Humidification Or Dehumidification Patents (Class 429/413)
  • Patent number: 11955673
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time continuous monitoring of fuel cell membrane degradation are provided. At least one microsensor can be used as an inline sensor integrated at the cathode exhaust and/or the anode exhaust of a fuel cell, such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)). The microsensor can monitor the PEMFC degradation status by sensing the emission of fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventors: Dongmei Dong, Shekhar Bhansali, Tinsley Benhaddouch, Christopher Metler, John Marcial, Justin Fuentes
  • Patent number: 11946952
    Abstract: A measurement arrangement, including a current line, a first measurement location provided on the current line, a second measurement location provided on the current line, and a coolant, wherein the second measurement location is provided at a distance from the first measurement location in order to make it possible to measure a voltage in a measurement section of the current line arising due to a current flowing through the current line, wherein the measurement section is defined between the first measurement location and the second measurement location, and wherein the coolant is of fluid form and at least in areas is in direct contact with the current line in an area between the first measurement location and the second measurement location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Patrick Fuchs, Maximilian Barkow, Timijan Velic, Sebastian Wachter
  • Patent number: 11923585
    Abstract: An inlet header having: an inner end, an outer end, a plurality of segments therebetween, including: an outer segment that extends from the outer end to a first intermediate end, the outer segment defines a cylindrical profile; a first intermediate segment that forms an outer elbow and extends from the first intermediate end to a second intermediate end, the second intermediate end has a rectangular shape, and the first intermediate segment increases in width proportionally as it extends toward the second intermediate end; a second intermediate segment that extends from the second intermediate end to a third intermediate end, the third intermediate end has a rectangular shape, and the second intermediate segment increases in width and height proportionally as it extends toward the third intermediate end; and an inner segment that forms an inner elbow and extends from the third intermediate end to the inner end of the inlet header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Andrzej E. Kuczek
  • Patent number: 11888188
    Abstract: A fuel cartridge includes an inlet manifold and a plurality of fuel beds containing a hydride material. A first end of each of the fuel beds is coupled to the inlet manifold to receive wet hydrogen via the inlet manifold. An outlet manifold is coupled to a second end of each of the fuel beds to receive dry hydrogen from the fuel beds. The fuel beds are laterally spaced from each other providing space for flow of coolant fluid therebetween. Valves may be included in the inlet and outlet manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bryant Koeneman, Jeffrey Michael Klein, Steven J. Eickhoff, Gustav Rustan
  • Patent number: 11881604
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell, a fuel gas supplier configured to supply fuel gas to an anode of the fuel cell, an oxidant gas supplier configured to supply oxidant gas to a cathode of the fuel cell, a humidity adjuster configured to adjust a relative humidity of the fuel gas and a relative humidity of the oxidant gas, and a controller, wherein the controller detects the relative humidity of the fuel gas at an anode inlet of the fuel cell, and the controller detects the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at a cathode outlet of the fuel cell, and wherein, based on detection results, the controller controls the humidity adjuster so that the relative humidity of the fuel gas at the anode inlet is higher than the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at the cathode outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Ando, Toshihiko Yoshida, Adam Z. Weber
  • Patent number: 11855320
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for detecting a hydrogen leak in a fuel cell system including initiating a shutdown process of a fuel cell stack in the fuel cell system by a controller, measuring a volume of hydrogen in a reservoir, pulsing a volume of hydrogen into the reservoir or pulsing hydrogen directly into the fuel cell stack if the volume of hydrogen is insufficient to sustain a voltage discharge process during the shutdown process, making the fuel cell system enter a discharge state by the controller, wherein hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell stack are consumed in an electrochemical reaction to discharge voltage in the fuel cell stack, measuring a rate of the voltage discharge by the controller, and detecting the hydrogen leak based on the rate of the voltage discharge or via negative pressure measurements made at the anode inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sonia Sorbera, Robert Bencak, Prabhsimran Malhi, Luke Fregonese
  • Patent number: 11843146
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell, a fuel gas supplier configured to supply fuel gas to an anode of the fuel cell, an oxidant gas supplier configured to supply oxidant gas to a cathode of the fuel cell, a humidity adjuster configured to adjust a relative humidity of the fuel gas and a relative humidity of the oxidant gas, and a controller, wherein the controller detects the relative humidity of the fuel gas at an anode inlet of the fuel cell, and the controller detects the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at a cathode outlet of the fuel cell, and wherein, based on detection results, the controller controls the humidity adjuster so that the relative humidity of the fuel gas at the anode inlet is higher than the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at the cathode outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Ando, Toshihiko Yoshida, Adam Z. Weber
  • Patent number: 11777125
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one of plural electrochemical pump separators to separate carbon dioxide from a fuel exhaust stream or a combination of a gas separator and a fuel exhaust cooler located outside a hotbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Matthias Gottmann, Jayakumar Krishnadass, Chockkalingam Karuppaiah, Arne Ballantine, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Martin Perry, John Fisher, Greg Young
  • Patent number: 11695135
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for optimizing water discharge in fuel cell vehicles. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a blower for purging water from the fuel cell stack and a controller. The controller detects that an ambient temperature satisfies a threshold temperature. The controller determines the fuel cell vehicle is approaching a stopping location. The controller calculates a water discharge time prediction necessary to purge excess water from the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell vehicle is operating in response to detecting that the ambient temperature satisfies the threshold temperature and the fuel cell vehicle is approaching the stopping location. The water discharge time prediction is calculated based on the blower operating while the fuel cell stack is in at least one of an idle state and a stopped state as the fuel cell vehicle approaches the stopping location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Lee
  • Patent number: 11688869
    Abstract: A method conditions a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system during a usage operation of the fuel cell system. The method determines that a conditioning of the fuel cell stack is to be carried out for increasing an electrical power provided by the fuel cell stack during usage operation. In addition, the method adjusts at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell system in order to increase a current flow through the fuel cell stack for conditioning the fuel cell stack during usage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Frank David
  • Patent number: 11688863
    Abstract: A fuel-cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes: a system module having one or more fuel-cell stacks, a first reformer for converting at least some of hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen, and supplying the hydrogen to the fuel-cell stacks, and a housing for receiving the fuel-cell stacks, and the first reformer therein; and a start-up module disposed outside the housing, and removably coupled to the system module, wherein the start-up module supplies hydrogen-containing fuel to the fuel-cell stacks until a temperature of the fuel-cell stack reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MICO POWER LTD.
    Inventors: Song Ho Choi, Byoung Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 11637300
    Abstract: A controller for a fuel cell based power generator includes a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive a pressure in an anode loop of the fuel cell based power generator, wherein the anode loop includes a hydrogen generator and an anode loop blower, and control the anode loop blower such that the hydrogen generator provides hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell via the blower and the anode loop at a controlled pressure. In further embodiments, the temperatures of the fuel cell and hydrogen generator are independently controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Klein, Jong Park, Steven J. Eickhoff, Paul Bryant Koeneman, Gustav Rustan
  • Patent number: 11560234
    Abstract: A lightweight, high power density, fault-tolerant fuel cell system, method, and apparatus for full-scale clean fuel electric-powered aircraft having a fuel cell module including a plurality of fuel cells working together to process gaseous oxygen from air compressed by turbochargers, superchargers, blowers or local oxygen supply and gaseous hydrogen from liquid hydrogen transformed by heat exchangers, with an electrical circuit configured to collect electrons from the plurality of hydrogen fuel cells to supply voltage and current to motor controllers commanded by autopilot control units configured to select and control an amount and distribution of electrical voltage and torque or current for each of the plurality of motor and propeller assemblies, wherein electrons returning from the electrical circuit combine with oxygen in the compressed air to form oxygen ions, then the protons combine with oxygen ions to form H2O molecules and heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Alakai Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Morrison
  • Patent number: 11508980
    Abstract: A distributed fault management system includes at least one sensor associated with a fuel cell system and at least one first fault management computing device coupled to the at least one sensor. The at least one first fault management computing device is configured to receive data associated with a first fault condition. The at least one first fault management computing device is further configured to generate a resolution to the first fault condition and transmit at least one resolution command signal to at least one second fault management computing device. The at least one resolution command signal configures the at least one second fault management computing device to use the resolution to resolve a second fault condition in a similar manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: John Guido Piccirillo, Rebecca Dinan Zoracki, Patrick Hammel Hart, Ralph Teichmann, Honggang Wang
  • Patent number: 11495811
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an inlet pipe configured to guide a fuel gas injected from an injector to a fuel cell stack, and a gas liquid separator configured to perform gas liquid separation of a fuel exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack. The gas liquid separator is directly coupled to a lower portion of the inlet pipe. A connection channel configured to connect the inside of the gas liquid separator and a channel in the inlet pipe together is formed in a part coupling the gas liquid separator and the inlet pipe together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryoichi Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 11456478
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a stack case storing a fuel cell stack, and an auxiliary device case containing a fuel gas system device and an oxygen-containing gas system device. The auxiliary device case covers the fuel gas system device in a manner to protect the fuel gas system device against the external load, and includes a first case member provided with a mount fixed to a vehicle body frame, and a second case member made of material having specific gravity smaller than that of the first case member, and covers at least the oxygen-containing gas system device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryoichi Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 11400833
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a fuel cell system including a gas liquid separation unit for separating gas and liquid and discharging the separated liquid. The fuel cell vehicle includes an acceleration sensor for detecting information regarding acceleration, and a control unit for estimating the discharge state of the liquid from the gas liquid separation unit based on the information regarding acceleration. Based on acceleration applied to the liquid in the gas liquid separation unit, the control unit can estimate whether the liquid is discharged from the gas liquid separation unit or the liquid is not discharged and remains as the remaining liquid in the gas liquid separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Okamura, Tetsuya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11387470
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack is provided. The electrochemical cell stack has a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each electrochemical cell has a membrane electrode assembly which includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the catalyst layer and the anode layer. Each electrochemical cell also has an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode flow field includes a porous structure having a plurality of pores having an average pore size. The plurality of electrochemical cells has a first electrochemical cell positioned at a first end of the electrochemical cell stack. The porous structure of the first electrochemical cell has an average pore size greater than the average pore size of the porous structures of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Filippo Gambini, Scott Blanchet, Olga Polevaya, Edward Domit, Andrew Baugher, Patrick Burand
  • Patent number: 11362349
    Abstract: A process for starting a PEM fuel cell module includes blowing air through the cathode side of the module using external power. An amount hydrogen is released into the anode side of the module under a pressure greater than the pressure of the air on the cathode side, while the anode is otherwise closed. Cell voltages in the module are monitored for the appearance of a charged state sufficient to start the module. When the charged state is observed, the module is converted to a running state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Paolo Forte, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11353222
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air-water extraction system that includes a water selective membrane configured to transport water from humid air via selective diffusion through the water selective membrane; a low pressure chamber in fluid communication with the water selective membrane and a hydrogen gas inlet configured to deliver a dry hydrogen to the low pressure gas chamber, a membrane and electrode assembly comprising an anode, a proton exchange membrane, a cathode, and a power supply; wherein the anode is in fluid communication with the low pressure chamber, a high pressure chamber in fluid communication with the cathode for receiving a saturated hydrogen and a liquid water from the cathode; a water conduit in fluid communication with the high pressure chamber configured to remove the liquid water from the high pressure chamber, and a hydrogen conduit for removing the saturated hydrogen from the high pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SKYRE, INC.
    Inventors: Trent M. Molter, Joshua S. Preston
  • Patent number: 11322758
    Abstract: A method for reducing cell degradation in a fuel cell system includes adding oxygen-containing gas to a fuel in the anode chamber to prevent an increase in a cell voltage above a predetermined maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Miriam Stiefel, Lasse Schmidt, Gerold Hübner
  • Patent number: 11309719
    Abstract: A battery for a motor vehicle, having multiple battery cells which include respective battery cell housings with electric terminals via which the battery cells are electrically connected to one another. In the battery cell housings, in each case a cell branch connecting the terminals, with a galvanic cell, is arranged, and in each case several of the battery cells are connected to one another in parallel connection to form respective cell blocks. Each cell branch includes a switching element for opening and closing the cell branch; the battery has a control device which is configured in order to actuate the switching elements of the cell branches for opening or closing the switching elements as a function of a performance requirement of an electric drive of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Berthold Hellenthal
  • Patent number: 11309557
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fuel cell stack and corresponding method of operating the fuel cell stack. The method comprises: determining a maximum allowable current that may be drawn from the fuel cell stack; repeatedly determining a magnitude of change to the prevailing maximum allowable current based on a prevailing allowable current ramp rate and an actual measured current of the fuel cell stack; updating the maximum allowable current according to the periodically determined magnitude of change; and controlling operating parameters of the fuel cell stack according to the prevailing maximum allowable current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventor: Jeremy Bowman
  • Patent number: 11309561
    Abstract: A temperature distribution control system for a fuel cell provided with a cell stack including a power generation unit that generates power by causing, in a fuel battery cell formed of a laminate of an air electrode, a solid electrolyte, and a fuel electrode, an oxidizing gas flowing on the air electrode side and a fuel gas flowing on the fuel electrode side to react with each other. The temperature distribution control system is provided with a temperature measurement unit which measures the temperature of a fuel gas supply part in the power generation unit; and a control unit which, on the basis of the result of measurement performed by the temperature measurement unit, controls the temperature of the fuel gas supply part to within an appropriate temperature range set in advance, thereby controlling a temperature distribution state in a fuel gas flow direction in the power generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Irie, Takuma Nagai
  • Patent number: 11309613
    Abstract: Organized materials on a substrate. The organized materials are monolayer(s) of close-packed nanoparticles and/or microparticles. The organized materials can be formed by transfer of one or more monolayers to a substrate from a coating composition on which a monolayer of close-packed nanoparticles and/or microparticles is formed. Organized materials on a substrate can be used in devices such as, for example, batteries, capacitors, and wearable electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mun Sek Kim, Snehashis Choudhury, Lin Ma, Lynden A. Archer
  • Patent number: 11302940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for shutting down a generator unit (1) comprising a fuel cell device (100) having the steps (a) shutdown of a current generation via a control unit (510); (b) detection of at least one anode temperature of an anode (122) of the fuel cell device (100), in particular during a cool-down process; (c) blocking of an escape of carbon monoxide from an anode chamber (120) in which the anode (122) is arranged at least partially, in particular, at least for the most part, completely, if the anode temperature is higher than the first limit temperature T1; (d) at least partial removal of carbon monoxide from an anode chamber (120) in which the anode (122) is arranged at least in part, in particular, at least for the most part, completely, if the anode temperature falls below a first limit temperature T1. The present invention further relates to a generator unit (1), a vehicle having this generator unit (1) and a use of this generator unit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: AVL List GmbH, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jörg Mathé, Daiki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11302941
    Abstract: A pressure-based latching switch includes a shuttle valve, a first valve and a second valve. The shuttle valve may switch a fuel through one of a first port and a second port in response to a greater pressure of the fuel at the ports. The first valve may switch a fuel to the first port while a second pressure of the fuel at the second port is less than a second threshold pressure. The second valve may switch the fuel to the second port while a first pressure of the fuel at the first port is less than a first threshold pressure. The pressure-based latching switch may change the fuel supplied to the fuel cell system automatically from a first fuel tank to a second fuel tank in response to the first pressure of the fuel falling below the first threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raffaello Ardanese, Kristopher A. Thor, Amber T. Vanness, Mark A. Leavitt
  • Patent number: 11296343
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a stack of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells defining a body, the body including a coolant inlet and coolant outlet, a cathode inlet and cathode outlet corresponding to a cathode, an anode inlet and an anode outlet corresponding to an anode. The fuel cell system also includes a cathode humidifier fluidly connected to the cathode inlet to provide a humidified inlet stream to the cathode inlet, an oxygen sensor positioned upstream of the cathode inlet and downstream of the cathode humidifier, and configured to measure oxygen content of the humidified inlet stream, and a controller connected to the cathode humidifier and the oxygen sensor and configured to operate the cathode humidifier based on the oxygen content of the humidified inlet stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seha Son, Richard E. Soltis, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, William Frederick Sanderson
  • Patent number: 11283097
    Abstract: Improved membrane electrode assemblies, cation-associating components thereof, and methods of making and treating the same are provided. Membrane electrode assemblies may include an ionomer having a first pKa value, and a water-insoluble net polymer having a weakly-acidic functional group, wherein the weakly-acidic functional group has a second pKa value greater than the first pKa value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventors: John Slack, Andrew Baker
  • Patent number: 11251442
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas liquid separator provided downstream of a humidifier in an oxygen-containing gas inlet channel, a fuel exhaust gas inlet channel for guiding a fuel exhaust gas containing liquid water discharged from a fuel cell stack to the gas liquid separator. The gas liquid separator performs gas liquid separation of both of an oxygen-containing gas humidified by the humidifier and the fuel exhaust gas containing the liquid water guided from the fuel exhaust gas inlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhei Horiuchi, Koichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11245121
    Abstract: A humidifier includes plural separators each formed in a plate shape, the separator including a flow path on each of a front side and a back side thereof, and a water exchanging film sandwiched between the separators at a boundary thereof which are adjacent to each other in a state where the plural separators are stacked on each other. Humidified gas flows in one of the flow paths facing each other with the water exchanging film therebetween, and dry gas flows in the other of the flow paths. The water exchanging film is formed in an elongated shape, and different areas of the water exchanging film are sandwiched by the separators at plural boundaries thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Guan
  • Patent number: 11201338
    Abstract: A fuel cell exhaust device includes a pipe having one side open and the other side closed, a water tank having one side open and the other side closed, a reformer exhaust pipe communicating with the pipe between one side and the other side of the pipe, a stack exhaust pipe which is spaced apart from the reformer exhaust pipe and communicates with the pipe between one side and the other side of the pipe, a drain pipe positioned adjacent to the reformer exhaust pipe or the stack exhaust pipe and disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the water tank to communicate with the inside of the water tank, and a hole defined on the closed other side of the pipe and spaced apart from the closed other side of the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoungsuk Woo, Dongkeun Yang, Woojin Cho
  • Patent number: 11152637
    Abstract: A fuel cell including a plurality of elementary modules stacked on each other, at least one of the elementary modules including an oxidation unit generating electrons by oxidation of a fuel with an oxidant, an anode block including a fuel transporter support, for transporting an anode feed flow containing the fuel to an anode chamber, onto which is attached an anode electron collector, a cathode block including an oxidant transporter support, for transporting a cathode feed flow containing the oxidant to a cathode chamber, onto which is attached a cathode electron collector, the elementary module defining the anode chamber, respectively, the cathode chamber between the oxidation unit and the fuel transporter support, respectively, the oxidant transporter support, and being such that, prior to the assembly of the elementary module in said plurality, the anode block, respectively, the cathode block and the oxidation unit are attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Vincent Faucheux, Olivier Blanchot, Philippe Capron, Jessica Thery
  • Patent number: 11127962
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and a fuel cell vehicle that prevent deformation of a fuel cell case when an external force is applied are provided. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell case configured to contain a fuel cell; and an auxiliary device fixed to a side surface of the fuel cell case. The auxiliary device includes: a first support part fixed to the fuel cell case; a second support part fixed to the fuel cell case at a position spaced apart from the first support part; and a main body part supported by the first support part and the second support part spaced apart from the fuel cell case. The first support part is broken before the second support part is broken when an external force is applied to the main body part in a direction approaching the fuel cell case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumiaki Takasaki, Hirofumi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 11108066
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that generates power due to a chemical reaction between fuel gas and oxidant gas, and an ejector that includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle having injection ports with different diameters, respectively, the injection ports injecting the fuel gas. The ejector introduces off gas recirculated from the fuel cell to the fuel cell together with the fuel gas. The fuel cell system also includes a heating unit that heats the ejector. The diameter of the injection port of the second nozzle is smaller than that of the first nozzle, and the heating unit is arranged on the side of the second nozzle of the ejector out of the first nozzle and the second nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11081715
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a voltage detector; a current detector; an alternating current signal supply unit; a phase difference calculation unit configured to calculate, based on detected alternating voltage and detected alternating current, a phase difference between the detected alternating current and the detected alternating voltage; and an estimation unit configured to estimate, in accordance with the phase difference, an electric power generation distribution feature amount representing an electric power generation distribution in a cell surface of the fuel cell, with use of a predetermined relationship between the electric power generation distribution feature amount and the phase difference. The electric power generation distribution feature amount includes a value indicating a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of local current density in the cell surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Mizutani, Shigeki Hasegawa, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11081711
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling water imbalance in an electrochemical cell is provided. The method includes determining a present water imbalance in the electrochemical cell by summing a waterin and a watercreated less a waterout. Waterin represents an amount of water introduced into the electrochemical cell by an oxidant feed gas; watercreated represents an amount of water created by the electrochemical cell from the electrochemical reaction; and waterout represents an amount of water discharged from the electrochemical cell by an oxidant exhaust gas. The method includes tracking a cumulative water imbalance during operation of the electrochemical cell by repeatedly determining the present water imbalance and continuing to sum the results during operation. And, the method also includes adjusting a flow rate of the oxidant feed gas entering the electrochemical cell based on the cumulative water imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Blanchet
  • Patent number: 11052763
    Abstract: An electric apparatus (air pump), which operates by receiving a power supply from a drive control apparatus (PDU) mounted in a fuel cell vehicle, includes a first connection terminal section configured to directly connect to the drive control apparatus, and a second connection terminal section configured to connect to the drive control apparatus via a cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yoshitomi, Takuma Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 11043688
    Abstract: A power module system includes a plurality of vertically stacked power modules. The plurality of vertically stacked power modules include at least two vertical stacks. A shared exhaust plenum is located between the at least two vertical stacks of power modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Ballantine, Jessica Mahler, Ross Parker, Gilbert Richards, Barry Sharpe, Sean Dunn, Santi Lara, John O'Toole, David Trevisan, Carl Cottuli, David Weingaertner, Daniel Baynes
  • Patent number: 11038181
    Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus including a fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly between an anode and a cathode, a first set of channels between the anode and the assembly, and a second set of channels between the cathode and the assembly. The first set of channels is spaced from and extends across a width of the second set of channels in a non-parallel configuration and at least one of the first or second set of channels are oriented to provide gravitationally assisted water removal; at least one of the first set or second set of channels has a shorter length than the other one of the first set and second set of channels; or at least one of the first set or second set of channels has intrusion regions that extend portions of the assembly into at least one of the first set or second set of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Satish G. Kandlikar
  • Patent number: 11024860
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system is provided. A fuel cell generates power, and a coolant system provides coolant flow through the stack. A controller is configured to, in response to at least one of an ambient temperature and a coolant temperature being below a threshold value after a vehicle shut down command or event, command the coolant system to circulate coolant through the stack to reduce ice formation in the stack prior to commanding a purge of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Riley, Craig Mathie, Milos Milacic
  • Patent number: 11005112
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an accumulator configured to store a fuel gas, a gas remaining quantity acquisition unit configured to obtain a remaining quantity of the fuel gas stored in the accumulator, and a power generation control unit. When the remaining quantity of the fuel gas stored in the accumulator is decreased to a threshold value, the power generation control unit performs switching from humid power generation control to dry power generation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaoki Inamoto, Kuniaki Ojima
  • Patent number: 10998571
    Abstract: The electrochemical cell stack assembly has electrochemical cell sub-stacks. A first and second electrochemical cell sub-stack are connected electrically in series and fluidly in parallel. The first and second electrochemical cell sub-stacks have electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cells have a membrane electrode assembly with an cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane therebetween. The electrochemical cells have an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, a cathode flow field, and the anode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Blanchet
  • Patent number: 10964962
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a water-containing state of a fuel cell stack includes steps of: applying an alternating current (AC) signal having a predetermined frequency to the fuel cell stack to calculate each of an electrolyte membrane impedance, an anode impedance, and a cathode impedance from an output voltage and an output current of the fuel cell stack corresponding to the AC signal; and diagnosing the water-containing state of the fuel cell stack on the basis of the electrolyte membrane impedance, the anode impedance, and the cathode impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Bok Won, Ki Chang Kim, Sung Ho Yang, Young Pin Jin
  • Patent number: 10957923
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle system and method inhibit formation of black ice on road surfaces at low temperatures as a result of exhaust water by treating the exhaust water prior to discharge with a deicing or antifreeze substance to lower the freezing point of the water. A metering device may meter a deicing or antifreeze substance, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, urea, or the like to be dissolved in the exhaust water that is produced during the production of energy. The vehicle may include a bypass valve that selectively bypasses the water treatment system when ambient conditions are not conducive to ice formation. The bypass valve is operated to direct exhaust flow to a condenser and water treatment system when ambient conditions are favorable to ice formation, with the deicing or antifreeze substance metered based on current or predicted ambient or road surface conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Guenter Hans Grosch, Thomas Werner Steinkopf, Stephan Strahl, Rainer Lach, Rolf Lorenz Loeffler
  • Patent number: 10955088
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel tank arrangement (100) for an internal combustion engine (2) of a vehicle, the fuel tank arrangement (100) comprising a fuel tank (101) for containing a combustible gas; wherein the fuel tank arrangement further comprises a combustible gas burning arrangement (106) for combustion of combustible gas, said combustible gas burning arrangement (106) being positioned in downstream fluid communication with the fuel tank (101) via a first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lennart Andersson, Marcus Leidefeldt, Ingemar Magnusson
  • Patent number: 10946712
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell unit with which is associated a first coolant circuit, with a second coolant circuit associated with the interior of the vehicle, in which is held a coolant of lower temperature relative to the coolant of the first coolant circuit. Given higher demand for cooling capacity in the first coolant circuit, a valve is opened by a control device, independently of the heat demand in the second coolant circuit, to open a first connecting conduit between the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit, and thus, using a second connecting conduit, forms a common ring conduit for the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit with the accumulated coolant from the first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Johannes Weis, Thomas Lichius, Thomas Weustenfeld
  • Patent number: 10930944
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling type fuel cell system and a cooling control method for the same are provided. The fuel cell system includes a stack that generates electric power by reacting hydrogen as fuel with air as an oxidant. The method includes adjusting an operation pressure of the stack based on a current operation temperature of the stack and adjusting the amount of water supplied to the stack from a water reservoir based on the current operation temperature. The water is supplied to a cathode of the stack. Thus, a compact-simplified fuel cell system is provided, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyuck-Roul Kwon
  • Patent number: 10923749
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a fuel cell that comprises at least one individual cell with a membrane and catalysts, wherein humidity within the fuel cell is actively influenced as a function of a voltage of the fuel cell, and the method further includes specifying an initial humidity at an initial operating-point-related voltage, and specifying a second humidity that is lower than the first humidity at a second operating-point-related voltage that is higher than the first operating-point-related voltage. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a fuel cell system that is configured to perform the method according to the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Julie Bellerive, Tommy Cheng, Andrew Desouza
  • Patent number: 10875052
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a large-area monolayer of solvent dispersed nanomaterials and method of producing same. The method of the disclosure includes dripping a nanomaterial solvent into a container filled with water whereby the nanomaterial being dripped collects at the air-water interface to produce the large-area monolayer. In one embodiment, different nanomaterial solvents can be dripped, at predetermined intervals such that the resulting large-area monolayer includes at least two different nanomaterials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Michael A. Pope, Xu Luzhu, Yefeng Zhang