Patents by Inventor Uwe Benz
Uwe Benz 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: 11120514Abstract: A domestic power plant has a housing which has an external air connection and an output air connection, and comprises a ventilation device with a heat exchanger. The ventilation device is connected to the external air connection such that external air can flow in a first air tract via the heat exchanger, or via an external air bypass past the heat exchanger, into a feed air tract of the domestic power plant. The feed air tract runs at least partially within the housing. The domestic power plant also has an exhaust air tract in which an air volume flow, brought about by the ventilation device, can be propagated within the housing and a fuel cell unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2016Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Inventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
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Patent number: 10886546Abstract: The invention relates to a flushing arrangement for flushing (purging) a fuel cell unit on its anode side and/or an electrolysis unit on its cathode side. The flushing arrangement has a flushing channel with a first and a second flushing channel section, which can be fluidically connected to one another via a purge valve of the flushing arrangement, and with a buffer store which is fluidically connected to the flushing channel and downstream of the purge valve, and which has a storage chamber that is provided for intermediate storage of a fluid mass to be flushed in a pulse-type manner with a flush mass flow from the fuel cell unit and/or from the electrolysis unit, so that this fluid mass can be discharged with a discharge mass flow, which is smaller than the flush mass flow, out of an outflow element fluidically connected to the second flushing channel section.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Inventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
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Patent number: 10855076Abstract: A method for operating a domestic energy generation installation comprises ascertaining or prespecifying at least one expectation time period, ascertaining an expected load profile of an electrical consumer, ascertaining an expected yield profile of the regenerative energy source in the expectation time period, ascertaining or prespecifying a minimum consumption power which should be available for withdrawal from the storage battery unit, ascertaining an energy balance over one expectation time period from the expected yield profile and the expected load profile, ascertaining a time range of the storage battery unit from the expected load profile, the expected yield profile and the minimum consumption power, which should not be undershot at any time, and from a currently ascertained state of charge of the storage battery unit, operating the fuel cell unit depending on the ascertained time range and operating the electrolysis unit depending on the ascertained energy balance.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2016Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: HPS HOME POWER SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
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Publication number: 20190385245Abstract: A domestic power plant has a housing which has an external air connection and an output air connection, and comprises a ventilation device with a heat exchanger. The ventilation device is connected to the external air connection such that external air can flow in a first air tract via the heat exchanger, or via an external air bypass past the heat exchanger, into a feed air tract of the domestic power plant. The feed air tract runs at least partially within the housing. The domestic power plant also has an exhaust air tract in which an air volume flow, brought about by the ventilation device, can be propagated within the housing and a fuel cell unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2016Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
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Publication number: 20190067945Abstract: A method for operating a domestic energy generation installation comprises ascertaining or prespecifying at least one expectation time period, ascertaining an expected load profile of an electrical consumer, ascertaining an expected yield profile of the regenerative energy source in the expectation time period, ascertaining or prespecifying a minimum consumption power which should be available for withdrawal from the storage battery unit, ascertaining an energy balance over one expectation time period from the expected yield profile and the expected load profile, ascertaining a time range of the storage battery unit from the expected load profile, the expected yield profile and the minimum consumption power, which should not be undershot at any time, and from a currently ascertained state of charge of the storage battery unit, operating the fuel cell unit depending on the ascertained time range and operating the electrolysis unit depending on the ascertained energy balance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2016Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: HPS HOME POWER SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
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Publication number: 20190036135Abstract: The invention relates to a flushing arrangement for flushing (purging) a fuel cell unit on its anode side and/or an electrolysis unit on its cathode side. The flushing arrangement has a flushing channel with a first and a second flushing channel section, which can be fluidically connected to one another via a purge valve of the flushing arrangement, and with a buffer store which is fluidically connected to the flushing channel and downstream of the purge valve, and which has a storage chamber that is provided for intermediate storage of a fluid mass to be flushed in a pulse-type manner with a flush mass flow from the fuel cell unit and/or from the electrolysis unit, so that this fluid mass can be discharged with a discharge mass flow, which is smaller than the flush mass flow, out of an outflow element fluidically connected to the second flushing channel section.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2016Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
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Patent number: 9485995Abstract: A plant for the automatic production of baked goods using a dough strand has a kneading device to knead dough from prepared starting products. An extruder is used to extrude the dough to form the dough strand. A portioning device is used to divide the dough strand into dough strand portions of a predetermined weight. A post-preparation device is used to finish the baked goods from the dough strand portions. The post-preparation includes the supplying of the dough strand portions to associated receivers in at least one transporting mould, fermenting the dough strand portions in the transporting mould and baking the fermented dough strand portions. The result is a production plant with an increased throughput in the production of baked goods and simultaneously a plant outlay which is as low a possible.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: WERNER & PFLEIDERER INDUSTRIELLE BACKTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Bernd Grote, Uwe Benz
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Publication number: 20120052155Abstract: A plant for the automatic production of baked goods using a dough strand has a kneading device to knead dough from prepared starting products. An extruder is used to extrude the dough to form the dough strand. A portioning device is used to divide the dough strand into dough strand portions of a predetermined weight. A post-preparation device is used to finish the baked goods from the dough strand portions. The post-preparation includes the supplying of the dough strand portions to associated receivers in at least one transporting mould, fermenting the dough strand portions in the transporting mould and baking the fermented dough strand portions. The result is a production plant with an increased throughput in the production of baked goods and simultaneously a plant outlay which is as low a possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2009Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: WERNER & PFLEIDERER INDUSTRIELLE BACKTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Bernd Grote, Uwe Benz
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Patent number: 7152394Abstract: In a system and method for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine contains a DeNOx catalytic converter, in which the nitrogen oxides are reduced by means of hydrogen that is produced on-board the vehicle. The DeNOx catalytic converter is incorporated into a temperature-controlled heat exchanger, allowing the DeNOx catalytic converter to be operated within a desired temperature range, thereby improving the level of conversion.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2002Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: NuCellSys GmbHInventors: Uwe Benz, Berthold Keppeler, André Martin, Peter Schuerstedt, Detlef zur Megede
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Patent number: 7051518Abstract: A system to supply hydrogen-rich fuel to an internal combustion engine, whereby a hydrogen-rich gas is produced from a liquid raw fuel by a hydrogen generator. The exhaust line of the internal combustion engine contains an exhaust purification system, such as a DeNOx catalytic converter, which is at least temporarily supplied with hydrogen-rich gas through a bypass line. In addition, the exhaust line is in thermal contact with the hydrogen generator in order to recover thermal energy.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: NuCellSys GmbHInventors: Uwe Benz, Guenther Dietrich, Detlef zur Megede
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Publication number: 20060059897Abstract: A system to supply hydrogen-rich fuel to an internal combustion engine, whereby a hydrogen-rich gas is produced from a liquid raw fuel by a hydrogen generator. The exhaust line of the internal combustion engine contains an exhaust purification system, such as a DeNOx catalytic converter, which is at least temporarily supplied with hydrogen-rich gas through a bypass line. In addition, the exhaust line is in thermal contact with the hydrogen generator in order to recover thermal energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2005Publication date: March 23, 2006Inventors: Uwe Benz, Guenther Dietrich, Detlef zur Megede
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Publication number: 20050287409Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Michael Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark Voss, Uwe Benz, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20050287049Abstract: A method and a device is provided for NO reduction in motor vehicle exhaust by reduction on a catalyst. The hydrogen required for the NO reduction is produced directly on-board the motor vehicle by water vapor reformation and/or by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, for example, methanol, diesel fuel, or gasoline on a catalyst. The device includes an adjustable heater for the catalyst for water vapor reformation or for partial oxidation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AGInventor: Uwe Benz
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Publication number: 20050242157Abstract: A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Applicant: BALLARD POWER SYSTEM AGInventors: Uwe Benz, Horst Michels, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6936364Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignees: Modine Manufacturing Company, XCELLSiS GmbHInventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark Voss, Uwe Benz, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Patent number: 6932949Abstract: A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Uwe Benz, Horst Michels, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
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Publication number: 20050126158Abstract: In a system and method for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine contains a DeNOx catalytic converter, in which the nitrogen oxides are reduced by means of hydrogen that is produced on-board the vehicle. The DeNOx catalytic converter is incorporated into a temperature-controlled heat exchanger, allowing the DeNOx catalytic converter to be operated within a desired temperature range, thereby improving the level of conversion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2002Publication date: June 16, 2005Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Uwe Benz, Berthold Keppeler, Andre Martin, Peter Schuerstedt, Detlef zur Megede
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Publication number: 20050115226Abstract: A system to supply hydrogen-rich fuel to an internal combustion engine, whereby a hydrogen-rich gas is produced from a liquid raw fuel by a hydrogen generator. The exhaust line of the internal combustion engine contains an exhaust purification system, such as a DeNOx catalytic converter, which is at least temporarily supplied with hydrogen-rich gas through a bypass line. In addition, the exhaust line is in thermal contact with the hydrogen generator in order to recover thermal energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2002Publication date: June 2, 2005Inventors: Uwe Benz, Guenther Dietrich, Detlef Megede
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Patent number: 6676907Abstract: An arrangement for generating a hydrogen-containing gas from a hydrocarbon-containing medium includes a multi-stage reforming unit that is connected to a multi-stage carbon monoxide removal unit by a heat-conducting separating medium. The stages of the reforming unit, in an ascending order relative to the gas flow direction in the reforming unit, are in a thermal contact with stages of the carbon monoxide removal unit, in a descending order relative to the gas flow direction in the carbon monoxide removal unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Uwe Benz, Stefan Boneberg, Stefan Brauchle, Dirk Georg, Martin Schäfer, Martin Schüssler, Matthias Wolfsteiner
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Publication number: 20030077490Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2001Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Michael J. Reinke, Jonathan Wattelet, Mark Voss, Uwe Benz, Bruno Motzet, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser