Patents Issued in January 29, 2015
  • Publication number: 20150030908
    Abstract: A power battery pack and a power battery system are provided. The power battery pack comprises: a plurality of single batteries, each single battery comprising a plurality of battery units, in which an nth battery unit in the plurality of battery units in each single battery is connected with an nth battery unit in the plurality of battery units in an adjacent single battery in series to form an nth loop, where n?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Yun Wang, Guoyong Che, Xuebin Zhan
  • Publication number: 20150030909
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a higher power, thin film lithium-ion electrolyte on a metallic substrate, enabling mass-produced solid-state lithium batteries. High-temperature thermodynamic equilibrium processing enables co-firing of oxides and base metals, providing a means to integrate the crystalline, lithium-stable, fast lithium-ion conductor lanthanum lithium tantalate (La1/3-xLi3xTaO3) directly with a thin metal foil current collector appropriate for a lithium-free solid-state battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jon Ihlefeld, Paul G. Clem, Cynthia Edney, David Ingersoll, Ganesan Nagasubramanian, Kyle Ross Fenton
  • Publication number: 20150030910
    Abstract: A packaging material 1 includes a heat resistant resin stretched film layer 2 as an outer layer, a thermoplastic resin layer 3 as an inner layer, a metal foil layer 4 arranged between these layers, and a colored ink layer 10 arranged between the metal foil layer 4 and the heat resistant resin stretched film layer 2. As the heat resistant resin stretched film, a heat resistant resin stretched film having a hot water shrinkage rate of 2% to 20% is used, and the heat resistant resin stretched film layer 2 and the colored ink layer 4 are integrally laminated via an easily adhesive layer 30. In this packaging material, at the time of forming and sealing, and even being used in a somewhat severe environment such as high-temperature and humid environment, the colored ink layer will not be detached from the heat resistant resin stretched film layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Yuji MINAMIBORI, Honglin WANG
  • Publication number: 20150030911
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a stacked electrode assembly in which the positive electrode plates with a large area and the negative electrode plates with a large area are stacked interposing separators therebetween, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing non-aqueous solvent. The positive electrode plate as the positive electrode active material comprises a lithium transition-metal composite oxide expressed by Lia(NibCocMnd)MeO2 (1.05?a?1.20, 0.3?b?0.6, b+c+d=1, 0?e?0.05, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Nb, Mo, Zn, Al, Sn, Mg, Ca, Sr, Zr, and W), and the proportion of a chain carbonate contained in the non-aqueous solvent to the non-aqueous solvent is 50% by volume or more, and the proportion of diethyl carbonate contained in the chain carbonate to the chain carbonate is 70% by volume or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Miyazaki, Kazunori Donoue, Yuji Tani
  • Publication number: 20150030912
    Abstract: A resin-metal composite sealed container having a heat seal part using a heat-sealing resin, between an end part of a first metal foil and an end part of a second metal foil, and a metallically sealed part with a weld bead, on the end face outside the heat sealed part of the first metal foil and the second metal foil. The resin-metal composite sealed container, wherein the melting point of the metal constituting the metal foil is higher by 300° C. or more than the thermal decomposition temperature of the heat-sealing resin, the specific gravity of the metal constituting the metal foil is 5 or more, and the weld bead is formed by a laser welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Koichi Nose, Jun Nakatsuka, Yutaka Matsuzawa, Yu Murai
  • Publication number: 20150030913
    Abstract: A battery having an electrode assembly located in a housing that efficiently utilizes the space available in many implantable medical devices is disclosed. The battery housing provides a cover and a shallow case a preferably planar, major bottom portion, an open top to receive the cover opposing the bottom portion, and a plurality of sides being radiused at intersections with each other and with the bottom to allow for the close abutting of other components located within the implantable device while also providing for efficient location of the battery within an arcuate edge of the device. The cover and the shallow case being substantially hermetically sealed by a laser weld technique and an insulator member disposed within the case to provide a barrier to incident laser radiation so that during welding radiation does not impinge upon radiation sensitive component(s) disposed within the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Paul B. Aamodt, Franise D. Bartley, Steven M. Bruesehoff, Kurt J. Casby, David P. Haas, Karl E. Hokanson, Thomas M. Nutzman, Andrew J. Ries, Scott J. Robinson, Randy S. Roles, Sonja K. Somdahl, Walter C. Sunderland, Jason T. Papenfuss, William J. Farrell, Kimberly A. Chaffin
  • Publication number: 20150030914
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery device including a battery enclosure incorporating a battery cell. The battery device further includes an output terminal that outputs power of the battery cell. The battery enclosure includes a first surface, a second surface, a first step surface, a second step surface, a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a first groove, and a second groove formed in the second step surface and the second engaging portion, and a recess is provided in at least one of the first step surface and the second step surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mieko HARA, Toshio Takeshita, Yoichi Miyajima, Hiroaki Sato, Tomonori Watanabe, Naoki Kamaya
  • Publication number: 20150030915
    Abstract: A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap assembly including a cap plate coupled to the case, and a bottom plate attached to a bottom surface of the cap plate; and an electrode terminal protruding from the cap assembly and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and the bottom plate includes a terminal plate electrically connected to the electrode terminal, and an insulation film stacked on the terminal plate and electrically insulating the terminal plate and the cap plate from each other, the insulation film being integrally formed with the terminal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaeil SEONG, Hideaki YOSHIO, Jiwon YUN
  • Publication number: 20150030916
    Abstract: A battery assembly for a medical device includes an elongate cathode, an elongate anode, an electrolyte, and an elongate housing assembly encapsulating the cathode, the anode, and the electrolyte. The battery assembly also includes a first electrode exposed from and electrically insulated from the housing assembly. One of the anode and the cathode is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and the other of the anode and the cathode is electrically coupled to the housing assembly. Respective axes of the cathode and the anode are substantially parallel to an axis of the housing assembly, and the cathode and anode each include a flat portion that face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. LUND, Steven J. MAY, Donald R. MERRITT, Hailiang ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20150030917
    Abstract: A battery includes a case accommodating an electrode assembly, the case including an opening at one end and including at least one sidewall, the sidewall having a coupling portion adjacent to the opening, a cap plate that closes the opening, the cap plate having an upper surface, the coupling portion of the sidewall connecting the cap plate to the case, the coupling portion including a top surface of the sidewall, the cap plate overlying a first portion of the top surface of the sidewall, such that the upper surface of the cap plate is entirely above top surface of the sidewall, and a welding bead contacting the cap plate and a second portion of the top surface of the sidewall, the second portion of the top surface being between the first portion and an outer surface of the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tai-Sun YOU, Yong-Sam KIM, Jang-Hyun SONG
  • Publication number: 20150030918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder, including the steps of (a) preparing a mixture solution by adding a lithium precursor, an iron precursor and a phosphorus precursor in a glycerol solvent, and (b) putting the mixture solution into a reactor and heating to prepare the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder under pressure conditions of 1 bar to 10 bar, and a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder prepared by the method. When compared to a common hydrothermal synthesis method, a supercritical hydrothermal synthesis method and a glycothermal synthesis method, a reaction may be performed under a relatively lower pressure. Thus, a high temperature/high pressure reactor is not necessary and process safety and economic feasibility may be secured. In addition, a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder having uniform particle size and effectively controlled particle size distribution may be easily prepared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: In Kook Jun, Seung Beom Cho, Myoung Hwan Oh
  • Publication number: 20150030919
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery activator characterized in that alkali polyacrylate solid particles are dispersed in the sulfuric acid aqueous solution, which is intended to extend the battery life by preventing the sulfation of negative electrode, and a lead-acid battery using said activator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Akiya Kozawa, Shunzo Mase
  • Publication number: 20150030920
    Abstract: An electrode assembly includes an electrode stack that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the separator being interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a positive electrode tab projecting from an edge of the electrode stack, and a negative electrode tab projecting from an edge of the electrode stack. The electrode stack may have a height direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, the thickness direction being substantially perpendicular to a plane that includes the height and width directions, the electrode stack having a first thickness in the thickness direction at a first location corresponding to at least one of the positive and negative electrode tabs, the electrode stack having a second thickness in the thickness direction at a second location peripheral to the first location, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung-Dong LEE
  • Publication number: 20150030921
    Abstract: Provided are an electrode binder for a secondary battery including an amine-based compound expressed by Chemical Formula 1 below and water-based binder particles including at least one carboxyl group as an end group, a method of preparing the same, and an electrode for a secondary battery including the electrode binder for a secondary battery
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jang Bae KIM, Im Goo CHOI, Byoung Bae LEE, Woo Ha KIM, Bong Hyun JEONG, Kyoung Hun KIM, Ji Hye YANG
  • Publication number: 20150030922
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a binder composition having excellent binding properties, a slurry composition having excellent stability, a cathode having good smoothness, electrode winding properties and binding properties, and a secondary battery having excellent output characteristics. [Solution] The binder composition for a secondary battery cathode of the present invention comprises: polymer A including a polymerised unit having a nitrile group, a polymerised unit having a hydrophilic group, and a linear alkylene polymerised unit having a carbon number equal to or greater than four; and polymer B having a glass transition temperature equal to or greater than 25° C. In this binder composition, the proportion of polymerised units having a hydrophilic group in polymer A is from 0.05 to 20 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kei Kobayashi, Mayumi Fukumine
  • Publication number: 20150030923
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium secondary battery that includes an anode coated with an anode mixture including an anode active material, a cathode coated with a cathode mixture including a cathode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the anode mixture includes, as aqueous binders, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) having a degree of substitution of a hydroxyl group (—OH) with a carboxymethyl group (—CH2CO2H) of 0.7 to 1.2, a molecular weight (Mn) of 500,000 to 900,000, and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0 and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) having a particle diameter of 90 nm to 150 nm and a tensile strength of 90 kgf to 160 kgf, and the anode has an electrode coating amount of 10 to 20 mg/cm2 and that enhances electrode processability and reduces a swelling phenomenon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Chang-Wan Koo, Byoung Hoon Ahn, Joon Sung Bae, Jae Bin Chung
  • Publication number: 20150030924
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a positive electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with which characteristics of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, such as a charge/discharge efficiency, a capacity retention ratio, and a discharge capacity retention ratio are not easily degraded even in the case where the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is continuously charged at a high temperature. [Solution] A positive electrode 12 of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 includes a positive electrode active material layer 12b. The positive electrode active material layer 12b contains a positive electrode active material and a compound represented by a general formula (1): MH2PO2 (1). In the general formula (1), M represents a monovalent cation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takanobu Chiga, Naoki Imachi, Daisuke Kato
  • Publication number: 20150030925
    Abstract: A positive electrode material is disclosed that can attain a lithium-ion secondary battery having a high capacity and a high security. The positive electrode material provides a positive electrode having a high capacity and a high security by using a positive electrode active material represented by the following composition formula; xLi2MnO3-(1-x)LiNiaMnbCocMdO2 (0.3?x?0.7, 0.33?a?0.5, 0?b?0.5, 0?c?0.33, 0.01?d?0.06).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Konishi, Akira Gunji, Xiaoliang Feng
  • Publication number: 20150030926
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide electrolytic manganese dioxide excellent in the middle rate discharge characteristic as compared with conventional electrolytic manganese dioxide, and a method for its production and its application. Electrolytic manganese dioxide characterized in that the potential as measured in a 40 wt % KOH aqueous solution by using a mercury/mercury oxide reference electrode as a standard is higher than 250 mV and less than 310 mV, and the volume of pores having a pore diameter of at least 2 nm and at most 50 nm is at most 0.0055 cm3/g. Of such electrolytic manganese dioxide, the volume of pores having a pore diameter of at least 2 nm and at most 200 nm is preferably at most 0.0555 cm3/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazumasa Suetsugu, Kazuo Sekitani
  • Publication number: 20150030927
    Abstract: Provided are polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide particles represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a method of preparing the same: Li(1+x)Mn(2-x-y-f)AlyMfO(4-z)??<Chemical Formula 1> where M is sodium (Na), or two or more mixed elements including Na, 1?x?0.2, 0<y?0.2, 0<f?0.2, and 0?z?0.2. According to an embodiment of the present invention, limitations, such as the Jahn-Teller distortion and the dissolution of Mn2+, may be addressed by structurally stabilizing the polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide particles. Thus, life characteristics and charge and discharge capacity characteristics of a secondary battery may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ick Soon Kwak, Seung Beom Cho, Hwa Seok Chae
