Patents by Inventor Robert S. Fournier
Robert S. Fournier 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: 12021278Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2023Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Joseph M. Daly, Jeffrey Brown, Matthew Crowley, Robert S. Fournier, William J. Snyder, Fred C. Jahnke
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Patent number: 11804608Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Joseph M. Daly, Jeffrey Brown, Matthew Crowley, Robert S. Fournier, William J. Snyder, Fred C. Jahnke
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Publication number: 20230327149Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Joseph M. DALY, Jeffrey BROWN, Matthew CROWLEY, Robert S. FOURNIER, William J. SNYDER, Fred C. JAHNKE
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Publication number: 20210399318Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module having an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust into an anode exhaust conduit. The fuel cell module further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet configured to receive cathode feed gas and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system also includes an anode exhaust processing system fluidly coupled to the anode exhaust conduit and a gas injection system disposed downstream of the anode inlet and upstream of the anode exhaust processing system. The gas injection system is configured to inject a gas within the anode exhaust conduit to prevent an under-pressurization condition of the anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Robert S. Fournier, Thomas J. Voytek, Joseph M. Daly
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Publication number: 20210175524Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode having an anode inlet configured to receive anode feed gas, and an anode outlet configured to output anode exhaust. The fuel cell further includes a cathode having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower configured to receive the anode exhaust and output a higher-pressure anode exhaust. The fuel cell system further includes an anode blower recycle line configured to receive a portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust downstream from the anode blower and to output the portion of the higher-pressure anode exhaust upstream from the anode blower. The fuel cell system further includes a first valve disposed in the blower recycle line, the first valve configured to open when the anode of the fuel cell is under-pressurized.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Joseph M. DALY, Jeffrey BROWN, Matthew CROWLEY, Robert S. FOURNIER, William J. SNYDER, Fred C. JAHNKE
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Patent number: 11011772Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells positioned between opposing end plates, an anode manifold configured to direct anode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, a cathode manifold configured to direct cathode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, and at least one truss attached to an external surface of at least one of the cathode manifold or the anode manifold. The at least one truss is configured to reinforce the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Daniela Nedu, Doan Hoang, Robert S. Fournier
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Patent number: 10847823Abstract: A duct for a fuel cell module includes an upper duct hood having an inlet configured to receive reactant gas from a supply duct, the upper duct hood defining a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion. The duct further includes a lower duct hood fluidly coupled to the upper duct hood, the lower duct hood defining at least one outlet. In a side view, the second tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction. In a top view, the first tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction, and the second tapered portion is tapered outwardly moving downstream.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, William Snyder, Quan Jin, Robert S. Fournier
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Publication number: 20190103621Abstract: A duct for a fuel cell module includes an upper duct hood having an inlet configured to receive reactant gas from a supply duct, the upper duct hood defining a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion. The duct further includes a lower duct hood fluidly coupled to the upper duct hood, the lower duct hood defining at least one outlet. In a side view, the second tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction. In a top view, the first tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction, and the second tapered portion is tapered outwardly moving downstream.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Michael L. QUATANNENS, William J. SNYDER, Quan JIN, Robert S. FOURNIER
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Publication number: 20190097256Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells positioned between opposing end plates, an anode manifold configured to direct anode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, a cathode manifold configured to direct cathode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, and at least one truss attached to an external surface of at least one of the cathode manifold or the anode manifold. The at least one truss is configured to reinforce the fuel cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Michael L. QUATANNENS, Daniela NEDU, Doan HOANG, Robert S. FOURNIER
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Patent number: 9281087Abstract: A mobile boration system (60) has a number of components that are mobile and include a water source (10), H2BO3 powder supply (14), a mixer to mix the solution (20) capable of providing a boric acid solution (30) with minimal air entrainment and optional heat exchanger(s) (12), and wherein the system (60) is capable of transport to a nuclear power plant facility by land, sea or air, rather than being in place in a large vulnerable footprint.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Stephen R. Swantner, Ryan T. Vanston, Robert S. Fournier
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Publication number: 20150187448Abstract: A mobile boration system (60) has a number of components that are mobile and include a water source (10), H2BO3 powder supply (14), a mixer to mix the solution (20) capable of providing a boric acid solution (30) with minimal air entrainment and optional heat exchanger(s) (12), and wherein the system (60) is capable of transport to a nuclear power plant facility by land, sea or air, rather than being in place in a large vulnerable footprint.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Stephen R. Swantner, Ryan T. Vanston, Robert S. Fournier