Patents by Inventor Shigeki Yasuda
Shigeki Yasuda 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: 8916304Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes: a reformer (102) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material; a combustor (104) configured to heat the reformer; an air supplying device (106) configured to supply combustion air to the combustor; a first heat exchanger (108) configured to recover heat from a flue gas discharged from the combustor; a first heat medium passage (110) through which a first heat medium flows, the first heat medium receiving the heat recovered from the flue gas in the first heat exchanger; a first pump (112) configured to cause the first heat medium in the first heat medium passage to flow; a heat accumulator (140) configured to store the heat recovered by the first heat medium; and a controller (114) configured to cause the first pump to operate in a cooling step that is a step of cooling down at least the reformer by supplying the air from the air supplying device to the combustor in a state where the combustor is not carrying out combustion duringType: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yoshio Tamura, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Shigeki Yasuda
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Patent number: 8911912Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a hydrogen generator (2) including a reformer (3); a combustor (5) configured to supply heat to the reformer (3); a fuel cell (1); a first channel (10); a second channel (8); a third channel (16) through which an oxidation gas flows, the oxidation gas being supplied to the first channel (10) extending between a branch portion (10a) and the fuel cell (1); a first on-off valve (7a) provided on the first channel (10) located downstream of a meeting portion (10c); a second on-off valve (6) provided on the second channel (8); an oxidation gas supply unit (15) provided on the third channel (16); and a controller (200) configured such that when the first on-off valve (7a) is closed and the second on-off valve (6) is opened, and a hydrogen-containing gas is discharged from the hydrogen generator (2) at the time of start-up, the controller (200) activates the oxidation gas supply unit (15) to supply the oxidation gas through the third channel (16) to the first channel (10) located doType: GrantFiled: March 17, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Shigeki Yasuda, Naohisa Tanabe, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu
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Patent number: 8747498Abstract: A hydrogen generator of the present invention includes a reformer (16) for generating a hydrogen-containing gas through a reforming reaction using a raw material; a combustor (102a) for heating the reformer (16); a combustion air supplier (117) for supplying combustion air to the combustor (102a); and an abnormality detector (110a) for detecting an abnormality; and a controller (110) configured to control the combustion air supplier (117) such that the reformer (16) is cooled with a higher rate in an abnormal shut-down process executed after the abnormality detector (110a) detects the abnormality, than in a normal shut-down process.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kiyoshi Taguchi, Takanori Shimada, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Yoshio Tamura, Shigeki Yasuda
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Patent number: 8673222Abstract: A hydrogen generator of the present invention includes: a reformer (1) including a reforming catalyst (1A) containing nickel and configured to generate a hydrogen-rich fuel gas by using a raw material and steam; a temperature detector (12) configured to detect a temperature of the reforming catalyst (1A); a purge gas supplying device (7) configured to supply a purge gas to the reformer (1); and a controller (13). When the temperature detected by the temperature detector (12) is a first predetermined temperature or higher, the controller (13) purges the reformer (1) with the purge gas supplied from the purge gas supplying device (7).Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa
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Publication number: 20130344408Abstract: A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit including a fuel cell, a hydrogen generator having a first combustor, and a case; a controller; a combustion unit including a second combustor; and a discharge passage formed to cause the case and the combustion unit to communicate with each other. In a case where the controller causes one of the first combustor and the second combustor to perform the ignition operation, the controller maintains an operating state of the other combustor during the period of the ignition operation of the one combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa, Atsutaka Inoue
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Publication number: 20130337356Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a cooling water passage for cooling the fuel cell; a cooling water tank; a recovered water tank configured to store water produced in the fuel cell system; a water circulating passage configured to allow water circulating between the recovered water tank and the cooling water tank to flow therethrough; a power supply detection unit; a temperature detector provided in at least one of the cooling water passage, the cooling water tank, the recovered water tank, and the water circulating passage; and a controller configured to execute a temperature increasing process for increasing the temperature detected by the temperature detector if the power supply detection unit detects a change from a state in which electric power is not supplied to a state in which the electric power is supplied.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Shigeki Yasuda, Akinari Nakamura, Koichi Kusumura, Takayuki Urata
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Publication number: 20130266881Abstract: A power generation system has a power generation unit (1), a casing (2) accommodating the power generation unit (1), a ventilator (3) configured to ventilate the interior of the casing (2), and a first exhaust gas passage (4) configured to pass therethrough an exhaust gas from the ventilator (3) which is discharged out of the casing (2). The first exhaust gas passage (4) merges with a second exhaust gas passage (6) connected to a duct (11) open to outside air before the second exhaust gas passage (6) is connected to the duct (11), the second exhaust gas passage (6) being configured to pass a combustion exhaust gas from a combustion device (5) configured to generate heat to be supplied to a heat load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Junji Morita, Shigeki Yasuda, Atsutaka Inoue, Hiroshi Tatsui
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Publication number: 20130252535Abstract: A power generation system of the present invention comprises: a power generation unit (1); a casing (2) that accommodates the power generation unit (1); a ventilator (3) that ventilates the interior of the casing (2); a first gas flow passage (5), arranged inside the casing (2), for a flow therethrough of gas which flows as the ventilator (3) operates; and a second gas flow passage (6), arranged inside the casing (2), for a flow therethrough of combustion exhaust gas from the power generation unit (1), wherein within the casing (2), the second gas flow passage (6) merges into the first gas flow passage (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Shigeki Yasuda, Junji Morita, Atsutaka Inoue, Hiroshi Tatsui
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Publication number: 20130236802Abstract: A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell system (101) including a fuel cell (11), a case (12), a reformer (14a), and a combustor (14b); a ventilator; a controller (102); a combustion device (103); and a discharge passage (70) formed to cause the case (12) and an exhaust port (103A) of the combustion device (103) to communicate with each other and configured to discharge an exhaust gas from the fuel cell system (101) and an exhaust gas from the combustion device (103) to the atmosphere through an opening of the discharge passage (70), the opening being open to the atmosphere, and the controller (102) is configured to cause the combustion device (103) to operate when the ventilator is in a stop state and then cause the ventilator to operate when the fuel cell system (101) is activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Atsutaka Inoue, Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa
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Publication number: 20130189599Abstract: A power generation system includes: a fuel cell (11); a casing (12) accommodating the fuel cell (11); a controller (102); a supply and exhaust mechanism (104) including an exhaust passage (70) and an air supply passage (78); and a damage detector, provided in at least one of the supply and exhaust mechanism (104) and the casing (12), configured to detect damage to the exhaust passage (70). The controller (102) performs control to stop operation of the power generation system when the damage detector detects damage to the exhaust passage (70).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa, Atsutaka Inoue
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Publication number: 20130177825Abstract: A power generation system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit (101) including a fuel cell (11) and a case (12); a controller (102); a combustion unit (103) provided outside the case (12) and configured to combust a combustible gas to supply heat; and a discharge passage (70) configured to cause the fuel cell unit (101) and the combustion unit (103) to communicate with each other, wherein in a case where an exhaust gas is being discharged to the discharge passage (70) from one of the fuel cell unit (101) and the combustion unit (103) and the controller (102) changes the flow rate of the exhaust gas discharged from the other unit, the controller (102) controls at least the flow rate of the exhaust gas discharged from the other unit such that the flow rate of the exhaust gas discharged from the one unit becomes constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2011Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa, Atsutaka Inoue
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Publication number: 20130149618Abstract: A fuel cell system (1A) comprises a casing (2) having a suction port (31) through which air is introduced from outside into an internal space thereof; a fuel cell (4) accommodated within the casing (2) and configured to generate electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas; an air supply unit (6) of a diaphragm type disposed within the casing (2) and configured to take in the air introduced through the suction port (31) and supply the air to the fuel cell (4); and a heating unit (30) disposed within the casing (2) and configured to heat the air in a space from the suction port (31) to the air supply unit (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Susumu Hatano, Shigeki Yasuda, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu
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Publication number: 20130137006Abstract: A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell system (101) including a fuel cell (11) and a case (12); a ventilation fan (13); a controller (102); a combustion device (103); and a discharge passage (70) formed to cause the case (12) and an exhaust port (103A) of the combustion device (103) to communicate with each other and configured to discharge an exhaust gas from the fuel cell system (101) and an exhaust gas from the combustion device (103) to the atmosphere through an opening of the discharge passage (70), the opening being open to the atmosphere, and the ventilation fan (13) is configured to discharge a gas in the case (12) to the discharge passage (70) to ventilate the inside of the case (12), and the controller (102) causes the ventilation fan (13) to generate predetermined pressure or higher when the fuel cell system (101) is in a power generation stop state and the combustion device (103) is operating.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Junji Morita, Hiroshi Tatsui, Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa, Atsutaka Inoue
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Publication number: 20130115538Abstract: A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell system (101) including a fuel cell (11) and a case (12); a ventilation fan (13); a controller (102); a combustion device (103); and a discharge passage (70) formed to cause the case (12) and an exhaust port (103A) of the combustion device (103) to communicate with each other and configured to discharge an exhaust gas from the fuel cell system (101) and the combustion device (103) to an atmosphere from an opening of the discharge passage (70), the opening being open to the atmosphere. The ventilation fan (13) is configured to ventilate an inside of the case (12). In a case where the controller (102) determines that the combustion device (103) has operated when the ventilation fan (13) is operating, the controller (102) increases the operation amount of the ventilation fan (13).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa, Atsutaka Inoue, Junji Morita, Hiroshi Tatsui
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Patent number: 8367264Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator (1) having a reformer (1a) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material; a fuel cell (2) configured to generate electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator (1); a combustor (3) configured to combust an anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell (2) to heat the reformer (1a); a CO detector (7) configured to detect a carbon monoxide concentration of a flue gas discharged from the combustor (3); an electric heater (8) configured to heat the CO detector (7); and a controller (19), and the controller (19) is configured to increase an amount of energization to the electric heater (8) in accordance with an increase in an amount of electric power generated by the fuel cell (2).Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kiyoshi Taguchi, Yoshio Tamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Shigeki Yasuda
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Publication number: 20120328964Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell unit 50; a first water tank 41 configured to store at least one of condensation water, cooling water, and stored hot water; a second water tank 43 configured to store at least one of the condensation water, the cooling water, and the stored hot water; a first water amount sensor 42 configured to detect the amount of water in the first water tank; a second water amount sensor 44 configured to detect the amount of water in the second water tank; a first water moving mechanism 60 configured to move water in the first water tank to the second water tank; and a controller 40 configured to perform control of the first water moving mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Takayuki Urata, Akinari Nakamura, Shigeki Yasuda
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Patent number: 8329353Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell (3); a water passage (8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18); an electric heater (19) configured to heat the water passage; a water-related temperature detector (20); a first abnormality detector (22, etc.) configured to detect first abnormalities; a second abnormality detector (28, etc.) configured to detect second abnormalities; and a controller (21), and the controller is configured to stop an operation of the fuel cell system when the first abnormality is detected by the first abnormality detector or when the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector. In a case where the fuel cell system stops since the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector, the controller causes the electric heater (19) to carry out an operation as an antifreezing operation when the water-related temperature detector detects a temperature that is not more than a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shigeki Yasuda, Takashi Nishikawa, Hideo Ohara, Masataka Ozeki
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Patent number: 8287609Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus including a reformer which performs a reforming reaction using a material and steam to generate hydrogen-containing gas; a water evaporator which generates the steam supplied to the reformer; a first water pathway through which reforming water to be supplied to the water evaporator flows; a pump which supplies the reforming water to the water evaporator 1a; a second water pathway 7 branching from the first water pathway on the downstream side of the pump; a first water tank to which the water flowing through the second water pathway flows; a first flow rate controller provided on the second water pathway; and a controller which operates the pump and controls the first flow rate controller so that water flows through the second water pathway, thereby stably generating hydrogen and preventing degradation of the reformer thereof is realized.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yoshio Tamura, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Shigeki Yasuda, Hideo Ohara, Naoki Muro
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Publication number: 20120164546Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a hydrogen generator (2) including a reformer (3); a combustor (5) configured to supply heat to the reformer (3); a fuel cell (1); a first channel (10); a second channel (8); a third channel (16) through which an oxidation gas flows, the oxidation gas being supplied to the first channel (10) extending between a branch portion (10a) and the fuel cell (1); a first on-off valve (7a) provided on the first channel (10) located downstream of a meeting portion (10c); a second on-off valve (6) provided on the second channel (8); an oxidation gas supply unit (15) provided on the third channel (16); and a controller (200) configured such that when the first on-off valve (7a) is closed and the second on-off valve (6) is opened, and a hydrogen-containing gas is discharged from the hydrogen generator (2) at the time of start-up, the controller (200) activates the oxidation gas supply unit (15) to supply the oxidation gas through the third channel (16) to the first channel (10) located doType: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Shigeki Yasuda, Naohisa Tanabe, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu
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Publication number: 20120070753Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a fuel processor including a reformer and a selective oxidizer configured to cause a reaction between carbon monoxide contained in a reformed gas and oxygen in air, an air blower configured to send air for use in power generation to a cathode of the fuel cell and to send air for use in a selective oxidation reaction to the selective oxidizer; a cathode air passage, one end of which is connected to the cathode of the fuel cell and the other end of which is connected to the air blower; a selective oxidation air passage, one end of which is connected to a branching point, on the cathode air passage, at which the selective oxidation air passage branches off from the cathode air passage, and the other end of which is connected to the selective oxidizer; a selective oxidation air meter configured to measure the flow rate of air supplied to the selective oxidizer; and a controller configured to control the air blower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata, Shigeki Yasuda