Patents by Inventor Takashi KAKUWA

Takashi KAKUWA 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: 12331416
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode provided on a first principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode provided on a second principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator provided on the anode, a cathode separator provided on the cathode, and a voltage applier that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from a hydrogen-containing gas that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The anode separator has a first flow channel, provided in a principal surface thereof facing away from the anode, through which a cooling fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Hiromi Kita, Takashi Kakuwa, Takayuki Nakaue
  • Patent number: 12148935
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on a first main surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode disposed on a second main surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator disposed on the anode, and a cathode separator disposed on the cathode. At least one of the anode separator or the cathode separator includes a metal substrate sheet and a conductive layer disposed on the metal substrate sheet and containing a metal oxide and a metal hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Onuma, Takashi Kakuwa
  • Patent number: 12100874
    Abstract: The compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying the voltage between the anode and the cathode, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed onto the anode to migrate onto the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The cathode separator has a first manifold hole and a first O-ring groove surrounding the first manifold hole. The compression apparatus includes a first O-ring held by the first O-ring groove and a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of an anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode. The first O-ring is arranged to abut against the anode-side principal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Osamu Sakai
  • Patent number: 12095132
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes a stack of electrochemical cells each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a pair of insulating plates disposed at respective ends of the stack in a stacking direction, a pair of end plates disposed on outside surfaces of the respective insulating plates, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The end plate having the cathode gas channel includes a first region that includes an outer peripheral surface of the cathode gas channel and is composed of a first steel material and a second region other than the first region which is composed of a second steel material. The first steel material has higher hydrogen embrittlement resistance than the second steel material, and the second steel material has higher stiffness than the first steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Yukimune Kani, Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Tomoya Kamata, Takayuki Nakaue
  • Patent number: 12074347
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell unit according to the present disclosure includes a flat plate type membrane electrode assembly having a structure in which an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode layer disposed on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode layer disposed on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane are laminated; a first current collector in contact with the first electrode layer of the membrane electrode assembly; an interconnector electrically connected to the first current collector, a second current collector in contact with the second electrode layer of the membrane electrode assembly; and an outer peripheral part made of a metal material that surrounds an outer periphery of the first electrode layer together with the interconnector and the electrolyte membrane to form a gas introduction space for guiding internal gas to the first electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Masatoshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20240280093
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode disposed on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. Upon the voltage applicator applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, the compression apparatus causes protons extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to move to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The compression apparatus includes a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of the anode and an elastic material interposed between the anode and the face seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, TAKASHI KAKUWA, TAKAYUKI NAKAUE
  • Patent number: 12046781
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes a stack of electrochemical cells each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a pair of insulating plates disposed at respective ends of the stack in a stacking direction, a pair of first end plates disposed on outside surfaces of the respective insulating plates, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. Upon the voltage applicator applying the voltage, the compression apparatus causes hydrogen included in a hydrogen-containing gas fed to the anode to move to the cathode and produces compressed hydrogen. One of the first end plates have a first channel formed therein, through which the hydrogen-containing gas fed to the anode flows, and a second channel formed therein, through which a heating medium flows. The compression apparatus further includes a heater that heats the heating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Yukimune Kani, Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Tomoya Kamata, Takayuki Nakaue
  • Patent number: 11978933
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying a voltage, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to move to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The anode separator has a fluid channel, a manifold hole, and a communicating path which are formed in an anode-side principal surface. The compression apparatus includes a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of the anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode. The face seal has a three-layer structure including a metal sheet and a pair of elastic sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Sakai, Takashi Kakuwa
  • Patent number: 11932953
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to migrate to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The cathode separator has a first O-ring groove formed in a cathode-side principal surface of the cathode separator to surround a region of the cathode-side principal surface which faces the cathode. The compression apparatus includes a first O-ring held by the first O-ring groove and a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of an anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Osamu Sakai
  • Publication number: 20240060190
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for a hydrogen pump includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer disposed on a first main surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode catalyst layer disposed on a second main surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode gas diffusion layer disposed on the anode catalyst layer, and a cathode gas diffusion layer disposed on the cathode catalyst layer. When a voltage is applied between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer, the cathode gas diffusion layer is exposed to a hydrogen-containing gas at a pressure higher than that at the anode gas diffusion layer. A thickness of the anode gas diffusion layer is greater than or equal to a thickness of the cathode gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: TAKAYUKI NAKAUE, TAKASHI KAKUWA, OSAMU SAKAI, YUKIMUNE KANI
  • Publication number: 20240017210
    Abstract: A compressor device includes: a compressor that causes, by applying a voltage between an anode and a cathode, hydrogen in a hydrogen-containing gas supplied to the anode to move through an electrolyte membrane to the cathode and compresses the hydrogen; a first regulator that regulates the dew point of the hydrogen-containing gas to be supplied to the anode; a second regulator that regulates the temperature of the hydrogen-containing gas to be supplied to the anode; and a controller that controls at least one of the first regulator or the second regulator based on the pressure of the hydrogen-containing gas to be supplied to the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, OSAMU SAKAI, HIROMI KITA
  • Publication number: 20240011174
    Abstract: A compressor device includes: a compressor that causes, by applying a voltage between an anode and a cathode, hydrogen in an anode gas to move through an electrolyte membrane to the cathode and compresses the hydrogen; a regulator that regulates the temperature of the anode gas in the compressor; and a controller that controls the regulator to regulate the temperature of the anode gas at an outlet of the anode based on at least one of the pressure of a cathode gas or a current flowing between the anode and the cathode under the application of the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, OSAMU SAKAI, HIROMI KITA
  • Publication number: 20230313788
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes at least one compression unit, a voltage applier, an anode end plate provided on an anode separator located at a first end in a direction of stacking, a cathode end plate provided on a cathode separator located at a second end in the direction of stacking, a first seal material that surrounds an outer periphery of the cathode, and a second seal material that surrounds an outer periphery of a first space in which to store compressed hydrogen, the first space being provided between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator located at the second end. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from an anode fluid that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. An area of a region surrounded by the second seal material is larger than an area of a region surrounded by the first seal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, OSAMU SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20230227990
    Abstract: An anode separator for use in an electrochemical hydrogen pump includes a first anode gas flow channel having a serpentine shape, a second anode gas flow channel having a serpentine shape, and an anode gas discharge manifold into which an anode gas discharged from each of the first anode gas flow channel and the second anode gas flow channel flow. The first anode gas flow channel and the second anode gas flow channel are provided in a first region and a second region, respectively, that are divided from each other by a predetermined line parallel to a direction of the anode gas that flows into the anode gas discharge manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: HIROMI KITA, TAKASHI KAKUWA
  • Publication number: 20230227987
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes at least one compression unit, a voltage applier, an anode end plate provided on an anode separator located at a first end in a direction of stacking, a cathode end plate provided on a cathode separator located at a second end in the direction of stacking, and first and second plates provided between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator located at the second end. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from an anode fluid that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The first plate has formed therein a first space in which to store a cathode gas containing the compressed hydrogen. The second plate is provided with a first manifold through which the cathode gas flows and a first communicating path through which to lead, to the first space, the cathode gas having flowed in from the first manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: TAKASHI KAKUWA, HIROMI KITA, OSAMU SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20230213027
    Abstract: A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode provided on a first principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode provided on a second principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator provided on the anode, a cathode separator provided on the cathode, and a voltage applier that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from a hydrogen-containing gas that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The anode separator has a first flow channel, provided in a principal surface thereof facing away from the anode, through which a cooling fluid flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: OSAMU SAKAI, HIROMI KITA, TAKASHI KAKUWA, TAKAYUKI NAKAUE
  • Patent number: 11456467
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell including unit cells, including: a pair of interconnectors for electrically connecting the unit cells; a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrode layers disposed with the electrolyte membrane therebetween; a pair of current collectors disposed between the electrode layers and the interconnectors so as to be in contact with the pair of electrode layers and the pair of interconnectors, respectively, and electrically connecting the pair of electrode layers and the pair of interconnectors; and elastic bodies biasing at least one current collector of the pair of current collectors toward a corresponding electrode layer and made of austenitic stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Tomoya Kamata, Masatoshi Nakamura, Tomohiro Kuroha
  • Patent number: 11367890
    Abstract: A cell including: a pair of interconnectors for electrically connecting unit cells; a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between the interconnectors; a pair of current collectors, each of which includes an abutting surface abutting against a corresponding one of the electrode layers and a first base material surface being in contact with a corresponding one of the interconnectors and electrically connecting the corresponding of the electrode layers and the corresponding one of the interconnectors; and elastic bodies biasing the abutting surface of at least one current collector toward a corresponding one of the electrode layers. The elastic bodies includes: a second base material surface being in contact with the first base material surface; and an elastic body protruding portion supporting the abutting surface and protruding from the second base material surface toward the corresponding one of the electrode layers to bias the abutting surface toward the corresponding one of the electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kakuwa, Hiromi Kita, Tomoya Kamata, Masatoshi Nakamura, Tomohiro Kuroha
  • Patent number: 11329303
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of cells, each of which has a fuel electrode, an air electrode, and an electrolyte, and performs a power generation by a reaction between a fuel gas and air; a fuel supplier supplying the fuel gas to the fuel electrode; an air supplier supplying the air to the air electrode; a voltage detector detecting the voltage of the fuel cell stack; and a controller stopping the supplying of the fuel gas by the fuel supplier and the supplying of the air by the air supplier when the voltage of the fuel cell stack detected by the voltage detector is decreased to be lower than a threshold voltage after the power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Onuma, Takashi Kakuwa, Yuichi Mikami, Tomohiro Kuroha
  • Publication number: 20220056597
    Abstract: The electrochemical apparatus of the present disclosure includes a first stack that includes an oxide ion conductor as an electrolyte and decomposes water vapor to generate hydrogen and oxygen, a second stack that includes a proton conductor as an electrolyte and separates the hydrogen generated in the first stack from a gas mixture of the hydrogen and the water vapor that has not been decomposed in the first stack, and a heat insulation material that covers the first stack and the second stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: YUICHI MIKAMI, TOMOHIRO KUROHA, TAKASHI KAKUWA, TAKESHI TERAYAMA, SHIGENORI ONUMA, KOSUKE NUNOO, TAKEHITO GOTO, KYOHEI KAWADA