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).

  • Patent number: 11804608
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Daly, Jeffrey Brown, Matthew Crowley, Robert S. Fournier, William J. Snyder, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Publication number: 20230327149
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph M. DALY, Jeffrey BROWN, Matthew CROWLEY, Robert S. FOURNIER, William J. SNYDER, Fred C. JAHNKE
  • Publication number: 20210399318
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Robert S. Fournier, Thomas J. Voytek, Joseph M. Daly
  • Publication number: 20210175524
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph M. DALY, Jeffrey BROWN, Matthew CROWLEY, Robert S. FOURNIER, William J. SNYDER, Fred C. JAHNKE
  • Patent number: 11011772
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Daniela Nedu, Doan Hoang, Robert S. Fournier
  • Patent number: 10847823
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, William Snyder, Quan Jin, Robert S. Fournier
  • Publication number: 20190103621
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Michael L. QUATANNENS, William J. SNYDER, Quan JIN, Robert S. FOURNIER
  • Publication number: 20190097256
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Michael L. QUATANNENS, Daniela NEDU, Doan HOANG, Robert S. FOURNIER
  • Patent number: 9281087
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Swantner, Ryan T. Vanston, Robert S. Fournier
  • Publication number: 20150187448
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Swantner, Ryan T. Vanston, Robert S. Fournier