Patents by Inventor Yongfu Zhao

Yongfu Zhao 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: 11616242
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell that includes an electrochemical reactor; a cooling circuit; a controller; a coolant circuit; a first temperature sensor; and a second temperature sensor. The cooling circuit includes a cooling pipe and is configured to cool the electrochemical reactor; the controller is configured to control operations of the electrochemical reactor and the cooling circuit; the cooling pipe includes a first water inlet and a first water outlet; and the coolant circuit is connected to the first water inlet and the first water outlet. The method includes comparing the first temperature of the coolant at the first water inlet to the second temperature at the first water outlet; and controlling operations of the heater and the electrochemical reactor based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD., BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR EV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jia Deng, Dongdong Wei, Tairong Zhu, Yongfu Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230043468
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell that includes an electrochemical reactor; a cooling circuit; a controller; a coolant circuit; a first temperature sensor; and a second temperature sensor. The cooling circuit includes a cooling pipe and is configured to cool the electrochemical reactor; the controller is configured to control operations of the electrochemical reactor and the cooling circuit; the cooling pipe includes a first water inlet and a first water outlet; and the coolant circuit is connected to the first water inlet and the first water outlet. The method includes comparing the first temperature of the coolant at the first water inlet to the second temperature at the first water outlet; and controlling operations of the heater and the electrochemical reactor based on the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jia DENG, Dongdong WEI, Tairong ZHU, Yongfu ZHAO
  • Patent number: 11502317
    Abstract: A fuel cell including an electrochemical reactor; a cooling circuit; a controller; a coolant circuit; a first temperature sensor; and a second temperature sensor. The cooling circuit includes a cooling pipe, a water pump, a radiator, a heater, and a thermostatic three-way valve. The cooling circuit is configured to cool the electrochemical reactor. The controller is configured to control operations of the electrochemical reactor and the cooling circuit. The cooling pipe includes a first water inlet and a first water outlet; and the coolant circuit is disposed between the first water inlet and the first water outlet. The first temperature sensor is disposed at the first water inlet. The second temperature sensor is disposed at the first water outlet. The first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are configured to detect and transmit temperature data of a coolant in the cooling pipe to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD., BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR EV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jia Deng, Dongdong Wei, Tairong Zhu, Yongfu Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210013528
    Abstract: A fuel cell including an electrochemical reactor; a cooling circuit; a controller; a coolant circuit; a first temperature sensor; and a second temperature sensor. The cooling circuit includes a cooling pipe, a water pump, a radiator, a heater, and a thermostatic three-way valve. The cooling circuit is configured to cool the electrochemical reactor. The controller is configured to control operations of the electrochemical reactor and the cooling circuit. The cooling pipe includes a first water inlet and a first water outlet; and the coolant circuit is disposed between the first water inlet and the first water outlet. The first temperature sensor is disposed at the first water inlet. The second temperature sensor is disposed at the first water outlet. The first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are configured to detect and transmit temperature data of a coolant in the cooling pipe to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Jia DENG, Dongdong WEI, Tairong ZHU, Yongfu ZHAO
  • Patent number: 5975754
    Abstract: A method is provided for extending the life of a refractory lining of a blast furnace hearth. The refractory hearth has temperature probes embedded in the floor and walls thereof. The method includes periodically measuring temperatures indicated by the probes and determining the campaign maximum and current average temperature readings to locate two solidification isotherm representing the wear line of the refractory and the inner surface of the protective metal layer. The thickness of the protective layer is determined from the distance between the solidification isotherms representing the refractory wear line and the inner surface of the metal skull. From this determination sufficient thickness of the protective layer is maintained during actual operation of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: USX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Groth, Yongfu Zhao
  • Patent number: 5961214
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the thickness of a protective layer of solidified metal skull formed on the refractory hearth of a blast furnace. The refractory hearth has temperature probes embedded in the floor and walls thereof. The method includes periodically measuring temperatures indicated by the probes and determining the campaign maximum and current average temperature readings to locate two solidification isotherms representing the wear line of the refractory and the inner surface of the protective metal layer. The thickness of the protective layer is determined from the distance between the solidification isotherms representing the refractory wear line and the inner surface of the metal skull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: USX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Groth, Yongfu Zhao
  • Patent number: 5944421
    Abstract: A method of determining the conditions of heat transfer at the interface of the refractory and a metal shell of the furnace by calculating the interface temperature from thermoprobes in the refractory and then from a thermoprobe in the metal shell and the temperature of cooling water applied to the shell, and comparing these interface temperatures to determine whether a gap has formed between the refractory and shell and whether cooling of the shell is sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: USX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Groth, Yongfu Zhao
  • Patent number: 5890805
    Abstract: A method is provided for on-line monitoring of the wear of a refractory lining of a blast furnace and for extending the life of said lining. The method includes determining the wear line of the lining from signals of temperature probes embedded at spaced locations across the thickness of the refractory using a one dimensional heat transfer model to locate a first approximation of a solidification isotherm of hot metal in the furnace, using the one dimensional heat transfer approximation as an initial boundary in a moving boundary calculation of a two dimensional heat transfer model and iterating the two dimensional model to find a final location of the isotherm by minimizing the difference between the measured and predicted temperatures of the thermoprobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: USX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Groth, Yongfu Zhao