Including Measurement Of Electrical Output Patents (Class 429/430)
  • Patent number: 11978913
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery management system includes a BBU shelf with bus connectors; a battery module with battery cell packages, each package including battery cells; and a converter module having 1) a set of converters, 2) a first busbar to which each converter is connected, the first busbar includes several switches, each switch is disposed between adjacently connected converters, 3) a second busbar to which each converter is connected via a first switch and to which each package is connected via a second switch, the second busbar comprises several switches, each switch is disposed between adjacently connected converters, packages, or a combination thereof, and 4) a third busbar to which each converter is connected and to which each bus connector is connected via a third switch, the third busbar includes several switches, each switch is disposed between adjacently connected converters, bus connectors, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Huawei Yang, Tianyi Gao
  • Patent number: 11933858
    Abstract: Provided is a method for simultaneous detection of parameters of membrane electrode assemblies of a fuel cell stack, which includes: supplying hydrogen to an anode of the fuel cell stack and inert gas to a cathode of the fuel cell stack, controlling operating conditions of the fuel cell stack at respective preset values; applying different voltage excitations or micro-current excitations to the fuel cell stack, collecting a current signal of an entire stack and a voltage signal of each fuel cell; and analyzing a hydrogen crossover current, a catalyst electrochemical surface area, a double-layer capacitance, and a short-circuit resistance of a membrane electrode assembly of each fuel cell based on an excitation-response formula of a fuel cell. The present disclosure does not limit a form of a current or voltage excitation, thereby improving accuracy of a parameter test of a membrane electrode assembly while reducing the test cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pucheng Pei, Peng Ren, Dongfang Chen
  • Patent number: 11916270
    Abstract: An active fault-tolerant temperature control method for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system is disclosed. Firstly, a model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell temperature control system is established, and a system structure matrix is established according to the model by structural analysis. The system structure matrix is decomposed by using a Dulmage-Mendelsohn method, a redundant part of the model is obtained, and a system residual is constructed to reflect faults of the temperature control system. On the basis of fault identification, sliding-mode-based active fault-tolerant control is designed to accurately control an outlet temperature of a stack. The new method solves the problem of sensor failure of a temperature control model of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell system during operation, and applies model-based fault-tolerant control to temperature control, so that the reliability and durability of the fuel cell system can be effectively improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Chizhou Yan
  • Patent number: 11901594
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle includes the steps of registering a maximum dynamics requirement and adapting the idling operating mode of a fuel cell system of the motor vehicle on the basis of the maximum dynamics requirement. In the first maximum dynamics requirement, lower dynamics are required than in the second maximum dynamics requirement. In the first maximum dynamics requirement, the fuel cell system is operated in a first idling operating mode. In the second maximum dynamics requirement the fuel cell system is operated in a second idling operating mode. The fuel cell system is operated more efficiently in the first idling operating mode than in the second idling operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank David, Juergen Thyroff
  • Patent number: 11888193
    Abstract: The fuel cell system is a fuel cell system wherein, when the amount of power generated by a fuel cell is determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, a controller issues an intermittent supply command to intermittently supply fuel gas to the fuel cell; wherein the intermittent supply command includes a first intermittent supply command and a second intermittent supply command; wherein the first intermittent supply command increases the flow rate of the fuel gas by setting the opening degree during pressure rise of a linear solenoid valve to relatively more than the second intermittent supply command; and wherein, after the first intermittent supply command, the second intermittent supply command decreases the flow rate of the fuel gas for a predetermined time by setting the opening degree during pressure rise of the linear solenoid valve to relatively less than the first intermittent supply command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11837763
    Abstract: A system and method for predictive fuel cell management system for an integrated hydrogen-electric engine is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells and a computer having a memory and one or more processors. The one or more processors configured to predict, during a first phase of energy demand on the integrated hydrogen-electric engine, an impending occurrence of a second phase of energy demand on the integrated hydrogen-electric engine, wherein the second phase of energy demand includes a predetermined energy demand; and generate a predetermined amount of energy from the plurality of fuel cells based on the predicted second phase of energy demand prior to starting the second phase of energy demand to improve energy efficiency and performance of the integrated hydrogen-electric engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZeroAvia Ltd
    Inventors: Valery Miftakhov, Stephen Lawes
  • Patent number: 11836814
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for an energy or fuel sharing network system. The energy or fuel sharing network system includes an in-house fuel cell apparatus that is coupled or included within a home. The in-house fuel cell apparatus includes a generation and distribution unit. The generation and distribution unit is configured to generate energy or fuel and provide the energy or fuel to a vehicle. The energy or fuel sharing network system includes an energy or fuel sharing platform. The energy or fuel sharing platform includes a processor. The processor is configured to determine a location of the in-house fuel cell apparatus, and provide the location of the in-house fuel cell apparatus to the vehicle or a user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakagawa, Makoto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11826718
    Abstract: Systems and methods for eliminating carbon dioxide and capturing solid carbon are disclosed. By eliminating carbon dioxide gas, e.g., from an effluent exhaust stream of a fossil fuel fired electric power production facility, the inventive concepts presented herein represent an environmentally-clean solution that permanently eliminates greenhouse gases while at the same time producing captured solid carbon products that are useful in various applications including advanced composite material synthesis (e.g., carbon fiber, 3D graphene) and energy storage (e.g., battery technology). Capture of solid carbon during the disclosed process for eliminating greenhouse gasses avoids the inefficiencies and risks associated with conventional carbon dioxide sequestration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lyten, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Stowell, Lauren Sienko
  • Patent number: 11784327
    Abstract: A fuel cell cooling system may include a fuel cell stack that produces electricity by use of a fuel, a fuel cell cooler that cools cooling water for cooling the fuel cell stack through exchange of heat with external air, an exhaust line that exhausts an exhaust gas generated by the fuel cell stack, a condenser fluidically connected to the exhaust line to generate condensate by condensing the exhaust gas and store the generated condensate, an ejector connected to the condenser to eject the condensate to an external surface of the fuel cell cooler, and a condensate cooler connected to the condenser to cool the condensate stored in the condenser through exchange of heat therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Gang Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 11764601
    Abstract: A power supply system connected to a motor unit of an electric vehicle, the power supply system includes: a fuel cell; a secondary battery; a voltage control unit; and a switch. The fuel cell is directly connected to the motor unit, the secondary battery is connected to the motor unit via the voltage control unit, and the switch is configured to switch between a first state in which the secondary battery and the voltage control unit are connected in parallel with the fuel cell and a second state in which the secondary battery and the voltage control unit are connected in series with the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 11715837
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for using an energy storage device to assist a venturi or an ejector in a fuel cell or fuel stack system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventor: Richard Ancimer
  • Patent number: 11670787
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a power supply control system includes a state acquirer configured to acquire states of a plurality of fuel cell systems mounted in an electric device that operates using electric power, a power acquirer configured to acquire a required amount of electric power from the electric device, and a power generation controller configured to control power generation of one or more fuel cell systems among the plurality of fuel cell systems so that the required amount of electric power acquired by the power acquirer is satisfied on the basis of the state of each of the plurality of fuel cell systems acquired by the state acquirer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Taruya, Daishi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11563221
    Abstract: A plug connector is provided for making electrical contact with a multiple number of bipolar plates having a contact groove. The plug connector includes a plug body formed from electrically insulating material, through which plug body a multiple number of electrically separated contact elements are guided, one contact element of each of which engaging in a corresponding contact groove of one of the bipolar plates and thereby making electrical contact with the bipolar plate. Each of the contact elements takes the form of an elastically deformable wire bracket engaging in the contact groove. A bipolar plate may be combined with a plug connector and other components of a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Sebastian Gehres
  • Patent number: 11522204
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a first cooling line configured to circulate a first coolant that passes via the fuel cell stack, a first radiator disposed on the first cooling line, a valve configured to switch a flow path of the first coolant to the fuel cell stack or the first radiator, and a controller connected to the valve and configured to set a target temperature at an inlet of the fuel cell stack and a correction coefficient for controlling an opening degree of the valve, measure a first coolant temperature at an outlet of the fuel cell stack and a second coolant temperature at an outlet of the first radiator, calculate the opening degree of the valve based on the first coolant temperature, the second coolant temperature, the target temperature, and the correction coefficient, and correct the correction coefficient based on comparison of a third coolant temperature at the inlet of the fuel cell stack and the target temperature, in response to the opening degree being within a first ran
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Kyung Choi, Jong Bo Won
  • Patent number: 11505871
    Abstract: A method includes operating a water electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water. A PEM electrolyzer (1) is integrated in a water circuit (4) in the electrolysis device. The water circuit (4) feeds reaction water as well as discharges excess water. The water circuit (4) is lead past the PEM electrolyzer (1) via a bypass conduit (14) on starting up the water electrolysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HOELLER ELECTROLYZER GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Höller
  • Patent number: 11495813
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a membrane-electrode assembly comprising a membrane structure with an anode layer, a cathode layer, and a membrane layer, wherein the membrane layer is positioned between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The membrane-electrode assembly furthermore comprises an anode-side gas-diffusion layer arranged on the anode layer and a cathode-side gas-diffusion layer arranged on the cathode layer. Furthermore, at least one of the anode-side gas-diffusion and the cathode-side gas-diffusion layers has a structure on the side facing away from the membrane structure. According to some embodiments, the structure comprises a plurality of columns for forming a laterally-open flow field, wherein the columns have support surfaces for supporting a bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, