Patents by Inventor Stephen Couse

Stephen Couse 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).

  • Publication number: 20100047637
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes introducing a fuel mixture comprising hydrogen, fuel, and steam at a fuel inlet of the fuel cell system, and operating the fuel cell system to generate electricity. A ratio of hydrogen to carbon from fuel (H2:Cfuel) in the fuel mixture is within a range of 0.25:1 to 3:1, inclusive; and a ratio of steam to carbon (S:C) in the fuel mixture is less than 2:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: James F. McELROY, David Weingaertner, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Stephen Couse
  • Publication number: 20100009221
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and one or more devices which in operation of the system provide an azimuthal direction to one or more anode or cathode feed or exhaust fluid flows in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Stephen Couse, Matthias Gottmann, Martin Perry, Swaminathan Venkataraman, David Weingaertner, Greg Young
  • Publication number: 20090136821
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Dien Nguyen, Emad El Batawi, Tad Armstrong, Gonghou Wang, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Publication number: 20080193825
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Dien Nguyen, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
  • Publication number: 20070287048
    Abstract: A SOFC includes a cathode electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, an anode electrode, and a hydrocarbon fuel inlet. The SOFC is configured for internal reforming of a hydrocarbon fuel at the anode electrode. The SOFC is configured to limit an interaction between the hydrocarbon fuel and the anode electrode adjacent to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet, or to limit an area of the anode electrode exposed to the hydrocarbon fuel adjacent to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet, or to provide a gradual introduction of the hydrocarbon fuel to the anode electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Stephen Couse, Martin Perry
  • Publication number: 20070231676
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack includes a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells, wherein each solid oxide fuel cell comprises an electrolyte located between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a plurality of gas separators, and at least one compliant cathode contact material. The contact material may be a metallic felt, foam or mesh, an electrically conductive glass or an electrically conductive ceramic felt located between at least one of the plurality of gas separators and a cathode electrode of an adjacent solid oxide fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Cassidy, Stephen Couse