Patents by Inventor Yousuke Tomita

Yousuke Tomita 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: 10930946
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode gas supply device configured to supply an anode gas to a fuel cell and an ejector configured to merge an anode discharged gas, discharged from the fuel cell; with the anode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes an actuator configured to supply the anode discharged gas to the ejector and a cathode gas supply device configured to supply a cathode gas to the fuel cell. A control method for A fuel cell system includes a cathode gas control step of controlling a pressure of the cathode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell according to a magnitude of a load that is required of the fuel cell, and an anode gas control step of increasing a differential pressure between the pressure of the cathode gas and a pressure of the anode gas by the anode gas supply device when the load is low compared to when the load is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Chikugo, Yousuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 10930948
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell configured to be supplied with an anode gas and a cathode gas and generate electric power, a compressor configured to supply the cathode gas to the fuel cell, a turbine configured to be supplied with a cathode discharged gas discharged from the fuel cell and generate power, an electric motor connected to the compressor and the turbine and configured to perform power running and regeneration, a combustor disposed between the fuel cell and the turbine and configured to mix and combust the cathode gas and the anode gas, a cooler configured to cool the cathode gas that is supplied from the compressor to the fuel cell, a bypass passage configured to supply the cathode gas from an upstream side of the cooler to the combustor by bypassing the cooler and the fuel cell, and a bypass valve disposed in the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Chikugo, Yousuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 10581096
    Abstract: A fuel cell system calculates a target value of a flow rate of cathode gas to be supplied to a fuel cell stack according to a request of the fuel cell stack, controls a flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied by the compressor according to an operating state of the fuel cell system, controls a bypass valve based on a target fuel cell supply flow rate so that the flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied from the compressor to the fuel cell stack reaches the target fuel cell supply flow rate, and limits the flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied by the compressor when the bypass valve has a predetermined opening and the flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack is not smaller than the target fuel cell supply flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousuke Tomita, Hayato Chikugo
  • Patent number: 10305127
    Abstract: Provided is a wet state control method for a fuel cell system in which cathode gas is supplied to a fuel cell while the cathode gas partially bypasses the fuel cell, the wet state control method being for controlling a wet state of the fuel cell by adjusting wet control parameters including a bypass valve opening degree, a cathode gas pressure, and a cathode gas flow rate. When the fuel cell is controlled to a wet side, at least either one of the cathode gas flow rate and the cathode gas pressure is adjusted in priority to adjustment of the bypass valve opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Chikugo, Yousuke Tomita, Tetsuya Aoki
  • Publication number: 20190088962
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell configured to be supplied with an anode gas and a cathode gas and generate electric power, a compressor configured to supply the cathode gas to the fuel cell, a turbine configured to be supplied with a cathode discharged gas discharged from the fuel cell and generate power, an electric motor connected to the compressor and the turbine and configured to perform power running and regeneration, a combustor disposed between the fuel cell and the turbine and configured to mix and combust the cathode gas and the anode gas, a cooler configured to cool the cathode gas that is supplied from the compressor to the fuel cell, a bypass passage configured to supply the cathode gas from an upstream side of the cooler to the combustor by bypassing the cooler and the fuel cell, and a bypass valve disposed in the bypass passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato CHIKUGO, Yousuke TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20190081340
    Abstract: Provided is a wet state control method for a fuel cell system in which cathode gas is supplied to a fuel cell while the cathode gas partially bypasses the fuel cell, the wet state control method being for controlling a wet state of the fuel cell by adjusting wet control parameters including a bypass valve opening degree, a cathode gas pressure, and a cathode gas flow rate. When the fuel cell is controlled to a wet side, at least either one of the cathode gas flow rate and the cathode gas pressure is adjusted in priority to adjustment of the bypass valve opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato CHIKUGO, Yousuke TOMITA, Tetsuya AOKI
  • Publication number: 20190074526
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode gas supply device configured to supply an anode gas to a fuel cell and an ejector configured to merge an anode discharged gas, discharged from the fuel cell; with the anode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes an actuator configured to supply the anode discharged gas to the ejector and a cathode gas supply device configured to supply a cathode gas to the fuel cell. A control method for A fuel cell system includes a cathode gas control step of controlling a pressure of the cathode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell according to a magnitude of a load that is required of the fuel cell, and an anode gas control step of increasing a differential pressure between the pressure of the cathode gas and a pressure of the anode gas by the anode gas supply device when the load is low compared to when the load is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato CHIKUGO, Yousuke TOMITA
  • Patent number: 9960440
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a compressor for supplying the cathode gas to the fuel cell, an anode gas discharge system for discharging anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell into a cathode gas flow passage, a pulsating operation control unit for causing a pressure of the anode gas to pulsate based on an operating state of the fuel cell, a purge control unit for purging the anode off-gas into the cathode gas flow passage based on an impurity concentration of an anode of the fuel cell and a pressure of the anode, and a compressor control unit for controlling the compressor based on a purge flow rate controlled by the purge control unit, and the purge control unit for setting the pressure of the anode to a predetermined value determined according to a pulsating state of the anode gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Asai, Yousuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 9847538
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including a cathode gas supply system of a cathode gas bypass type includes a first flow rate sensor which detects a cathode gas flow rate to be supplied by the compressor, a second flow rate sensor which detects a cathode gas flow rate to be supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass valve which controls a cathode gas flow rate flowed in the bypass channel, a bypass valve controlling unit configured to execute an open/shut-off control of the bypass valve in accordance with an operation state of the fuel cell system, and a mismatch diagnosing unit configured to detect a mismatch of detected values of the first flow rate sensor and the second flow rate sensor based on the detected values of the both sensors during total shut-off of the bypass valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Chikugo, Yousuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 9786931
    Abstract: A fuel cell system 100 includes: a fuel cell 1 for generating a power by causing an electrochemical reaction between an oxidant gas supplied to an oxidant electrode 34 and a fuel gas supplied to a fuel electrode 67; a fuel gas supplier HS for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel electrode 67; and a controller 40 for controlling the fuel gas supplier HS to thereby supply the fuel gas to the fuel electrode 67, the controller 40 being configured to implement a pressure change when an outlet of the fuel electrode 67 side is closed, wherein based on a first pressure change pattern for implementing the pressure change at a first pressure width ?P1, the controller 40 periodically changes a pressure of the fuel gas at the fuel electrode 67.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Keigo Ikezoe, Kenichi Goto, Ken Nakayama, Mitsunori Kumada, Yousuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 9620796
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a compressor configured to supply the cathode gas to the fuel cell, an intercooler provided downstream of the compressor and configured to cool the cathode gas discharged from the compressor, a pressure regulating valve configured to adjust a pressure downstream of the intercooler, and a controller. The controller computes a first target pressure of the intercooler downstream pressure according to a target output of the fuel cell and computes a second target pressure of the intercooler downstream pressure according to the intercooler downstream temperature. Then, the controller sets smaller one of the first and second target pressures as a target pressure of the intercooler downstream pressure and controls the compressor and the pressure regulating valve according to the target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Tomita, Hayato Chikugo
  • Publication number: 20160254555
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including a cathode gas supply system of a cathode gas bypass type includes a first flow rate sensor which detects a cathode gas flow rate to be supplied by the compressor, a second flow rate sensor which detects a cathode gas flow rate to be supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass valve which controls a cathode gas flow rate flowed in the bypass channel, a bypass valve controlling unit configured to execute an open/shut-off control of the bypass valve in accordance with an operation state of the fuel cell system, and a mismatch diagnosing unit configured to detect a mismatch of detected values of the first flow rate sensor and the second flow rate sensor based on the detected values of the both sensors during total shut-off of the bypass valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato CHIKUGO, Yousuke TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20160190618
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a compressor for supplying the cathode gas to the fuel cell, an anode gas discharge system for discharging anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell into a cathode gas flow passage, a pulsating operation control unit for causing a pressure of the anode gas to pulsate based on an operating state of the fuel cell, a purge control unit for purging the anode off-gas into the cathode gas flow passage based on an impurity concentration of an anode of the fuel cell and a pressure of the anode, and a compressor control unit for controlling the compressor based on a purge flow rate controlled by the purge control unit, and the purge control unit for setting the pressure of the anode to a predetermined value determined according to a pulsating state of the anode gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo ASAI, Yousuke TOMITA
  • Patent number: 9350033
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cathode gas supply unit, a cathode pressure detection unit, a fuel cell temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the fuel cell, an internal resistance detection unit configured to detect an internal resistance of the fuel cell, a target cathode flow rate calculation unit configured to calculate a target cathode flow rate necessary for supply to the fuel cell based on an operating state of the fuel cell system, a cathode flow rate estimation unit configured to estimate a flow rate of the cathode gas according to the pressure of the cathode gas, the temperature of the fuel cell and the internal resistance of the fuel cell, and a cathode flow rate control unit configured to control the cathode gas supply unit based on the target cathode flow rate and the estimated flow rate of the cathode gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Tomita, Keigo Ikezoe, Fumio Kagami
  • Publication number: 20160049671
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a compressor configured to supply the cathode gas to the fuel cell, an intercooler provided downstream of the compressor and configured to cool the cathode gas discharged from the compressor, a pressure regulating valve configured to adjust a pressure downstream of the intercooler, and a controller. The controller computes a first target pressure of the intercooler downstream pressure according to a target output of the fuel cell and computes a second target pressure of the intercooler downstream pressure according to the intercooler downstream temperature. Then, the controller sets smaller one of the first and second target pressures as a target pressure of the intercooler downstream pressure and controls the compressor and the pressure regulating valve according to the target pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke TOMITA, Hayato CHIKUGO
  • Patent number: 9214689
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant stops anode gas supply to a fuel cell stack 1 by an anode gas supply mechanism 20 when an anode gas pressure in the fuel cell stack 1 reaches an upper limit pressure, and resumes supplying the anode gas by the anode gas supply mechanism 20 when the anode gas pressure in the fuel cell stack 1 lowers to a lower limit pressure. A sensor 52-54 detects if a hydrogen supply amount supplied to the fuel cell stack 1 satisfies a required amount to generate a target generated power, and a controller 51 corrects the lower limit pressure in an increasing direction when the hydrogen supply amount does not satisfy the required amount, thereby suppressing a generated power of the fuel cell stack 1 from reducing even when a flooding takes place in the fuel cell stack 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Tomita, Masashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20150288008
    Abstract: A fuel cell system 100 includes: a fuel cell 1 for generating a power by causing an electrochemical reaction between an oxidant gas supplied to an oxidant electrode 34 and a fuel gas supplied to a fuel electrode 67; a fuel gas supplier HS for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel electrode 67; and a controller 40 for controlling the fuel gas supplier HS to thereby supply the fuel gas to the fuel electrode 67, the controller 40 being configured to implement a pressure change when an outlet of the fuel electrode 67 side is closed, wherein based on a first pressure change pattern for implementing the pressure change at a first pressure width ?P1, the controller 40 periodically changes a pressure of the fuel gas at the fuel electrode 67.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO , LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi ICHIKAWA, Keigo IKEZOE, Kenichi GOTO, Ken NAKAYAMA, Mitsunori KUMADA, Yousuke TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20150162629
    Abstract: A fuel cell system calculates a target value of a flow rate of cathode gas to be supplied to a fuel cell stack according to a request of the fuel cell stack, controls a flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied by the compressor according to an operating state of the fuel cell system, controls a bypass valve based on a target fuel cell supply flow rate so that the flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied from the compressor to the fuel cell stack reaches the target fuel cell supply flow rate, and limits the flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied by the compressor when the bypass valve has a predetermined opening and the flow rate of the cathode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack is not smaller than the target fuel cell supply flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Yousuke Tomita, Hayato Chikugo
  • Patent number: 8999225
    Abstract: First, an ionic liquid is placed on a glass slide, which is then installed in an evaporation apparatus, and a metal (for example, indium) is mounted as a target material at a position facing the ionic liquid, followed by sputter deposition of the metal. After sputtering, the ionic liquid containing nanoparticles dispersed therein is recovered. The nanoparticles are solid nanoparticles. Next, the ionic liquid containing the solid nanoparticles dispersed therein is placed in a test tube and then oxidized by heating in air at 250° C. for 1 hour. As a result, hollow nanoparticles having cavities formed in core portions of the solid nanoparticles are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: National University Corporation Nagoya University, Osaka University
    Inventors: Tsukasa Torimoto, Ken-ichi Okazaki, Toshimasa Suzuki, Yousuke Tomita, Susumu Kuwabata
  • Publication number: 20150004512
    Abstract: A fuel cell system configured to generate power by supplying anode gas and cathode gas to a fuel cell includes a control valve for controlling a pressure of the anode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, a buffer unit configured to store anode off-gas to be discharged from the fuel cell, a purge valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the anode off-gas discharged from the buffer unit, a pulsating operation unit configured to increase and vary the pressure of the anode gas downstream of the control valve according to a load of the fuel cell, and a purge unit configured to control an opening of the purge valve according to the load of the fuel cell. The purge unit increases the opening of the purge valve controlled according to the load of the fuel cell during a down transient operation in which the load of the fuel cell decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Ikezoe, Hayato Chikugo, Yousuke Tomita, Yasushi Ichikawa