Patents by Inventor Ramakrishnan Venkataraman
Ramakrishnan Venkataraman 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: 11949130Abstract: An end cell assembly for a fuel cell stack includes an end plate and at least two inactive anode parts disposed adjacent to the end plate. Each inactive anode part comprises a nickel foam anode disposed directly above an anode current collector and a separator sheet disposed 5 above the nickel foam anode.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Chao-Yi Yuh, Lawrence Novacco, Ling Chen, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman
-
Publication number: 20240039011Abstract: A method of manufacturing a current collector for an electrochemical cell assembly includes providing a base plate including a surface, bend-forming the base plate to create a plurality of open corrugations protruding from the surface, each open corrugation including a first flange and a second flange, and forming a foot between the first flange and the second flange of each open corrugation to close each open corrugation and form a corrugation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Thomas M. LUCAS, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Abdelkader HILMI, Chao-Yi YUH
-
SUPPORTED NICKEL CATALYSTS USED AS DIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING CATALYST IN MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
Publication number: 20230261230Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Jin-Yun WANG, Mohammad FAROOQUE, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Chao-Yi YUH, April CORPUZ -
Patent number: 11688868Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit configured to generate an amount of electrical power for supply to a varying electrical load and a fuel cell controller configured to receive a first indication that the varying electrical load is at a local maximum within a predetermined period, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with an operational parameter having a first value such that the fuel cell unit produces a limited maximum amount of electrical power that is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated power output of the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell controller is also configured to receive an indication that the varying electrical load has reduced, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with the operational parameter having a second value such that the fuel cell unit produces an amount of electrical power below the limited maximum amount of electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: FUEL CELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: George P. Berntsen, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Mohammad Farooque
-
Publication number: 20230094726Abstract: A method for controlling a carbon dioxide utilization in a fuel cell assembly includes: measuring a voltage across the fuel cell assembly; determining an estimated carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly based on at least the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly by determining an expected voltage of the fuel cell assembly based on at least a temperature of the fuel cell assembly, a current density across the fuel cell assembly, a fuel utilization of the fuel cell assembly, and a cathode oxygen utilization of the fuel cell assembly; determining the estimated carbon dioxide utilization based on a comparison between the measured voltage and the determined expected voltage; comparing the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization to a predetermined threshold utilization; and upon determining that the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization is higher than the predetermined threshold utilization, reducing the carbon utilization of the fuel cell assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Joseph Michael DALY, Stephen JOLLY, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Eric NUHFER
-
Supported nickel catalysts used as direct internal reforming catalyst in molten carbonate fuel cells
Patent number: 11600836Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Jin-Yun Wang, Mohammad Farooque, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Chao-Yi Yuh, April Corpuz -
Patent number: 11545684Abstract: A system for capturing carbon dioxide in flue gas includes a fuel cell assembly including at least one fuel cell including a cathode portion configured to receive, as cathode inlet gas, the flue gas generated by the flue gas generating device or a derivative thereof, and to output cathode exhaust gas and an anode portion configure to receive an anode inlet gas and to output anode exhaust gas, a fuel cell assembly voltage monitor configured to measure a voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and a controller configured to receive the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly from the fuel cell assembly voltage monitor, determine an estimated carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly based on the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and reduce the carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly when the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization is above a predetermined threshold utilization.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Michael Daly, Stephen Jolly, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Eric Nuhfer
-
Patent number: 11309563Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one topping fuel cell module including a topping anode portion configured to output a topping anode exhaust, and a topping cathode portion configured to output a topping cathode exhaust; at least one bottoming fuel cell module including a bottoming anode portion configured to output a bottoming anode exhaust, and a bottoming cathode portion configured to output a bottoming cathode exhaust; and an electrochemical hydrogen separation unit configured to receive at least a portion of the topping anode exhaust, to output a hydrogen-rich stream, and to output a CO2-rich stream. The bottoming anode portion is configured to receive the CO2-rich stream from the electrochemical hydrogen separation unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Mohammad Farooque
-
SUPPORTED NICKEL CATALYSTS USED AS DIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING CATALYST IN MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
Publication number: 20210234181Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Jin-Yun WANG, Mohammad FAROOQUE, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Chao-Yi YUH, April CORPUZ -
Publication number: 20210202968Abstract: A system for capturing carbon dioxide in flue gas includes a fuel cell assembly including at least one fuel cell including a cathode portion configured to receive, as cathode inlet gas, the flue gas generated by the flue gas generating device or a derivative thereof, and to output cathode exhaust gas and an anode portion configure to receive an anode inlet gas and to output anode exhaust gas, a fuel cell assembly voltage monitor configured to measure a voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and a controller configured to receive the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly from the fuel cell assembly voltage monitor, determine an estimated carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly based on the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and reduce the carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly when the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization is above a predetermined threshold utilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Joseph Michael Daly, Stephen JOLLY, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Eric Nuhfer
-
Supported nickel catalysts used as direct internal reforming catalyst in molten carbonate fuel cells
Patent number: 11005115Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Jin-Yun Wang, Mohammad Farooque, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Chao-Yi Yuh, April Corpuz -
Publication number: 20210126265Abstract: An end cell assembly for a fuel cell stack includes an end plate and at least two inactive anode parts disposed adjacent to the end plate. Each inactive anode part comprises a nickel foam anode disposed directly above an anode current collector and a separator sheet disposed 5 above the nickel foam anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Chao-Yi YUH, Lawrence NOVACCO, Ling CHEN, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN
-
Patent number: 10840530Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping fuel cell assembly including a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; a carbon dioxide separation unit that receives at least a portion of an anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion and separates the portion of the anode exhaust stream into a carbon dioxide stream and a carbon dioxide depleted stream; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly including a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion. The bottoming anode portion receives the carbon dioxide depleted stream output from the carbon dioxide separation unit. The carbon dioxide depleted stream being richer in hydrogen than the portion of the anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Mohammad Farooque
-
Patent number: 10826093Abstract: A method for addressing electrical grid frequency changes by a fuel cell system includes measuring, by a frequency sensor, a frequency of an electrical grid, determining that the frequency of the electrical grid differs from a normal frequency of the electrical grid by a threshold, determining, based at least in part on the measured frequency, an AC power setpoint bias, applying a magnitude limit, a rate-of-change limit, and a duration limit to the determined AC power setpoint bias to generate a limited power setpoint bias, generating a frequency adjusted power setpoint based on the limited power setpoint bias, and providing the frequency adjusted power setpoint to one or more control modules of the fuel cell system such that the fuel cell system adjusts a power output based on a difference between the measured frequency and the normal frequency.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: George P. Berntsen, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman
-
Publication number: 20200168936Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping fuel cell assembly including a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; a carbon dioxide separation unit that receives at least a portion of an anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion and separates the portion of the anode exhaust stream into a carbon dioxide stream and a carbon dioxide depleted stream; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly including a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion. The bottoming anode portion receives the carbon dioxide depleted stream output from the carbon dioxide separation unit. The carbon dioxide depleted stream being richer in hydrogen than the portion of the anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Mohammad FAROOQUE
-
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
-
Publication number: 20190305346Abstract: A method for addressing electrical grid frequency changes by a fuel cell system includes measuring, by a frequency sensor, a frequency of an electrical grid, determining that the frequency of the electrical grid differs from a normal frequency of the electrical grid by a threshold, determining, based at least in part on the measured frequency, an AC power setpoint bias, applying a magnitude limit, a rate-of-change limit, and a duration limit to the determined AC power setpoint bias to generate a limited power setpoint bias, generating a frequency adjusted power setpoint based on the limited power setpoint bias, and providing the frequency adjusted power setpoint to one or more control modules of the fuel cell system such that the fuel cell system adjusts a power output based on a difference between the measured frequency and the normal frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2017Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: George P. BERNTSEN, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN
-
Publication number: 20190267644Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit configured to generate an amount of electrical power for supply to a varying electrical load and a fuel cell controller configured to receive a first indication that the varying electrical load is at a local maximum within a predetermined period, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with an operational parameter having a first value such that the fuel cell unit produces a limited maximum amount of electrical power that is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated power output of the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell controller is also configured to receive an indication that the varying electrical load has reduced, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with the operational parameter having a second value such that the fuel cell unit produces an amount of electrical power below the limited maximum amount of electrical power.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2017Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: George P. BERNTSEN, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Mohammad FAROOQUE
-
Publication number: 20190140298Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one topping fuel cell module including a topping anode portion configured to output a topping anode exhaust, and a topping cathode portion configured to output a topping cathode exhaust; at least one bottoming fuel cell module including a bottoming anode portion configured to output a bottoming anode exhaust, and a bottoming cathode portion configured to output a bottoming cathode exhaust; and an electrochemical hydrogen separation unit configured to receive at least a portion of the topping anode exhaust, to output a hydrogen-rich stream, and to output a CO2-rich stream. The bottoming anode portion is configured to receive the CO2-rich stream from the electrochemical hydrogen separation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Mohammad FAROOQUE
-
SUPPORTED NICKEL CATALYSTS USED AS DIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING CATALYST IN MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
Publication number: 20190131644Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Jin-Yun WANG, Mohammad FAROOQUE, Ramakrishnan VENKATARAMAN, Chao-Yi YUH, April CORPUZ