Humidification Or Dehumidification Patents (Class 429/413)
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Patent number: 10173536Abstract: An electricity converter for controlling an output of the fuel cell, a battery for storing electricity of the fuel cell, and a load device that operates by electricity of at least one of the fuel cell or the battery are included. Further provided is a controller that calculates current chargeable electricity of the battery, load device electricity currently consumed by the load device and current generable electricity of the fuel cell, and decreases the output of the fuel cell by the electricity converter when the generable electricity is equal-to or more-than a combined value of the chargeable electricity and the load device electricity.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Daiki Tanaka
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Patent number: 10164279Abstract: A device for decreasing hydrogen concentration of a fuel cell system is installed in an exhaust system for discharging exhaust gas which includes hydrogen and air and is discharged from fuel cells to the atmosphere through an exhaust line. The device includes a catalyst diluter having catalysts for diluting the hydrogen in an exhaust gas by generating a catalytic reaction and connected to the exhaust line. An air diluter is disposed outside the catalyst diluter and guides external air to a gas exit side of the catalyst diluter.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Sang Hoon Seo, Myung Ju Jung
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Patent number: 10158131Abstract: A method for preparing a fuel cell system for a starting operation involves performing a start preparation routine when switching off of the fuel cell system and/or when the temperature falls short of a predetermined temperature threshold value in order to discharge water and moisture from the fuel cell system. The start preparation routine is changed in accordance with measured values detected within a predetermined time interval before the stopping of the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2014Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: DAIMLER AGInventors: Holger Richter, Armin Mütschele
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Patent number: 10158132Abstract: A fuel gas supply apparatus of a fuel cell system includes a pressure reducing valve, an interruption valve, and an injector in a hydrogen supply channel. A controller of the fuel cell system includes a drive cycle setting unit for setting the drive cycle of the injector based on a load of the fuel cell stack, and a water state determination unit for determining whether or not quantity of water content in the fuel cell is excessive by determining whether or not the quantity of water content is a predetermined quantity or more.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Osamu Ohgami, Kenichiro Ueda, Koichiro Miyata, Jumpei Ogawa, Takashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 10147960Abstract: A shut down system of a fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell configured to output a high voltage; a rechargeable high voltage battery; a bidirectional converter arranged between an output terminal of the fuel cell and the high voltage battery; a first relay arranged between the fuel cell and the bidirectional converter; and a controller configured to control a voltage of the bidirectional converter when the fuel cell vehicle stalls to reduce a voltage of the output terminal of the fuel cell and turn off the first relay when a voltage value of the output terminal of the fuel cell is below a preset voltage reference value.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Kyu Il Lee, Jae Yeong Yoo, Sung Suk Ok
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Patent number: 10141590Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a compressor, a relief valve that adjusts a pressure of a cathode gas, a pulsation operation unit that pulsates an anode gas pressure, a target flow rate setting unit that sets a target flow rate of the cathode gas, a first target pressure setting unit that sets a first target pressure of the cathode gas, a second target pressure setting unit that sets a second target pressure of the cathode gas for maintaining a pressure difference between an anode and a cathode within a predetermined allowable range, a target pressure setting unit that sets the higher one of the first and second target pressures as a target pressure, and a control unit that controls the compressor on the basis of the target flow rate and a limitative pressure obtained by limiting pulsation of the target pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshitomo Asai, Hiroshi Takeda
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Patent number: 10103396Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for controlling an air supply into a fuel cell stack capable of rapidly reducing an air supply up to a required flow rate when it is required to suddenly reduce an air flow rate supplied to the fuel cell stack for a reduction in vehicle power, etc., in a pressurized operation condition. The apparatus includes an air compressor that is configured to compress air and supply the air to a cathode of the fuel cell stack and a back pressure control valve that is installed in a line to which air subjected to reaction in the fuel cell stack is emitted. A controller operates the back pressure control valve and the air compressor based on a current air supply pressure and a required air reduction quantity of the air compressor when required to reduce the air supplied into the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Dong Hun Lee
