Patents by Inventor Rainer W. Schmidt

Rainer W. Schmidt 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).

  • Methods of operating fuel cell stacks and systems related thereto
    Patent number: 8962206
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a fuel cell stack having a fuel exhaust stream and a vessel downstream of the fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the fuel exhaust stream are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises displacing substantially all residual gas in the vessel by providing at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream to the vessel, and isolating the vessel from the fuel cell stack after the fuel exhaust stream displaces substantially all residual gas in the vessel. At least one bleed down characteristic is determined as fuel exhaust within the vessel is released through an orifice, and an operating condition of the fuel cell stack is set or determined based on the at least one bleed down characteristic. In a specific embodiment, the hydrogen concentration in the fuel exhaust is determined based on the at least one bleed down characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Rainer W. Schmidt
  • METHODS OF OPERATING FUEL CELL STACKS AND SYSTEMS RELATED THERETO
    Publication number: 20100129688
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a fuel cell stack having a fuel exhaust stream and a vessel downstream of the fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the fuel exhaust stream are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises displacing substantially all residual gas in the vessel by providing at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream to the vessel, and isolating the vessel from the fuel cell stack after the fuel exhaust stream displaces substantially all residual gas in the vessel. At least one bleed down characteristic is determined as fuel exhaust within the vessel is released through an orifice, and an operating condition of the fuel cell stack is set or determined based on the at least one bleed down characteristic. In a specific embodiment, the hydrogen concentration in the fuel exhaust is determined based on the at least one bleed down characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Rainer W. Schmidt