL
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Publication number: 20180254498Abstract: An energy storage system for an electrical grid running on a renewable energy source includes a baseload power module, a waste converter module, and a load-following power module. The baseload power module includes a first fuel cell system configured to provide a baseload power to the electrical grid. The waste converter module is configured to extract and store hydrogen from an exhaust stream produced by the first fuel cell system. The load-following power module includes a second fuel cell system configured to receive hydrogen from the waste converter module and convert the hydrogen to electrical energy to support the electrical grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2017Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Pinakin PATEL, Ludwig LIPP, Nicholas PASQUALE
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Publication number: 20160351930Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Fred C. JAHNKE, Matthew LAMBRECH, Pinakin PATEL, Mohammad FAROOQUE, Chao-Yi YUH
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Publication number: 20160149233Abstract: A fuel cell system for generating electrical power and high level heat comprising at least one high temperature fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side and adapted to generate electrical power, and a gas oxidizer/high level heat recovery assembly comprising an oxidizer adapted to oxidize one or more of exhaust output from the at least one high temperature fuel cell stack and a gas derived from the exhaust, and to generate high level heat, and a high level heat recovery system adapted to recover the high level heat generated in the oxidizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Fred C. JAHNKE, Matthew LAMBRECH, Pinakin PATEL
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Patent number: 8053035Abstract: An assembly and associated method of manufacture are provided in which electrostatic deposition is used to directly apply and/or apply without solvents an electrode to one of an ion-conducting member, a member adapted to hold an ion-conducting member and a gas diffusion layer of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Lambrech, Pinakin Patel
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Publication number: 20110111313Abstract: A method of using a catalyst body able to support gas flow therethrough and having a catalyst for promoting a catalytic reaction of a component of a first gas and being able to be regenerated by a second gas, comprising: providing at least the first gas and the second gas; and repeatedly moving successive parts of the catalyst body into communication with the first gas and then into communication with the second gas; wherein: the part of the catalyst body in communication with the first gas causes the component of the first gas to be reacted as the first gas passes though and exits the part of the catalyst body; and the part of the catalyst body in communication with the second gas has the catalyst of that part regenerated as the second gas passes through and exits the part.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2011Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: SAI P. KATIKANENI, PINAKIN PATEL
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Patent number: 7879500Abstract: An oxidizer assembly provided with a housing having a plurality of inlets each for receiving a different gas and a plurality of outlets each corresponding to a different one of the inlets and outputting gas resulting from the gas received from its corresponding inlet. A catalyst assembly able to support gas flow therethrough is disposed within the housing and includes a catalyst able to oxidize carbon monoxide gas and to be regenerated. The catalyst assembly is further adapted to be movable such that successive parts of the assembly are able to be brought repeatedly in communication with a first inlet and its corresponding first outlet and then a second inlet and its corresponding second outlet of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Sai P. Katikaneni, Pinakin Patel
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Publication number: 20110008700Abstract: A fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack which includes a cathode compartment having cathode conduit extending from an inlet thereof. The cathode conduit conveys a fluid to at least one cathode positioned in the cathode compartment. An anode compartment having a fuel inlet conduit extending from an inlet of the anode compartment, supplies fuel to at least one anode positioned in the anode compartment. An anode exhaust conduit extends from an outlet of the anode compartment, for conveying an anode exhaust fluid. The fuel cell stack is positioned in an enclosure which as has a passage extending therethrough. At least a portion of the passage is in fluid communication with the anode exhaust conduit. The fuel cell module includes a diverter device having at least a portion thereof positioned in the passage and/or the anode exhaust conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Fred Jahnke, Matt Lambrech
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Patent number: 7754393Abstract: A fuel cell assembly having a plurality of fuel cells arranged in a stack. An end plate assembly abuts the fuel cell at an end of said stack. The end plate assembly has an inlet area adapted to receive an exhaust gas from the stack, an outlet area and a passage connecting the inlet area and outlet area and adapted to carry the exhaust gas received at the inlet area from the inlet area to the outlet area. A further end plate assembly abuts the fuel cell at a further opposing end of the stack. The further end plate assembly has a further inlet area adapted to receive a further exhaust gas from the stack, a further outlet area and a further passage connecting the further inlet area and further outlet area and adapted to carry the further exhaust gas received at the further inlet area from the further inlet area to the further outlet area.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventor: Pinakin Patel