Reforming Process Patents (Class 429/423)
  • Patent number: 9638102
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor and a combustor; a SOFC having a cathode and an anode; a first compression air supply line supplying compression air to the combustor; a second compression air supply line supplying compression air to the cathode; an exhaust air supply line supplying exhaust air discharged from the cathode to the combustor; a first fuel gas supply line supplying a fuel gas to the combustor; a second fuel gas supply line supplying a fuel gas to the anode; a fuel gas supply ratio change unit capable of changing a supply ratio of the fuel gas supplied to the combustor and the fuel gas supplied to the anode; an exhaust fuel gas supply line supplying an exhaust fuel gas discharged from the anode to the combustor; and a controller performing open-close control of the control valves and according to an operation state of the SOFC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kobayashi, Kazuo Tomida, Masayuki Fukagawa, Ryutaro Mori, Takeshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9627729
    Abstract: A reliable, end-to-end power supply solution for components of a telecommunications network provides either a primary source or a backup source of electrical power at various telecommunications sites for reliable operation of telecommunications equipment. One subsystem of the power supply solution includes one or more proton exchange membrane type fuel cells and an energy storage device for storing DC electrical power produced by the fuel cells. Another subsystem includes one or more microturbine generators, one or more rectifiers for converting AC electrical power produced by the microturbine generators to DC electrical power, and one or more proton exchange membrane type fuel cells for producing DC electrical power. The power supply solution ensures that voice and data traffic is reliably handled by a telecommunications network in situations where commercial electric utilities fail to supply power at certain points along the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jerry Meyers, Larry L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9593780
    Abstract: A forward check valve and a fuel cell system are provided which include a valve portion including a valve body, a supporting portion, a hole, and a fixation portion. The valve body contacts a valve seat when the valve portion is accommodated in an opening. The supporting portion supports the valve body so that the valve body is movable in directions in which the valve body moves towards and away from the valve seat. The fixation portion contacts an inner peripheral surface defining the opening of a valve housing to fix the supporting portion when the valve portion is accommodated in the opening. The fixation portion includes protruding portions that protrude from a mount surface of the valve housing when the valve portion is accommodated in the opening. By fitting the valve portion to the opening, the valve portion is accommodated in the opening of the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Sasaki, Yuzo Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 9570782
    Abstract: A storage element for a solid electrolyte battery is provided. The storage element has a main member having a porous matrix of sintered ceramic particles in which particles that are made of a metal and/or a metal oxide and jointly form a redox couple are embedded. Along a preferred direction, the storage element has a certain concentration gradient of the particles made of the metal and/or the metal oxide and/or a certain gradient of a pore density and/or a pore size, thereby allowing the diffusion behavior of oxygen ions within the main member to be controlled and thus the charge and discharge kinetics, the life and the capacity of the battery to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Schuh, Thomas Soller
  • Patent number: 9553322
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel processor; a fuel cell stack; a first water tank; a combustor; a water discharge passage connected to a water drain port formed in the first water tank to discharge the water from inside of the first water tank; a water filling detector configured to detect that at least one of the water drain port and the water discharge passage is filled with water; a water supply unit for supplying the water to the first water tank; and a controller configured to execute a water filling step of supplying the water to the first water, supply the combustible gas to the combustor via the first water tank and cause the combustor to combust the combustible gas, when the water filling detector detects that at least one of the water drain port and the water discharge passage is filled with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Takahashi, Motomichi Katou
  • Patent number: 9543602
    Abstract: Disclosed is method of operating a fuel cell which can output an electrical maximum power dependent on the operating temperature for a given fuel gas flow, and which exhibits aging in dependence on the operating duration which brings about an increase of the electrical internal resistance with progressive operating duration. In the disclosed method, the starting value (T0) of the operating temperature for a new fuel cell or for a new fuel cell stack is typically smaller than or equal to the operating temperature, at which the electrical maximum power is achieved and the fuel cell or the fuel cell stack is regulated such that the decrease of the output electrical power as a consequence of aging is partly or completely compensated in that the operating temperature (T) of the fuel cell or of the fuel cell stack is increased with progressive aging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HEXIS AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mai, Hanspeter Kuratli