  • Publication number: 20150030928
    Abstract: Provided are a cathode active material including polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide and a boron-containing coating layer on a surface of the polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide, and a method preparing the same. Since the cathode active material according to an embodiment of the present invention may prevent direct contact between the polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide and an electrolyte solution by including the boron-containing coating layer on the surface of the polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide, the cathode active material may prevent side reactions between the cathode active material and the electrolyte solution. In addition, since limitations, such as the Jahn-Teller distortion and the dissolution of Mn2+, may be addressed by structurally stabilizing the polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide, tap density, life characteristics, and charge and discharge capacity characteristics of a secondary battery may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ick Soon Kwak, Seung Beom Cho, Hwa Seok Chae
  • Publication number: 20150030929
    Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes that contain active materials of the formula: NaaXbMcM?d(condensed polyanion)e(anion)f; where X is one or more of Na+, Li+ and K+; M is one or more transition metals; M? is one or more non-transition metals; and where a>b; c>0; d?0; e?1 and f?0. Such electrodes are useful in, for example, sodium ion battery applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Jeremy Barker
  • Publication number: 20150030930
    Abstract: Nano-colloids of near monodisperse, carbon-coated SnO2 nano-colloids. There are also carbon-coated SnO2 nanoparticles. There are also SnO2/carbon composite hollow spheres as well as an anode of a Li-ion battery having the nano-colloids. There is also a method for synthesizing SnO2 nano-colloids. There are also coaxial SnO2@carbon hollow nanospheres, a method for making coaxial SnO2@carbon hollow nanospheres and an anode of a Li-ion battery formed from the coaxial SnO2@carbon hollow nanospheres.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Lynden A. Archer, Xiong Wen Lou
  • Publication number: 20150030931
    Abstract: The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 10 provided by the present invention comprises a positive electrode 30, a negative electrode 50 and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode 50 includes a negative electrode current collector 52 and a negative electrode active material layer 54 formed on the current collector 52, the negative electrode active material layer 54 containing a negative electrode active material 55 capable of storing and releasing charge carriers and having shape anisotropy so that the charge carriers are stored and released along a predefined direction. The negative electrode active material layer 54 includes, at a bottom thereof contacting the current collector 52, a minute conductive material 57 with granular shape and/or minute conductive material 57 with fibrous shape having an average particle diameter that is smaller than that of the negative electrode active material 55, and includes, at the bottom thereof; a part of the negative electrode active material 55.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Takahata, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Yoshiyuki Ozaki, Yukihiro Okada, Kenji Tsuchiya, Masanori Kitayoshi, Naoyuki Wada
  • Publication number: 20150030932
    Abstract: A method for producing an alkali-metal-including active material by pre-doping an active material with an alkali metal ion includes: mixing the alkali metal, an organic solvent with which the alkali metal is solvated, and a ligand having an electrophilic substitution reactivity to produce an alkali metal complex; and contacting and reacting the alkali metal complex and the active material with each other to pre-dope the active material with the alkali metal ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Shuhei Yoshida, Daisuke Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150030933
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator for an electrochemical cell, preferably a lithium ion battery, comprising a porous layer which comprises at least one block copolymer having three or more polymer blocks and at least one aluminum oxide or hydroxide, a lithium ion battery comprising such a separator, and a method for producing such a separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Klaus Goetzen, Axel Niemoeller, Manfred Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20150030934
    Abstract: A metal foil electrode comprising i) a reinforcement layer formed from a porous substrate, and ii) first and second layers of metal foil formed comprising lithium and/or sodium, wherein the reinforcement layer is disposed between the first and second metal foil layers and bonded (preferably pressure bonded) together to form a composite structure having a thickness of 100 microns or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Vladimir Kolosnitsyn, Elena Karaseva
  • Publication number: 20150030935
    Abstract: To provide a battery electrode substrate sheet capable of reducing a waste part, in which a defect part is included, of an electrode active material coating film coated on a collector. A battery electrode substrate sheet includes a strip-shaped collector 101, an electrode active material coating film 103 formed on the collector in a longitudinal direction thereof, and an insulating protective film 107 formed on an electrode active material non-coating surface of the collector so as to extend along the coating film in the longitudinal direction thereof. A defect sign part 105 that indicates a portion at which a defective part 104a of the coating film exists is formed on the insulating protective film 107.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Ukita
  • Publication number: 20150030936
    Abstract: Composite particles for an electrochemical device electrode including an electrode active material and a binding agent and having surfaces thereof coated with an external additive A, wherein at least one kind of the external additive A has a powder resistance of less than 10 ?·cm, and, in the case where three axial diameters of the external additive A are a length diameter LA, a thickness tA, and a width bA, the length diameter LA is 0.1 to 5 ?m and a ratio (bA/tA) between the width bA and the thickness tA is 5 or more and less than 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Taku Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20150030937
    Abstract: Nonaqueous electrolyte for high energy Li-ion batteries or batteries with lithium metal anode, in which the composition of additives are introduced to increase specific characteristics of lithium batteries including stability of the parameters during cycling and security of the battery operations, when the composition of the additives comprises the compounds from the class of esters, low molecular weight silicon quaternary ammonium salts, and macromolecular polymer organosilicon quaternary ammonium salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: ENERIZE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Elena Shembel, Irina M. Maksyuta, Volodymyr Redko, Tymofiy V. Pastushkin
  • Publication number: 20150030938
    Abstract: An ion conducting glass-ceramics represented by the general formula (I): Na2S—MxSy—NaSb, wherein M and N are different and selected from P, Si, Ge, B, Al and Ga; x, y, a and b are integers indicating the stoichiometric ratio depending on the species of M and N; and the content of Na2S is more than 60 mol % and less than 80 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: OSAKA PREFECTURE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akitoshi HAYASHI, Masahiro TATSUMISAGO
  • Publication number: 20150030939
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of lithium-2-pentafluoroethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-ethanesulfonate as a conductive salt in lithium-based energy stores and to electrolytes containing lithium-2-pentafluoroethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-ethanesulfonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Marius Amereller, René Schmitz, Raphael Wilhelm Schmitz, Ansgar Romek Müller, Martin Winter, Christian Schreiner, Miriam Kunze, Stefano Passerini
  • Publication number: 20150030940
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium air battery system, and more particularly, a lithium air battery system capable of stably and continuously operating a lithium air battery by recovering an electrolytic solution evaporated in the lithium air battery and injecting the recovered electrolytic solution into the lithium air battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung Gu Park, Kyong Sik Kim, Hee Young Sun, Dock Young Yoon, Sang Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20150030941
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a permeable fuel electrode configured to support a metal fuel thereon, and an oxidant reduction electrode spaced from the fuel electrode. An ionically conductive medium is provided for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A charging electrode is also included, selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant reduction electrode, (b) a separate charging electrode spaced from the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, and (c) a portion of the permeable fuel electrode. The charging electrode is configured to evolve gaseous oxygen bubbles that generate a flow of the ionically conductive medium. One or more flow diverters are also provided in the electrochemical cell, and configured to direct the flow of the ionically conductive medium at least partially through the permeable fuel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Cody A. FRIESEN, Ramkumar Krishnan, Grant Friesen, Joel Hayes
  • Publication number: 20150030942
    Abstract: Disclosed are crew rests that may be powered by the outputs of a fuel cell system or other suitable power source. For example, but not limited to, a combination of the water, oxygen-depleted air, thermal energy and/or electrical energy generated by the fuel cell system may be used to supply the crew rest with its various power and water needs, helping to make the crew rest autonomous from the aircraft's main power systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Driessen Aerospace Group N.V.