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Patent number: 10090534Abstract: An electrochemical system is described having an end plate, a stack cover plate adjacent to the end plate and at least one metallic electrical conductor. The stack cover plate has an electrically conductive contacting plate adjacent to the end plate and an electrically conductive separator plate half facing away from the end plate. The contacting plate and the separator plate half are connected to each other electrically and media-tight. The metallic electrical conductor extends to an outside of the electrochemical system. The metallic electrical conductor and the contacting plate are in one piece or the metallic electrical conductor contacts the contacting plate directly. The contacting plate and the separator plate half are bonded to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbHInventors: Andre Speidel, Joachim Scherer, Thomas Stoehr
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Patent number: 10074865Abstract: To provide technology that is capable of inhibiting a decrease in starting properties of a pump in a low-temperature environment. A fuel cell system is equipped with a control unit, a fuel cell, and a pump. The control unit acquires the temperature of the fuel cell as a parameter expressing the temperature of the pump while operation of the fuel cell is stopped. The control unit rotates rotation body of the pump when it is detected that the temperature of the pump is a threshold value or less set within a predetermined range lower than the freezing point based on the detected temperature of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masashi Toida, Yoshiaki Naganuma, Tomohiro Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Maruo
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Patent number: 10069158Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system are provided. The fuel cell system includes at least one bypass valve that is disposed between a passage in an inlet of a fuel cell stack and a bypass passage that is branched from the passage within the inlet and that is connected to a discharge port of the fuel cell stack. In addition, a controller bypasses air supplied from an air blower to the discharge port by adjusting an opening degree of the bypass valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Sang Uk Kwon, Soon Il Jeon, Sung Gone Yoon, Sae Hoon Kim
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Patent number: 10056631Abstract: A non-catalytic hydrogen generation process is provided that supplies hydrogen to a hydrodesulfurization unit and a solid oxide fuel cell system combination, suitable for auxiliary power unit application. The non-catalytic nature of the process enables use of sulfur containing feedstock for generating hydrogen which is needed to process the sulfur containing feed to specifications suitable for the solid oxide fuel cell. Also, the non-catalytic nature of the process with fast dynamic characteristics is specifically applicable for startup and shutdown purposes that are typically needed for mobile applications.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Thang Viet Pham, Hasan Imran, Mohamed Daoudi
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Patent number: 10050292Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, includes driving a pump to supply an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The pump has a minimum supply amount of the oxidant gas. A fuel gas is supplied to the anode electrode to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. It is determined whether a target amount of the oxidant gas to be supplied to the cathode electrode is lower than the minimum supply amount. An opening degree of a pressure adjusting valve is adjusted to adjust an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode to be the target amount when the target amount is determined to be lower than the minimum supply amount.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Osamu Ogami, Yusai Yoshimura, Akiji Ando
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Patent number: 10020523Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel supply unit that supplies a fuel to electrolyte membrane of fuel cell, an oxidant supply unit that supplies an oxidant to the electrolyte membrane, and an electricity generation control unit that controls electricity generation by the fuel cell by controlling supply of the oxidant by the oxidant supply unit and supply of the fuel by the fuel supply unit. the fuel cell system includes a wet/dry state detection unit configured to detect a wet/dry state of the electrolyte membrane, a flow rate adjustment unit configured to adjust a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the fuel cell by the fuel supply unit; and a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust a temperature of the oxidant supplied to the fuel cell by the oxidant supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Tetsuya Aoki
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Patent number: 10017865Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical method for continuously producing a pure-oxygen gas and an oxygen-lean gas from an oxygen-containing gas mixture. At least two water electrolyzer units and two power supply units are used, of which each former solely corresponds to each latter, respectively. The two power supply units are at least one power supply unit of recycling hydrogen energy and an externally-connected power supply unit. The power supply unit of recycling hydrogen energy consists of hydrogen fuel cells, and the externally-connected power supply unit is comprised of at least one of the following cells and/or power supply, e.g. (a) solar cell(s), (a) direct methanol fuel cell(s), and/or an AC grid. In terms of the electrical circuit, each power supply unit is solely connected with the corresponding water electrolyzer unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Xiaobing Zhu, Weikun Zhu, Aimin Zhu, Jinglin Liu, Xiaosong Li
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Patent number: 9960437Abstract: An object is to allow even a temporary increase in air pressure to be diagnosed as an abnormality. There is provided a fuel cell system including a fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiromu Saito
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Patent number: 9947950Abstract: Systems and methods for initiating voltage recovery procedures in a fuel cell system based in part on an estimated specific activity over the life of a fuel cell catalyst are presented. In certain embodiments, SA loss of catalyst and electrochemical surface area loss of a FC system may be estimated. An output voltage of the FC system may be estimated based on the estimated SA loss and the electrochemical surface area loss. An amount of recoverable voltage loss may be determined based on a comparison between the estimated output voltage and a measured output voltage. Based on the determined amount of recordable voltage loss, a FC system control action (e.g., a voltage recovery procedure) may be initiated.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Srikanth Arisetty, Andrew J. Maslyn, Balasubramanian Lakshmanan
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Patent number: 9926844Abstract: A power generation system includes a gas turbine, a fuel cell, an exhausted fuel gas supply line, an on-off control valve arranged in the exhausted fuel gas supply line, a heating unit that heats the exhausted fuel gas supply line in a range on an upstream side of the on-off control valve, a detection unit that detects a state of exhausted fuel gas in the exhausted fuel gas supply line in the range on the upstream side of the on-off control valve, and a control unit which controls the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line by the heating unit and which sets the on-off control valve to open when determining that the heating of the exhausted fuel gas supply line is completed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Kazunori Fujita
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Patent number: 9911998Abstract: A device for decreasing hydrogen concentration of a fuel cell system is installed in an exhaust system of a fuel cell system so as to discharge exhaust gas including hydrogen and air from fuel cells to the atmosphere through an exhaust line. The device includes: a catalyst diluter that includes catalysts for diluting hydrogen in the exhaust gas by generating a catalytic reaction, the catalyst diluter being connected to the exhaust line; and an air diluter that is disposed outside the catalyst diluter and guides external air to a gas exit side of the catalyst diluter, in which the catalyst diluter may include a valve unit that opens and closes an external air channel of the air diluter in accordance with flow pressure of the exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Jinwoo Koo, Myung Ju Jung
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Patent number: 9905866Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell containing a unit cell with an anode and a cathode included therein, a hydrogen supply unit that supplies hydrogen gas to the anode, a circulation pump that supplies an anode exhaust gas containing hydrogen that has not been used for power generation by the fuel cell and is discharged from the anode, once again to the anode to circulate the anode exhaust gas, and a controller that controls supply quantity of the hydrogen gas by the hydrogen supply unit as well as rotating speed of the circulation pump. The controller drives the circulation pump so that the rotating speed of the circulation pump approaches an optimum rotating speed of the circulation pump at which a total hydrogen loss quantity becomes a minimum under a specified current value, the total hydrogen loss quantity being a sum of a hydrogen quantity corresponding to an electric power necessary for driving the circulation pump and a hydrogen quantity passing from anode side to cathode side of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Matsubara, Kenji Umayahara
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Patent number: 9893372Abstract: A perceiving method and system of a stack state for a fuel cell system is provided. The method includes determining whether a vehicle provided with the fuel cell system is started and calculating a time until first condensate water is discharged through a condensate water discharging valve provided in the fuel cell system after the vehicle starts. Then, an average time until the first condensate water is discharged after the vehicle starts, at the previous starting of the vehicle is calculated over a predetermined number of times. The two calculated times are compared to determine the state of the stack or cathode of the fuel cell system without requiring additional separate components.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Hyun Jae Lee, Hyo Seop Kim, Yei Sik Jeon
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Patent number: 9876239Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method for controlling the fuel cell system are provided. The fuel cell system includes a compressor that is configured to supply air and a humidifier that includes a supply portion connected to the compressor and an air supply pipe to supply moisture to the supplied air and supply the humidified air to a fuel cell stack. An exhaust portion is configured to receive air exhausted from the fuel cell stack, discharge moisture from the received air to the supply portion, and discharge moisture-deprived air to an exhaust pipe. A valve installed in the air supply pipe is disposed between the compressor and the humidifier and a bypass pipe which branches off at the valve is connected to the exhaust pipe.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Dong Hun Lee
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Patent number: 9865889Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel battery having a fuel gas supply channel that is composed of a first anode gas supply channel part, at least a part of an inner wall surface of which is a fuel electrode layer, and a second anode gas supply channel part; and an air supply channel that is composed of a first cathode gas supply channel part, at least a part of an inner wall surface of which is an air electrode layer, and a second cathode gas supply channel part. The cross-section area of the first anode gas supply channel part is larger than the cross-section area of at least a portion of the second anode gas supply channel part. The cross-section area of the first cathode gas supply channel part is larger than the cross-section area of at least a portion of the second cathode gas supply channel part.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhide Takata, Hideaki Nakai
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Patent number: 9853304Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an air supplier, an air passage connected to the fuel cell, air supplied from the air supplier flowing in the air passage, a bleed passage branched off from the air passage on a side upstream of the fuel cell and joining the air passage on a side downstream of the fuel cell, part of the air supplied by the air supplier flowing in the bleed passage in such a manner as to circumvent the fuel cell, a bleed valve provided in the bleed passage, the bleed valve regulating the amount of air flowing in the bleed passage, an air supplier control unit which controls the air supplier to supply a predetermined amount of air, a wetness reduction determination unit which determines whether or not it is necessary to reduce a degree of wetness of the fuel cell, and a bleed amount control unit which reduces an opening of the bleed valve when the degree of wetness of the fuel cell needs to be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Takeda, Yoshitomo Asai
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Patent number: 9847546Abstract: There are provided a separator for a fuel cell and a fuel cell including the same able to enhance the horizontal distribution of fuel or an oxidizing agent and secure an effective flow area, the separator including: a separator body; a first intake manifold provided at one end portion of the separator body; a second intake manifold provided at the other end portion of the separator body to be partitioned from the first intake manifold; a first exhaust manifold provided outwardly of the second intake manifold at the other end portion of the separator body; and a second exhaust manifold provided outwardly of the first intake manifold at one end portion of the separator body to be partitioned from the first exhaust manifold.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2013Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: POSCOInventors: Choong-Mo Yang, Seung-Goo Kim
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Patent number: 9843051Abstract: Catalyst particles includes a catalyst material and carbon particles supporting the catalyst material. The catalyst particles has a water content of 4.8 mass % or more and 20 mass % or less. A manufacturing method of catalyst particles includes exposing catalyst particles, which are carbon particles supporting a catalyst material, to a humidified atmosphere, prior to dispersing the carbon particles and a polymer electrolyte in a solvent for a catalyst ink.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.Inventor: Saori Okada
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Patent number: 9831505Abstract: In order to protect the temperature of an exhaust stream in an exhaust line, even if the temperature of the exhaust stream discharged from a fuel cell exceeds a temperature during rated operation, a power generation system has: an SOFC; an exhaust air line or an exhaust fuel line, wherein the exhaust air line and exhaust fuel line carry exhaust air and exhaust fuel gas discharged from the SOFC, respectively; a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the exhaust air or the exhaust fuel gas discharged from the SOFC or the temperature of the exhaust air line or the exhaust fuel line; an exhaust cooling device for cooling the exhaust air in the exhaust air line or the exhaust fuel gas in the exhaust fuel line; and a control device for activating the exhaust cooling device when the temperature detected by the temperature detector exceeds a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Yukimasa Nakamoto, Kazunori Fujita
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Patent number: 9828681Abstract: A redox device, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox device, has at least one redox unit, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox unit, which is intended for carrying out at least one redox reaction with consumption and/or production of a first gas, in particular hydrogen gas, and/or of a second gas, in particular oxygen gas. The redox device includes at least one residual gas purification unit which frees at least one residual gas in the redox unit of at least one gas impurity at least in at least one rest mode of the redox unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: AIRBUS DS GMBHInventors: Walter Jehle, Joachim Lucas, Sebastian Markgraf
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Patent number: 9817741Abstract: Method for monitoring an apparatus connected to a communication channel wherein the method is connected to a communication channel in a vehicle. When an interval of time between two messages that are output by the apparatus is shorter than or the same as a determined period, the method determines is the apparatus is in a correct state. The apparatus can output a monitoring sign-out message to the communication channel. When a message recently output by the apparatus includes the monitoring sign-out message, it is determined that the apparatus is in a correct state.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventor: Maurice Mücke
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Patent number: 9806362Abstract: A humidification device is provided with at least one stacked unit with water vapor-permeable membranes arranged parallel and spaced apart relative to each other. The membranes each have an edge area framed by frames. The frames are formed by a film composite of a lower film and an upper film, wherein the lower and upper films of the film composite clamp the edge area of one or more of the membranes therebetween. The lower and upper films of the film composite are fixedly connected to each other. Alternatively, the frames are formed by a thermoplastic yarn that is sewn into the edge area of one or more of the membranes, respectively, wherein the thermoplastic yarn is reshaped by heat and pressure.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbHInventors: Michael Fasold, Marcel Mayer, Michael Maier, Michael Wank, Heinz Dobusch
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Patent number: 9782853Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for a membrane electrode assembly is provided with expanded metal layers each having a mesh configuration defining a length orientation of the expanded metal layers. The expanded metal layers each have opposed flat sides and are stacked in a layered arrangement such that the flat sides of the expanded metal layers that are neighboring each other in the layered arrangement are facing each other as facing flat sides, respectively. The facing flat sides are connected to each other by pulsed resistance welding at welded contact points. Due to the mesh configuration, the welded contact points are distributed evenly across the entire surface area of the facing flat sides. At least one of the expanded metal layers is oriented with its length orientation so as to be rotated by 90° relative to the length orientation of one of the neighboring expanded metal layers.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: MeliCon GmbHInventor: Ulrich Müller
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Patent number: 9761894Abstract: Certain fuel cell designs employ bipolar plate assemblies with internal coolant flow fields which comprise a coolant channel region and transition regions adjacent the coolant channel region. The temperature and/or pressure drop, and hence flow, of coolant over the coolant channel region can be non-uniform however, and this can have an adverse effect on cell performance. The coolant flow and temperature distribution can be modified and made more uniform by inserting an appropriate non-uniform porous insert in one or more of the coolant transition regions.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Alireza Roshanzamir
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Patent number: 9755257Abstract: The cooling capacity of a first heat exchanger for cooling a reformed gas introduced into an inlet of a circulation pump is increased as an output of a fuel cell increases. With this configuration, an inlet temperature of the circulation pump is relatively high during low power generation and decreases as the generation power increases, and a volumetric flow rate during high power generation in which a large amount of reformed gas is required can be decreased relatively. As the result, a dynamic range required for the circulation pump can be made small. Furthermore, water condensation in the inlet of the circulation pump can be prevented during low power generation.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiromichi Miwa
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Patent number: 9755252Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly; a gas flow path member that has a first side that is arranged on a surface of the membrane electrode assembly; a pair of separators that are arranged sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly and the gas flow path member, and each have a separating portion and a plurality of holes separated by the separating portion, the holes being provided in each of opposite sides of the separator and being lined up in a predetermined direction along the sides; and a sealing plate that is arranged on an end portion of the first side adjacent to the holes, and is welded to the gas flow path member at a predetermined welding position, the predetermined welding position being provided in a region that includes a position on a straight line that passes through the separating portion and is perpendicular to the sides.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takashi Kondou
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Patent number: 9728798Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a membrane electrode assembly and an internal reactant gas passage, a unit that detects or estimates an actual retained water quantity (R.W.Q.), and a power generation control unit having a normal-time mode, a normal-time drying mode and a stop-time drying mode. In the normal-time drying mode, the fuel cell stack is caused to generate electric power while being dried more than in the normal-time mode until the actual R.W.Q. is decreased to a target R.W.Q. In the stop-time drying mode, when the actual R.W.Q. is equal to or more than a flooding threshold at a time of detection of a system stop instruction, the fuel cell stack is caused to generate electric power while being dried more than in the normal-time drying mode until the actual R.W.Q. is decreased to a target R.W.Q.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Chihiro Wake, Tomohisa Kamiyama, Masakazu Hamachi, Takashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9710032Abstract: The present invention features a personal computing device that may be powered by a single battery having a single lithium-ion cell or by a plurality of lithium-ion cells connected in parallel. The personal computing device may provide computing power comparable to that of conventional laptop computers and execute an operating system and application software comparable to that executed by conventional laptop computers. Furthermore, the battery's time between charging, when used to power the personal computing device, may be similar to the time between charging of a multi-cell battery when used to power a conventional laptop computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: GOOGLE INC.Inventors: Vance Chin, Jonathan Betts-LaCroix
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Patent number: 9695520Abstract: The invention relates to a method and current measuring arrangement for measuring electric current flowing in an individual electrode in an electrolysis system. The electrolysis system comprises a plurality of interleaved electrodes (1, 2), cathodes (1) and anodes (2), arranged in an electrolysis cell (3) and immersed in electrolyte, said electrolysis system having a busbar (4) disposed on a separating cell wall (5) between each of the two adjacent cells to conduct electric current to the electrodes via a contact point (6) between the busbar and a hanger bar (7) of the electrode, and the current sensing arrangement comprises a magnetic field sensing means (8; 81, 82; 10) for measuring the magnetic field induced by said current. The magnetic field sensing means (8; 81, 82; 10) are arranged to sense the magnetic field substantially at the level of the contact point (6).Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Outotec (Finland) OyInventors: Duncan Grant, Michael H. Barker, Lauri Nordlund, Ari Rantala, Henri K. Virtanen
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Patent number: 9689078Abstract: A NaSICON cell is used to convert carbon dioxide into a usable, valuable product. In general, this reaction occurs at the cathode where electrons are used to reduce the carbon dioxide, in the presence of water and/or hydrogen gas, to form formate, methane, ethylene, other hydrocarbons and/or other chemicals. The particular chemical that is formed depends upon the reaction conditions, the voltage applied, etc.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: CERAMATEC, INC.Inventors: Sai Bhavaraju, James Mosby
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Patent number: 9685664Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes fuel cells, a reactant gas channel, a reactant gas inlet manifold, a reactant gas outlet manifold, an inlet buffer portion, and an outlet buffer portion. A reactant gas flows through the reactant gas channel along a surface of a separator. The reactant gas flows through the reactant gas inlet manifold and the reactant gas outlet manifold in a stacking direction. The inlet buffer portion connects an inlet of the reactant gas channel to the reactant gas inlet manifold. The inlet buffer portion includes linear inlet guide protrusions. Inlet guide channels are provided between the linear inlet guide protrusions and connect the reactant gas inlet manifold to the reactant gas channel. A pitch between the linear inlet guide protrusions increases in accordance with an increase in a distance from the reactant gas inlet manifold to the linear inlet guide protrusions.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenji Nagumo, Kentaro Ishida, Keisuke Suda, Yuji Asano, Akihiro Matsui
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Patent number: 9680169Abstract: A humidification device is provided with at least one stacked unit of water vapor-permeable membranes and of support frames. The support frames are stacked on each other. The membranes each are positioned between two of the support frames, respectively, and have edges clamped between the two support frames. The membranes are arranged parallel and spaced apart relative to each other. Between the two support frames, a supply air flow path extends on a first lateral face of the membrane and, angularly displaced to the supply air flow path, an exhaust air flow path extends on a second lateral face of the membrane facing away from the first lateral face. A flow opening of the supply air flow path and a flow opening of the exhaust air flow path are delimited by the two support frames and extend parallel to a plane of the membrane clamped between them.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GMBHInventors: Michael Fasold, Heinz Dobusch
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Patent number: 9677184Abstract: The invention relates to a method and current measuring arrangement for measuring electric current flowing in an individual electrode in an electrolysis system. The electrolysis system comprises a plurality of interleaved electrodes (1, 2), cathodes (1) and anodes (2), arranged in an electrolysis cell (3) and immersed in electrolyte, said electrolysis system having a busbar arrangement (4) disposed on a separating cell wall (5) between each of the two adjacent cells. The busbar arrangement comprises an equalizer busbar (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) to electrically connect anodes in one cell to cathodes in a next cell providing the current with multiple electrical pathways between electrodes, said electrical connection being formed by contact points (12) between the equalizer busbar (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) and hanger bars (13) of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Outotec (Finland) OyInventors: Duncan Grant, Michael H. Barker, Lauri Nordlund, Ari Rantala, Henri K. Virtanen
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Patent number: 9680167Abstract: A system for adjusting temperature of cooling-liquid comprises: a radiator; a cooling-liquid circulation flow-channel; a radiator bypass flow-channel; a thermostat valve; and a valve bypass flow-channel through which the cooling-liquid of the radiator bypass flow-channel is allowed to flow in a predetermined amount even if the thermostat valve is completely closed.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hayato Chikugo, Michihiko Matsumoto, Tetsuya Aoki, Masato Odashima, Shinichiro Takemoto
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Patent number: 9673475Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a first terminal plate, a second terminal plate, a first resin end plate, and a second resin end plate. The stacked body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a stacking direction. The first terminal plate is provided on the first end of the stacked body in the stacking direction to have a first surface substantially parallel to surfaces of first and second electrodes. The first terminal plate includes a first reinforcement rib provided in the first surface. The second terminal plate is provided on the second end of the stacked body in the stacking direction to have a second surface substantially parallel to the surfaces of the first and second electrodes. The second terminal plate includes a second reinforcement rib provided in the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tadashi Nishiyama
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Patent number: 9620833Abstract: An electric energy store includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an oxygen ion conducting electrolyte separating the positive electrode and the negative electrode from each other. The negative electrode includes a first reservoir having a gas-permeable oxidizable material and, contained therein, a gaseous, oxygen-exchanging redox pair. The positive electrode comprises a second reservoir having a gas-permeable oxidizable material and oxygen transport is effected by means of an oxygen-containing gaseous compound, wherein the positive electrode is closed with respect to the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Drenckhahn, Harald Landes
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Patent number: 9595725Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an ejector in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle with a hydrogen feed nozzle and a recirculation conduit upstream of a throat of the CD nozzle, and a thermal source configured to heat the ejector. A hydrogen supply assembly for a fuel cell system includes an ejector having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle and a mixing chamber upstream of the CD nozzle. The mixing chamber has a recirculation conduit and a hydrogen feed nozzle. A thermal source is configured to heat the ejector. A method of controlling a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell includes, in response to detecting a heating condition at fuel cell start up, controlling a thermal source to heat an ejector upstream of an anode stack to prevent ice formation in the ejector.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Craig Michael Mathie, William F. Sanderson, Virgo Edwards, Fred G. Brighton
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Patent number: 9575136Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring impedance of a fuel cell stack capable of accurately measuring the impedance even when a DC current of the fuel cell stack is changed depending on fluctuation of a load, by compensating for an AC voltage (or AC current) used to measure the impedance of the fuel cell stack based on a DC current of the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Sang Bok Won, Kwi Seong Jeong
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Patent number: 9570763Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (36) has vertical fuel cells (102) each sharing a half of a hybrid separator plate (100) which includes a solid fuel flow plate (105) having horizontal fuel flow channels (106) on one surface and coolant channels (108) on an upper portion of the opposite surface, bonded to a plain rear side of a porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plate (115) having vertical oxidant flow channels (118). Coolant permeates through the upper portion of the porous, hydrophilic oxidant flow field plates and enters the oxidant flow channels, where it evaporates as the water trickles downward through the oxidant flow field channels, thereby cooling the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Christopher John Carnevale, Timothy W. Patterson, Jr., Robert M. Darling, Paravastu Badrinarayanan, Michael L. Perry
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Patent number: 9559379Abstract: A heater assembly includes a plurality of fuel cell stack assemblies which each have a plurality of fuel cells, a fuel inlet, and an air inlet; a fuel supply conduit which communicates fuel to the fuel inlets; and an air supply conduit which communicates air to the air inlets. An orifice is disposed between the fuel supply conduit and the fuel inlet or between the air supply conduit and the air inlet of each fuel cell stack assembly. The plurality of fuel cell stack assemblies are arranged in fuel cell stack assembly groups such that the orifices of each of the fuel cell stack assembly groups are configured to provide a magnitude of restriction that is unique to their respective the fuel cell stack assembly group, thereby providing uniformity of flow of the fuel or the air to the plurality of fuel cell stack assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bernhard A. Fischer, Giulio A. Ricci-Ottati
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Patent number: 9522609Abstract: A thermal management system is provided which may be miniaturized and may have a reduced weight by integrating thermal management parts in a fuel cell vehicle. In particular, a new type of thermal management system integrated housing in which a housing of a pump housing part, a housing of a 3-way valve fluid part, and a bypass channel among parts of the thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle are integrated into a single structure to reduce the size of the overall system.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Min Kyu Lee, Hun Woo Park, Seung Yong Lee, Sung Wook Na, Ki Young Nam, Su Dong Han, Hyung Kook Kim, Hark Koo Kim
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Patent number: 9502726Abstract: A method and an apparatus to adapt the performance of a cathode humidification unit as a membrane in a fuel cell stack degrades over time. An algorithm compares a sensed humidity profile of the fuel cell stack and model humidity profile of a cathode humidification unit model to calculate a new degradation factor. The cathode humidification unit model uses the degradation factor in the performance of the cathode humidification unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John P. Nolan, Daniel T. Folmsbee, Derek R. Lebzelter, Yan Zhang
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Patent number: 9472822Abstract: An example method of controlling a fuel cell power plant based on provided power includes selectively varying an electrical resistance of the variable resistive device responsive to at least one of a power provided by the fuel cell power plant, a current provided by the fuel cell power plant, or a voltage decay rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Timothy W. Patterson, Jr.