  • Patent number: 9537171
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer, and an exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell stack has an oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel and a fuel exhaust gas channel at one end in a stacking direction of fuel cells. An exhaust gas combustor connected to the oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel and the fuel exhaust gas channel are provided at the one end of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction. A reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9478811
    Abstract: Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell which includes a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode, each being sequentially laminated on the surface of a porous support. The porous support comprises forsterite and a nickel element. Ni and/or NiO fine particles are exposed on a surface of a sintered compact of the forsterite constituting the porous support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ando, Osamu Okamoto, Kiyoshi Hayama, Seiki Furuya, Yutaka Momiyama, Nobuo Isaka, Masaki Sato, Shuhei Tanaka, Takuya Hoshiko, Naoki Watanabe, Yasuo Kakinuma
  • Patent number: 9452402
    Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Superior results were achieved for combustion chambers which contained a gap for free flow through the chamber. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gary Roberts, Steven T. Perry, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Robert S. Wegeng, Yong Wang, David Vanderwiel, Jennifer L. Marco
  • Patent number: 9455464
    Abstract: Provided are a gas decomposition component, a method for producing a gas decomposition component, and a power generation apparatus. A gas decomposition component 10 includes a cylindrical-body MEA 7 including a first electrode 2 disposed on an inner-surface side, a second electrode 5 disposed on an outer-surface side, and a solid electrolyte 1 sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a porous metal body 11s inserted on the inner-surface side of the cylindrical-body MEA and electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the gas decomposition component further includes a porous conductive-paste-coated layer 11 g formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first electrode, and a metal mesh sheet 11 a disposed on an inner circumferential side of the conductive-paste-coated layer, and an electrical connection between the first electrode and the porous metal body is established through the conductive-paste-coated layer and the metal mesh sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Tetsuya Kuwabara, Tomoyuki Awazu, Naho Mizuhara, Toshio Ueda, Hideyuki Doi, Toshiyuki Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 9431663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the direct oxidation and/or internal reforming of ethanol and/or mixtures of ethanol and water, in a solid oxide fuel cell, with multifunctional electrocatalytic anodes having specific features, on the basis of mixed oxides and metal oxides and catalysts, preferably with a perovskite-like crystalline structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Paulo Emilio Valadao De Miranda, Selma Aparecida Venancio, Hugo Vilela De Miranda
  • Patent number: 9425475
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system with which degradation of fuel cells can be suppressed by avoiding the ill effects caused by bumping of water used for steam reforming during the electrical generation. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel flow regulator unit, a reformer for reforming supplied fuel, a vaporizing section for supplying steam to the reformer, a water flow regulator unit, and a controller for controlling the fuel supply device and water supply device, and for controlling the power extracted from the fuel cell module; whereby the controller is furnished with: a bumping determination circuit for determining the occurrence of excessive vaporization of water in a vaporizing chamber, and an extracted power limiting circuit for limiting the power when the bumping determination circuit has determined excessive bumping of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9419296
    Abstract: Thermotechnical units of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) are integrated as a whole one. The units may include a burner, a reformer and a heat exchanger. The integrated units can be easily assembled into an SOFC system with cell stacks. Thus, the present invention has a simple structure, operates with ease, saves operational cost, runs with fewer utilities, decreases heat dissipation and enhances system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, Executive Yuan, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Wen-Tang Hong, Cheng-Nan Huang, Shih-Kun Lo, Hsueh-I Tan, Huan-Chan Ting, Chen-Po Lai
  • Patent number: 9410450
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer 2 with a closed circulation 2.1 that produces excess steam SS characterized in that the excess steam SS is condensed to an unclean condensate UC in a steam regeneration unit 3 and in that thermal energy in the unclean condensate UC is recovered by being transferred to a district heating medium HW in a heat exchanger 4 for district heating. The invention concerns also a system for the recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer 2 with a closed circulation 2.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Bengt-Olof Näslund
  • Patent number: 9395081
    Abstract: Reactor vessels with pressure and heat transfer features for producing hydrogen-based fuels and structural elements, and associated systems and methods. A representative reactor system includes a first reaction zone and a heat path, a reactant source coupled to the first reaction zone, and a first actuator coupled to cyclically pressurize the first reaction zone. A second reaction zone is in fluid communication with the first, a valve is coupled between the first and second reaction zones to control a flow rate therebetween, and a second actuator is coupled in fluid communication with the second reaction zone to cyclically pressurize the second reaction zone. First and second heat exchangers direct heat from products to reactants in the reaction zones. A controller controls the first and second actuators in a coordinated manner based at least in part on a flow rate of the second product from the second reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 9379400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stack for a solid oxide fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof, and more specifically, to a stack for a high-capacity solid oxide fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof, in which cell modules including a fiat-tubular reformer integrated with flat-tubular reactors are electrically connected to form a cell bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Jong Shik Chung
  • Patent number: 9373854
    Abstract: In a solid polymer fuel cell, destabilization of a voltage when an output state is changed is suppressed, and flow of a corrosion current through a cooling liquid in a cooling liquid manifold is reduced. The fuel cell is constructed by laminating a plurality of fuel battery cells, each including an MEA, a pair of separators, a frame that surrounds the periphery of the MEA, an anode, and a cathode, and a cooling liquid manifold that is formed by the frame. A flow channel of the cooling liquid manifold has a constant flow channel cross-sectional area, and a flow channel length of the cooling liquid manifold, which is included in one of the fuel battery cells, along a flow channel direction is longer than the thickness of the one fuel battery cell in a stacked direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Kawabata, Takashi Morimoto, Soichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 9371227
    Abstract: High efficiency electricity generation processes and systems with substantially zero CO2 emissions are provided. A closed looping between the unit that generates gaseous fuel (H2, CO, etc) and the fuel cell anode side is formed. In certain embodiments, the heat and exhaust oxygen containing gas from the fuel cell cathode side are also utilized for the gaseous fuel generation. The resulting power generation efficiencies are improved due to the minimized steam consumption for the gaseous fuel production in the fuel cell anode loop as well as the strategic mass and energy integration schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Liang-Shih Fan, Fanxing Li, Liang Zeng, Deepak Sridhar
  • Patent number: 9278329
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes: a desulfurizer including a desulfurization catalyst that removes a sulfur compound in a raw material by a desulfurization reaction, the desulfurization catalyst being arranged so as to be heated by a first heat source; a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas using the raw material having flowed through the desulfurizer; a first temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of a predetermined portion of the desulfurization catalyst; a second temperature detector configured to detect the temperature of a portion of the desulfurization catalyst, the portion being located such that a distance between the portion and the first heat source is longer than a distance between the predetermined portion and the first heat source; and a controller configured to control an operation of heating the desulfurization catalyst by the first heat source, based on detection results of the first temperature detector and the second temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Takeuchi, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Yuji Mukai
  • Patent number: 9269971
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flat-tubular solid oxide cell stack in which the pathway of chemical reactions is long and the temperature and flow rate of feed gas are maintained at uniform levels, thus the efficiency of electrical energy generation is increased when the cell stack is used as a fuel cell, and the purity of generated gas (hydrogen) is increased when the cell stack is used as a high-temperature electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Doo-Won Seo, Sun-Dong Kim, In-Sub Han, Ji-Haeng Yu, Se-Young Kim, Sang-Kuk Woo
  • Patent number: 9225027
    Abstract: A method of forming a fuel cell stack, wherein the stack includes an anode electrode layer, an adhesive and anode gas diffusion layer coupled to the anode electrode layer, an ion exchange membrane coupled on a first side to the gas diffusion layer opposite the anode electrode layer, an adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer coupled to a second side of the ion exchange membrane, and a cathode electrode layer coupled to the adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer opposite the ion exchange membrane. The fuel cell stack may be flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 9187009
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling cooling of electronic components of a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The apparatus for controlling cooling of electronic components connected in series and parallel with a coolant loop in a fuel cell vehicle using a pump includes a monitor configured to collect measured temperature of the electronic components and a measured temperature of a coolant through a plurality of temperature sensors, and a controller configured to control the RPM of the pump based on the measured temperatures and at least one of electronic component temperature maps, a coolant temperature map and a temperature difference map representing temperature differences between the electronic components and coolant, the controller controlling the RPM of the pump using over-temperature set information and over-temperature reset information of each temperature map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soonil Jeon, Kyuil Lee, Dae Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 9105880
    Abstract: The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Goettler, Zhien Liu
  • Patent number: 9099702
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively operating a fuel cell stack in response to loss of a voltage signal from one or more fuel cells in the stack. If the voltage signal from the one or more fuel cells is lost, the method performs one or more remedial actions to cause the fuel cell stack to operate in a more stack safe condition. The method then determines whether the cell or cells whose voltage signal is lost was healthy, such as operating above a predetermined voltage threshold, prior to the voltage signal being lost. If the cell voltage signal was above the voltage threshold, then the fuel cell stack is operated normally under the remedial actions, and if the voltage signal is below the voltage threshold, then the fuel cell stack is operated in a power limitation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek R. Lebzelter, Steven R. Falta
  • Patent number: 9099708
    Abstract: A fuel cell system with a reformer for generating hydrogen-containing synthesis gas and a fuel cell of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell is arranged downstream of the reformer. The fuel cell system is heated up conventionally in a first heat-up phase by combusting a superstoichiometric fuel/air mixture. The first heat-up phase is stopped by stopping the combustion of the fuel/air mixture in the mixing chamber of the reformer. In a second heat-up phase, in which the reformer catalyst is operated in the catalytic combustion operation with a superstoichiometric fuel/air mixture, the entire heat-up process can be significantly shortened by a change in stoichiometry at the end of the second heat-up phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karsten Reiners
  • Patent number: 9093726
    Abstract: An active thermal runaway mitigation system is provided that mitigates the effects of a single cell undergoing thermal runaway, thereby preventing the propagation of the thermal runaway event to neighboring cells within the battery pack. The provided system includes at least one, fluid-containing conduit in proximity to the cells within the battery pack. The conduit includes a plurality of breach points in proximity to the subset of cells, where each breach point is configured to form a breach at a preset temperature that is lower than the melting temperature of the conduit. Once a breach is formed, the fluid contained within the conduit is discharged through the breach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Prilutsky, Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 9088017
    Abstract: A gas reclaiming system is disclosed. The gas reclaiming system includes a getter device adapted to receive mixed gases and separate the mixed gases into at least one gas of interest and constituent gases. A recirculation loop is disposed in fluid communication with the getter device and adapted to receive the at least one gas of interest from the getter device. A gas reclaiming method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Milos Milacic, William Schank, Kurt Osborne
  • Patent number: 9059434
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which includes a plurality of fuel cells contacted in series by a plurality of interconnect plates. At least two interconnect plates are contacted by a high-temperature bypass diode that is physically integrated in the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballantine
  • Publication number: 20150147667
    Abstract: A direct carbonaceous material to power generation system integrates one or more solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) into a fluidized bed gasifier. The fuel cell anode is in direct contact with bed material so that the H2 and CO generated in the bed are oxidized to H2O and CO2 to create a push-pull or source-sink reaction environment. The SOFC is exothermic and supplies heat within a reaction chamber of the gasifier where the fluidized bed conducts an endothermic reaction. The products from the anode are the reactants for the reformer and vice versa. A lower bed in the reaction chamber may comprise engineered multi-function material which may incorporate one or more catalysts and reactant adsorbent sites to facilitate excellent heat and mass transfer and fluidization dynamics in fluidized beds. The catalyst is capable of cracking tars and reforming hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: ThermoChem Recovery International
    Inventor: Ravi Chandran
  • Patent number: 9040205
    Abstract: A system for producing energy that includes infusing porous carbon particles produced by pyrolysis of carbon-containing materials with an off-eutectic salt composition thus producing pore-free carbon particles, and reacting the carbon particles with oxygen in a fuel cell according to the reaction C+O2=CO2 to produce electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: John F. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20150140459
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Hiromichi Miwa
  • Publication number: 20150132676
    Abstract: A power generator includes a cavity to accept a hydrogen producing fuel cartridge. A channel is coupled to receive hydrogen from the fuel cartridge. A manifold is coupled to the channel to receive hydrogen from the channel, the manifold having an opening to receive oxygen and water vapor, the manifold being positioned to provide the water vapor to the cavity. An array of fuel cell membranes is supported by the manifold to receive hydrogen from the manifold and oxygen from the opening in the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
  • Publication number: 20150125770
    Abstract: A fuel cell unit with a plurality of fuel cells defining a longitudinal axis and a main flow direction coaxial to the longitudinal axis. Fuel cell inlets and fuel cell outlets are arranged at opposite ends of the fuel cell unit and in line with the main flow direction. Also, a component comprising first fluid conduits arranged parallel to the main flow direction, the first fluid conduits comprising first fluid inlets and first fluid outlets arranged at opposite ends of the component and in line with the main flow direction. The component is arranged adjacent the fuel cell unit such that at least one of the first fluid inlets and the first fluid outlets of the component are arranged adjacent at least one of the fuel cell outlets and the fuel cell inlets such that a fluid flow may flow substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus in the first fluid conduits of the component and in the fuel cell unit and when passing from the component to the fuel cell unit or vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yves DE VOS, Jean-Paul HUBERT JANSSENS
  • Publication number: 20150125771
    Abstract: Integrated gaseous fuel catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer and fuel cell systems can include a plurality or an array of spaced-apart CPOX reactor units, each reactor unit including an elongate tube having a gas-permeable wall with internal and external surfaces, the wall enclosing an open gaseous flow passageway with at least a portion of the wall having CPOX catalyst disposed therein and/or comprising its structure. The catalyst-containing wall structure and open gaseous flow passageway enclosed thereby define a gaseous phase CPOX reaction zone, the catalyst-containing wall section being gas-permeable to allow gaseous CPOX reaction mixture to diffuse therein and hydrogen rich product reformate to diffuse therefrom. The gaseous fuel CPOX reformer also can include one or more igniters, and a source of gaseous reformable fuel. The hydrogen-rich reformate can be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit integrated with the gaseous fuel CPOX reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Caine M. Finnerty, Paul DeWald
  • Publication number: 20150118589
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system including a reformer, a solid oxide fuel cell configured to generate electric power by using a hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the reformer to an anode and air supplied to a cathode, a heat radiator configured to radiate heat from at least one of an anode off-gas and a combustion exhaust gas generated by combusting the anode off-gas to generate condensed water, a condensed water circulating passage configured to circulate the condensed water supplied from the heat radiator, a condensed water tank provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to store the condensed water therein, a condensed water pump provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to circulate the condensed water, a condensed water/off-gas heat exchanger provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to exchange heat between the condensed water and an off-gas discharged from the solid oxide fuel cell, and at least a part of the water supplied to
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Takehiro Maruyama, Susumu Kobayashi, Kunihiro Ukai
  • Publication number: 20150111120
    Abstract: A power generator includes a power generator cavity adapted to receive a fuel cartridge, a protrusion disposed with in the cavity to engage a check valve of the fuel cartridge, a fuel cell to convert hydrogen and oxygen to electricity and to generate water vapor, and a passage to transport hydrogen from the cavity to the fuel cell and water vapor to the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 9012098
    Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus includes a burner, a combustion tube provided so as to surround flame of the burner, a reforming unit provided so as to surround the tube, an exhaust gas flow path provided so as to pass through between the tube and the unit, fold back at the other side of the unit, and extend through outside of the unit on a predetermined side, a low temperature shift unit provided on one of inside and outside of an extending portion of the flow path that extends on the predetermined side so as to extend along the extending portion, and a preferential oxidation unit provided on the other of the inside and the outside of the extending portion so as to extend along the extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Goto, Toshiyuki Unno
  • Publication number: 20150104725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined fuel cell and boiler system, and comprising: a fuel cell portion for receiving supplied outside air and raw material gas and generating electricity through a catalyst reaction; and a boiler portion comprising a latent heat exchanger, which is connected to an exhaust gas pipe of the fuel cell portion, for collecting the latent heat of self-generated exhaust gas with the latent heat of exhaust gas from the fuel cell portion. The present invention can effectively increase the efficiency of a boiler by supplying the exhaust gas from the fuel cell to the latent heat exchanger in the boiler, so as to be heat-exchanged in the latent heat exchanger with the exhaust gas from the boiler and then discharged, and can simplify the composition by unifying exhaust gas pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Dong Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 9005829
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus including: a first desulfurizer; a second desulfurizer; a reformer to generate a hydrogen-containing reformed gas from a raw material gas from which sulfur has been removed by at least one of the first desulfurizer and the second desulfurizer; and a recycle passage through which a part of the reformed gas generated by the reformer is mixed into the raw material gas to be supplied to the second desulfurizer. After installation or maintenance of the hydrogen generation apparatus, the raw material gas is supplied to the reformer through the first desulfurizer until a catalyst in the second desulfurizer is activated by a mixed gas of the reformed gas supplied through the recycle passage and the raw material gas, and after the catalyst in the second desulfurizer is activated, the raw material gas is supplied to the reformer through the second desulfurizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Maenishi, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara, Masaki Nobuoka, Youji Kawaguchi, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Satoru Narita, Kunihiro Ukai
  • Publication number: 20150093664
    Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a solid oxide fuel cell at conditions that can improve or optimize the combined electrical efficiency and chemical efficiency of the fuel cell. Instead of selecting conventional conditions for maximizing the electrical efficiency of a fuel cell, the operating conditions can allow for output of excess synthesis gas and/or hydrogen in the anode exhaust of the fuel cell. The synthesis gas and/or hydrogen can then be used in a variety of applications, including chemical synthesis processes and collection of hydrogen for use as a fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Berlowitz, Timothy A. Barckholtz, Anita S. Lee
  • Publication number: 20150093665
    Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cells are operated with a cathode inlet stream that contains a portion of a combustible gas which may be a hydrocarbon, hydrogen, or other gas that will combine with oxygen to form heat on the cathode catalyst surface. The combustible gases can be reacted in the cathode and/or in a stage that is heat integrated with the cathode. The heat generated by the combustion reaction in the cathode can be used, for example, to allow additional endothermic reactions (such as reforming) to take place in the anode portion of the fuel cell while still maintaining a desirable temperature gradient across the fuel cell. Optionally, the cathode of the fuel cell can be modified to further enhance or control the combustion within the cathode, such as by introducing an additional catalytic surface in the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy A. Barckholtz, Paul J. Berlowitz
  • Publication number: 20150093666
    Abstract: There is provided a reformer support structure for a fuel cell module, the fuel cell module including a fuel cell body which includes a cell stack and a reformer disposed above the cell stack, and a housing which contains the fuel cell body. The reformer support structure includes a first member which includes a first engagement portion and is attached to the housing and a second member which includes a second engagement portion and is attached to the reformer. The reformer is supported by the housing by engaging the second engagement portion with the first engagement portion, an engagement part where the second engagement portion is engaged with the first engagement portion is provided above a bottom of the reformer, and the second engagement portion is slidable on the first engagement portion in a direction of thermal expansion of the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Satoru YAMAMOTO, Yasushi MIZUNO, Norihisa SHIBASAKI, Hiroki OGURO
  • Publication number: 20150086887
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an oxidant gas supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power, whereby the controller having a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the predetermined temperature, and after a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of oxidant gas to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature oxidant gas remaining on the oxidant gas electrode side is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Yousuke Akagi, Megumi Shimazu, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Patent number: 8980495
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a combustor. The combustor is provided around the heat exchanger. A combustion gas path for supplying a combustion gas produced in the combustor to the heat exchanger and an exhaust gas path for supplying an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack after consumption in power generation reaction are merged at a merger section provided on an upstream side of a heat medium inlet of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Homma
  • Publication number: 20150072255
    Abstract: A pump assembly including a first subassembly and a second subassembly. The first subassembly includes a fluid conduit; an inlet fluidly coupled to the liquid reactant dispenser and the fluid conduit; an outlet fluidly coupled to a reaction chamber and the fluid conduit; and a diaphragm, defining a portion of the fluid conduit, that flexes to pump the liquid reactant from the inlet to the outlet. The diaphragm preferably includes an actuation point coupled to the diaphragm, wherein the liquid reactant is substantially contained within the first subassembly during pumping. The second subassembly is couplable to the first subassembly, and is fluidly isolated from the liquid reactant. The second subassembly includes an actuator that couples to the actuation point, wherein operation of the actuator causes pumping action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Braithwaite, Tibor Fabian, Tobin J. Fisher, Jonathan Louis Glassman, Andrew Gust Peterson, Adam Rodriguez, Russell Barton
  • Publication number: 20150072256
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including the hydrogen generator are disclosed. The hydrogen generator includes a reactant that undergoes a thermal decomposition reaction to produce hydrogen when heated. A laser is used to initiate the reaction. The reactant is contained in a reactant composition in a user-replaceable disc-shaped fuel unit. The reactant composition can be segregated into individual quantities. The fuel unit and the laser beam are periodically realigned by incrementally rotating the fuel unit and/or incrementally redirect the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Audebert, Olen R. Vanderleden, Richard A. Langan, Chad E. Law, Thomas J. Kmetich, Craig R. Huddleston, Jason L. Stimits, Gerald Zsigo, Kevin P. Murray
  • Patent number: 8974978
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a fuel cell assembly, a reformer, a fuel flow rate regulator unit for supplying fuel gas to the reformer, a reforming air supply device, a power generating air supply device, and a control unit for igniting fuel gas using an ignition device and conducting a combustion operation causing the fuel gas to combust using power generating air, then sequentially implementing a POX operation, ATR operation, and SR operation; whereby the control section starts the supply of fuel gas, reforming air, and power generating air, then controls the fuel gas supply device, the reforming air supply device, and the power generating air supply device to hold constant the respective supply flow rates of fuel gas, reforming air, and power generating air, without variation, in the combustion operating region in which fuel gas is ignited by the ignition device and combusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Ooe, Tsukasa Shigezumi, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Kiyotaka Nakano, Yoshiyuki Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20150064586
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of executing a shutdown stop while sufficiently suppressing fuel cell oxidation. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system having a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a generating air supply apparatus, a reformer, a fuel/exhaust gas passageway for guiding fuel/exhaust gas from a fuel supply apparatus through a reformer to outside; and a controller comprising a shutdown stop circuit; whereby the fuel/exhaust gas passageway functions as a mechanical pressure retention means, maintaining a pressure on the oxidant gas electrode side within the fuel cell module higher than atmospheric pressure, and maintaining a pressure on the fuel electrode side at a pressure higher than the pressure on the oxidant gas electrode side, until the fuel electrode temperature drops to a predetermined oxidation suppression temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Megumi Shimazu, Yousuke Akagi, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Patent number: 8962194
    Abstract: A lithium-ion-conducting sulfide-based crystallized glass including: lithium (Li), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) elements, wherein the glass has diffraction peaks at 2?=17.8±0.3 deg, 18.2±0.3 deg, 19.8±0.3 deg, 21.8±0.3 deg, 23.8±0.3 deg, 25.9±0.3 deg, 29.5±0.3 deg and 30.0±0.3 deg in X-ray diffraction (CuK?: ?=1.5418 ?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Senga, Yoshikatsu Seino, Masahiro Tatsumisago, Akitoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8962202
    Abstract: The present invention provides a large-scale solid oxide fuel cell stack and a method of manufacturing the stack. In the present invention, a segmented cell tube (103a, 103b) is formed in such a way that unit cells connected to each other are formed on a cylindrical or flat tubular porous support (101). A reformer tube (102) is configured such that reforming catalyst (3) is provided in a support (101). The cell tube and the reformer tube are disposed at positions spaced apart from each other such that an air passage is formed on the outer surface of the reformer tube. A cell module (105) is formed by arranging the tubes such that a fuel gas flow passage is formed between the tubes. The solid oxide fuel cell stack is formed by integrating cell modules with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
    Inventor: Jong Shik Chung