    Inventors: Adriaan Eijkelenboom, Andreas Metz, Lucas Nastase, Robert Ratliff
  • Publication number: 20150030943
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a reformer to generate a fuel gas from a raw material gas, reforming water, and air supplied to the reformer; an SOFC to generate electric power through a power-generating reaction by utilizing the fuel gas and air; a combustor to combust an anode off gas discharged from the SOFC; a hot module housing the reformer, the SOFC, and the combustor, which are covered with a heat insulating material; and a hydrodesulfurizer to remove a sulfur component from the raw material gas by hydrodesulfurization. The anode off gas is supplied to the combustor and the hydrodesulfurizer in a distributed manner. The hydrodesulfurizer performs the hydrodesulfurization of the raw material gas by utilizing the anode off gas as a hydrogen source and utilizing an exhaust gas discharged from the hot module as a heat source, the exhaust gas containing at least combustion heat from the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Susumu Kobayashi, Kunihiro Ukai, Yuuichi Yakumaru
  • Publication number: 20150030944
    Abstract: A fuel cell using biogas as a fuel is provided, in which the fuel cell is supplied with a first gas required at a fuel electrode and a second gas required at an air electrode, which are separated from the biogas by a selective permeation method using a separation membrane of a gas-purification separation unit, and supplies gas discharged from the fuel cell along with the biogas to the gas-purification separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Choa Mun YUN, Sung Hoon KIM, Won Joon CHOI, In Gab CHANG
  • Publication number: 20150030945
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided, including a fuel cell stack with a plurality of cathodes (30) and anodes (34), wherein an oxidizing gas containing oxygen is feedable to the stack on the cathode side and a fuel gas is feedable to the stack on the anode side, and a reformer for generating the fuel gas from a fuel. The fuel cell stack includes a catalytically active material (42) which is arranged in the anode-side regions such that the fuel gas flows through the material upstream of the anode (34), wherein the catalytically active material catalyzes the reaction of carbon monoxide and water to carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kiefer, Marco Hoffmann, André Weber, Claus-Peter Kluge
  • Publication number: 20150030946
    Abstract: Fuel cell systems and related methods involving accumulators with multiple regions of differing water fill rates are provided. At least one accumulator region with a relatively more-rapid fill rate than another accumulator region is drained of water at shutdown under freezing conditions to allow at least that region to be free of water and ice. That region is then available to receive water from and supply water to, a fuel cell nominally upon start-up. The region having the relatively more-rapid fill rate may typically be of relatively lesser volume, and may be positioned either relatively below or relatively above the other region(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Robert M. Darling, Timothy W. Patterson, JR., Michael L. Perry, Jonathan O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20150030947
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system (10) comprises a solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) and a gas turbine engine (14), a compressor (24) of the gas turbine engine (14) is arranged to supply oxidant to the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) and a fuel supply (32) is arranged to supply fuel to the anodes (20) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12). A portion of the unused oxidant from the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) is supplied back to the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12). A portion of the unused fuel from the anodes (20) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) is supplied to a combustor (52). A portion of the unused oxidant from the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) is supplied to the combustor (52) and the combustor (52) is arranged to supply exhaust gases to a first inlet (68) of a heat exchanger (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE FUEL CELL SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Gary Saunders, Michele Bozzolo, Philip Butler, Gerard Agnew
  • Publication number: 20150030948
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a pressure regulating valve for controlling a pressure of an anode gas, a purge valve for controlling a discharge amount of an anode off-gas, the purge valve being configured to change an opening area thereof at least on two stages, a pulsation operation control means configured to control the pressure regulating valve so that the pressure of the anode gas in a fuel cell when a load is high becomes higher than when the load is low, and so that the pressure of the anode gas is periodically increased and decreased at a predetermined load, and a purge valve control means configured to increase the opening area of the purge valve used during a descending transition operation so that the opening area becomes larger than the opening area used during other operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Keigo Ikezoe, Hayato Chikugo, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20150030949
    Abstract: The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of planar power generation cells are stacked in a thickness direction thereof. The fuel cell also includes a heat exchanger provided between the two adjacent power generation cells in the stacking direction and in contact with the power generation cells, and including an internal first flow path that passes the oxidant gas or fuel gas supplied from outside. The fuel cell also includes a second flow path connected to an outlet side of the first flow path of the heat exchanger and to the cathode side or the anode side of each of the power generation cells, and supplying the oxidant gas or fuel gas that has passed through the first flow path to the cathode side or anode side of each of the power generation cells on both sides in the stacking direction of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Ishikawa, Hideki Uematsu, Hiroya Ishikawa, Takeshi Ohno, Takafumi Shichida, Shunsuke Tsuga
  • Publication number: 20150030950
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly comprising an enclosure having a fuel cell stack mounted therein, and an inlet opening into the enclosure. The fuel cell stack having an inlet face for receiving coolant/oxidant fluid. The fuel cell assembly further comprises a delivery gallery extending from the inlet in the enclosure to the inlet face of the fuel cell stack, the delivery gallery having a first region and a second region separated by an aperture. The delivery gallery and aperture are configured such that, in use, coolant/oxidant fluid within the first region of the delivery gallery is turbulent, and coolant/oxidant fluid within the second region of the delivery gallery has a generally uniform pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Hood, Christopher James Gurney
  • Publication number: 20150030951
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly comprising an enclosure having a fuel cell stack mounted therein. The fuel cell stack has an inlet face for receiving coolant/oxidant fluid and an outlet face for expelling said coolant/oxidant fluid. The fuel cell stack further includes a pair of end faces extending transversely between the inlet face and outlet face. The enclosure defines a flow path for the coolant/oxidant fluid that is configured to guide the coolant/oxidant fluid to the inlet face, from the outlet face, and over at least one of the end faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventors: David Peter Hood, Christopher James Gurney
  • Publication number: 20150030952
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for dynamically controlling seal decompression. The method includes monitoring a set of parameters associated with an operation of a seal, wherein the set of parameters includes a maximum pressure subjected to the seal and an exposure time at the maximum pressure, calculating a target pressure ramp down rate based on at least one of the maximum pressure and the exposure time, and decreasing a pressure about the seal at a decompression rate that is based on the target pressure ramp down rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NUVERA FUEL CELLS, INC.
    Inventor: Scott Blanchet
  • Publication number: 20150030953
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a compressor, a cathode flow passage, a bypass flow passage branching from the cathode flow passage, thereby bypassing the stack, a bypass valve adjusting a bypass flow rate, a stack flow rate sensor detecting a flow rate to the stack, and a compressor flow rate sensor detecting a flow rate into the compressor. A flow rate for the stack depending on a state of a fuel cell and a flow rate the compressor controls depending on a requirement different from that of the stack are calculated. A control unit controls, when the flow rate required from the compressor is more than that required by the stack, the compressor based on the flow rate required from the compressor and a detected compressor flow rate, and controls the bypass valve based on the flow rate required by the stack and a detected stack flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Asai, Hiroshi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20150030954
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a redox flow secondary battery. The redox flow secondary battery of the present invention comprises a unit cell including a pair of electrodes made of a porous metal, wherein the surface of the porous metal is coated with carbon. According to the present invention, a redox flow secondary battery using porous metal electrodes uniformly coated with carbon is provided, thus improving conductivity of the electrodes, and the electrodes have surfaces uniformly coated with a carbon layer having a wide specific surface area, thus improving reactivity. As a result, capacity of the redox flow secondary battery and energy efficiency can be improved and resistance of a cell can be effectively reduced. Further, the electrodes are uniformly coated with a carbon layer, thus also improving corrosion resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Youngjun Kim, Kijae Kim, Minsik Park, Jeahun Kim
  • Publication number: 20150030955
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a frame arranged on an outer periphery portion of the membrane electrode assembly, and a separator defining a gas flow channel between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly and between the separator and the frame. A diffuser portion which is a part of the gas flow channel, is formed between the separator and the frame. An electrode layer includes a metal porous body which is an electrode surface layer and has gas permeability. The metal porous body has at an end portion thereof, an extension part covering a region corresponding to the diffuser portion of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoki Yaginuma, Toshikazu Kotaka
  • Publication number: 20150030956
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a cell stack device, the power generation efficiency of which is improved, and a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device that include the cell stack device. [Solution] A cell stack device 1 includes a cell stack 2 that includes a plurality of fuel cells 3 electrically connected to one another and arranged, the fuel cells 3 that each includes a gas channel through which a reactant gas flows. In the cell stack device 1, the fuel cells 3 of the cell stack 2 are provided in the form of fuel cell groups that each include an arbitrary number of the fuel cells 3. In the cell stack device 1, the fuel cell groups are arranged such that average pressure loss values of the fuel cells 3 of the fuel cell groups increase sequentially from a central portion to an end portion side in a fuel cell 3 arrangement direction. Thus, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device 1 can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Naruto Takahashi, Takashi Ono
  • Publication number: 20150030957
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a pair of bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly between the bipolar plates. The membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and a proton exchange membrane disposed therebetween. The cell further includes a sealing surface formed in one of the pair of bipolar plates and a gasket located between the sealing surface and the proton exchange membrane. The gasket is configured to plastically deform to create a seal about one of the cathode compartment or the anode compartment. The sealing surface can include one or more protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NUVERA FUEL CELLS, INC.
    Inventors: Roger VAN BOEYEN, Edward DOMIT, Kevin BEVERAGE, Scott BLANCHET, John STANG