Patents by Inventor Swaminathan Venkataraman

Swaminathan 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).

  • Integrated fuel line to support CPOX and SMR reactions in SOFC systems
    Patent number: 9680175
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises at least one fuel cell stack, a CPOX reactor, and a conduit for providing a fuel stream to the at least one fuel cell stack through the CPOX reactor during both a start up and a steady state modes of operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, David Weingaertner, Vlad Kalika
  • Derivation of control parameters of fuel cell systems for flexible fuel operation
    Patent number: 9673464
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes characterizing the fuel or fuels being provided into the fuel cell system, characterizing the oxidizing gas or gases being provided into the fuel cell system, and calculating at least one of the steam:carbon ratio, fuel utilization and oxidizing gas utilization based on the step of characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 9520602
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, Vlad Kalika, David Weingaertner
  • Multi-stream heat exchanger for a fuel cell system
    Patent number: 9401517
    Abstract: A multi-stream heat exchanger includes at least one air preheater section, at least one cathode recuperator section, and at least one anode recuperator section, wherein each section is a plate type heat exchanger having two major surfaces and a plurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of risers through at least some of the plates, and a plurality of flow paths located between plates. The cathode recuperator section is located adjacent to a first edge surface of the anode recuperator, and the air preheater section is located adjacent to a second edge surface of the anode recuperator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Martin Perry, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Vlad Kalika
  • Operation of fuel cell systems with reduced carbon formation and anode leading edge damage
    Patent number: 9287571
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James F. McElroy, David Weingaertner, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Stephen Couse
  • MODULAR FUEL CELL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160072146
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a base, a cover dome removably positioned on the base, and a plurality of fuel cell stacks removably positioned on the base below the cover dome. A modular fuel cell system includes a plurality of the fuel cell stack modules, where each fuel cell stack module may be electrically disconnected, removed from the fuel cell system, repaired or serviced without stopping an operation of the other fuel cell stack modules in the fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: K.R. Sridhar, Swaminathan Venkataraman, William David Lyle, Arne Ballantine
  • SOFC Hot Box Components
    Publication number: 20160064748
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, Vlad Kalika, David Weingaertner
  • SOFC SYSTEM WITH SELECTIVE CO2 REMOVAL
    Publication number: 20160043413
    Abstract: A system and method in which a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. The recycled stream may be sent to a carbon dioxide separation device which separates carbon dioxide from the fuel exhaust stream. The carbon dioxide separation device may be a carbon dioxide trap, an electrochemical carbon dioxide separator, or a membrane separator. A water separator may be used in conjunction with the carbon dioxide separation device or used separately to continuously remove water from the recycled stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: James McElroy, Matthias Gottmann, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman, John Finn
  • SOFC system with selective CO2 removal
    Patent number: 9190685
    Abstract: A system and method in which a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. The recycled stream may be sent to a carbon dioxide separation device which separates carbon dioxide from the fuel exhaust stream. The carbon dioxide separation device may be a carbon dioxide trap, an electrochemical carbon dioxide separator, or a membrane separator. A water separator may be used in conjunction with the carbon dioxide separation device or used separately to continuously remove water from the recycled stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James McElroy, Matthias Gottmann, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman, John Finn
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 9190673
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, Vlad Kalika, David Weingaertner
  • Modular fuel cell system
    Patent number: 9190693
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a base, a cover dome removably positioned on the base, and a plurality of fuel cell stacks removably positioned on the base below the cover dome. A modular fuel cell system includes a plurality of the fuel cell stack modules, where each fuel cell stack module may be electrically disconnected, removed from the fuel cell system, repaired or serviced without stopping an operation of the other fuel cell stack modules in the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: K. R. Sridhar, Swaminathan Venkataraman, William David Lyle, Arne Watson Ballantine
  • Hot box design with a multi-stream heat exchanger and single air control
    Patent number: 9166240
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) which is located in a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of fuel cell stacks, a base supporting the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the ATO, and at least one heat exchanger located in the base. An ATO exhaust stream and an anode exhaust stream from the fuel cell stacks heat the stack fuel and air inlet streams in a multi-stream heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Optimizing contractual management of the total output of a fleet of fuel cells
    Patent number: 9141923
    Abstract: A fuel cell fleet has a plurality of fuel cell systems each connected to a data server. The data server may be configured to obtain operational data from of the plurality of fuel cell systems. An efficiency controller operably connected to the data server and is configured to predict an efficiency and a power output of the fleet from the operational data and optimize the efficiency of the fleet to minimize the fleet fuel consumption while maintaining a desired fleet output power. The efficiency may be determined by a ratio of the fleet output current or output power to the fleet fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Smith, David Weingaertner, Pramod Vachhani, Brent Miller, Ram Ramanan, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Deepak Shukla
  • Fuel cell system containing anode tail gas oxidizer and hybrid heat exchanger/reformer
    Patent number: 9105894
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger. The fuel heat exchanger is thermally integrated with an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) exhaust conduit such that in operation an ATO exhaust stream in the ATO exhaust conduit heats a fuel inlet stream passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • DERIVATION OF CONTROL PARAMETERS OF FUEL CELL SYSTEMS FOR FLEXIBLE FUEL OPERATION
    Publication number: 20150140464
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes characterizing the fuel or fuels being provided into the fuel cell system, characterizing the oxidizing gas or gases being provided into the fuel cell system, and calculating at least one of the steam:carbon ratio, fuel utilization and oxidizing gas utilization based on the step of characterization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: David WEINGAERTNER, Arne BALLANTINE, Swaminathan VENKATARAMAN
  • FUEL CELL SYSTEM OPERATED ON LIQUID FUELS
    Publication number: 20150132672
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heavy hydrocarbon fuel source, and a fractionator configured to separate light ends from heavy ends of a heavy hydrocarbon fuel provided from the heavy hydrocarbon fuel source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, Arne Ballantine, David Weingaertner
  • Derivation of control parameters of fuel cell systems for flexible fuel operation
    Patent number: 8968955
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes characterizing the fuel or fuels being provided into the fuel cell system, characterizing the oxidizing gas or gases being provided into the fuel cell system, and calculating at least one of the steam:carbon ratio, fuel utilization and oxidizing gas utilization based on the step of characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Hybrid fuel heat exchanger—pre-reformer in SOFC systems
    Patent number: 8920997
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Fuel cell system operated on liquid fuels
    Patent number: 8822094
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heavy hydrocarbon fuel source, and a fractionator configured to separate light ends from heavy ends of a heavy hydrocarbon fuel provided from the heavy hydrocarbon fuel source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, Arne Watson Ballantine, David Weingaertner
  • DERIVATION OF CONTROL PARAMETERS OF FUEL CELL SYSTEMS FOR FLEXIBLE FUEL OPERATION
    Publication number: 20140162155
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes characterizing the fuel or fuels being provided into the fuel cell system, characterizing the oxidizing gas or gases being provided into the fuel cell system, and calculating at least one of the steam:carbon ratio, fuel utilization and oxidizing gas utilization based on the step of characterization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman