Patents by Inventor Yukihisa Kanao

Yukihisa Kanao 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: 11476473
    Abstract: A reformer and an evaporator of a fuel cell module are provided adjacent to each other. An exhaust gas combustion chamber which combusts a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell to produce a combustion exhaust gas includes a first chamber and a second chamber connected to each other, and a combustion chamber outlet for discharging the combustion exhaust gas in the exhaust gas combustion chamber. At least part of an outer wall surface of the first chamber faces the evaporator with clearance. At least part of a wall forming the second chamber is a common wall shared with the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Homma, Yuki Yoshimine, Yukihisa Kanao
  • Patent number: 11233251
    Abstract: A supply channel through which an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is supplied to an exhaust gas combustor is branched so as to provide an oxygen-containing exhaust gas bypass channel through which the oxygen-containing exhaust gas is discharged to the outside in a manner to bypass the exhaust gas combustor. In the structure, the exhaust gas flow rate of an exhaust gas discharged through a condenser (saturated water vapor quantity) is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20210043950
    Abstract: A reformer and an evaporator of a fuel cell module are provided adjacent to each other. An exhaust gas combustion chamber which combusts a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell to produce a combustion exhaust gas includes a first camber and a second chamber connected to each other, and a combustion chamber outlet for discharging the combustion exhaust gas in the exhaust gas combustion chamber. At least part of an outer wall surface of the first chamber faces the evaporator with clearance. At least part of a wall forming the second chamber is a common wall shared with the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroki Homma, Yuki Yoshimine, Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20210005907
    Abstract: A supply channel through which an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is supplied to an exhaust gas combustor is branched so as to provide an oxygen-containing exhaust gas bypass channel through which the oxygen-containing exhaust gas is discharged to the outside in a manner to bypass the exhaust gas combustor. In the structure, the exhaust gas flow rate of an exhaust gas discharged through a condenser (saturated water vapor quantity) is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Patent number: 10790522
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and an exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell module further includes an exhaust gas combustion chamber equipped with the exhaust gas combustor and a preheating unit for heating a raw fuel by combustion exhaust gas produced in the exhaust gas combustor before the raw fuel is supplied to the reformer. The preheating unit forms one surface of the exhaust gas combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Kanao, Yuki Yoshimine, Tetsuya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9401515
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator having a circular disk. On one surface of the circular disk, a fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to an anode is provided, and on the other surface of the circular disk, an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying air to a cathode is provided. The fuel gas channel has an end point disposed at the outer circumferential end of the anode. A fuel gas discharge channel is connected to the end point of the fuel gas channel, such that the consumed fuel gas is emitted from a position spaced outwardly from an outer circumferential portion of the electrolyte electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20160204453
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and an exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell module further includes an exhaust gas combustion chamber equipped with the exhaust gas combustor and a preheating unit for heating a raw fuel by combustion exhaust gas produced in the exhaust gas combustor before the raw fuel is supplied to the reformer. The preheating unit forms one surface of the exhaust gas combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Yukihisa Kanao, Yuki Yoshimine, Tetsuya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8404394
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first heating mechanism and a second heating mechanism. The first heating mechanism supplies a reformer with some of an exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack as a heat source for directly heating the reformer. The second heating mechanism supplies the remaining exhaust gas to the heat exchanger and utilizes the heat generated in the heat exchanger as a heat source for indirectly heating the reformer. Temperature sensors are attached to the reformer. An open/close valve is adjusted based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors to control the ratio between the amount of heat supplied from the first heating mechanism to the reformer and the amount of heat supplied from the second heating mechanism to the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Kanao, Tomio Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8137851
    Abstract: Separators of a fuel cell include sandwiching sections which sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies and have fuel gas channels, first bridges each having a fuel gas supply channel, and a fuel gas supply unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. Further, the separators include second bridges each having an exhaust fuel gas channel for discharging the fuel gas after consumption in the electrolyte electrode assemblies as an exhaust fuel gas, and an exhaust fuel gas discharge unit having an exhaust fuel gas passage for allowing the exhaust fuel gas to flow in the stacking direction. The exhaust fuel gas discharge unit is connected to the fuel gas channel through the fuel gas supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20100221634
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator having a circular disk. On one surface of the circular disk, a fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to an anode is provided, and on the other surface of the circular disk, an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying air to a cathode is provided. The fuel gas channel has an end point disposed at the outer circumferential end of the anode. A fuel gas discharge channel is connected to the end point of the fuel gas channel, such that the consumed fuel gas is emitted from a position spaced outwardly from an outer circumferential portion of the electrolyte electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20100015481
    Abstract: Separators of a fuel cell include sandwiching sections which sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies and have fuel gas channels, first bridges each having a fuel gas supply channel, and a fuel gas supply unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. Further, the separators include second bridges each having an exhaust fuel gas channel for discharging the fuel gas after consumption in the electrolyte electrode assemblies as an exhaust fuel gas, and an exhaust fuel gas discharge unit having an exhaust fuel gas passage or allowing the exhaust fuel gas to flow in the stacking direction. The exhaust fuel gas discharge unit is connected to the fuel gas channel through the fuel gas supply passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20090104486
    Abstract: A fluid unit includes a heat exchanger, an evaporator, and a reformer. The fluid unit is provided in a third case unit. In the third case unit, an exhaust gas channel as a passage of an exhaust gas is provided. The exhaust gas channel includes a first channel for supplying the exhaust gas to the reformer, a second channel for supplying the exhaust gas to the heat exchanger, and a third channel connected to the downstream side of the second channel for supplying the exhaust gas to the evaporator. The exhaust gas supplied to the evaporator has the lower temperature due to the heat exchange in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kanao
  • Publication number: 20090047554
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first heating mechanism and a second heating mechanism. The first heating mechanism supplies a reformer with some of an exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack as a heat source for directly heating the reformer. The second heating mechanism supplies the remaining exhaust gas to the heat exchanger and utilizes the heat generated in the heat exchanger as a heat source for indirectly heating the reformer. Temperature sensors are attached to the reformer. An open/close valve is adjusted based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors to control the ratio between the amount of heat supplied from the first heating mechanism to the reformer and the amount of heat supplied from the second heating mechanism to the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Yukihisa Kanao, Tomio Miyazaki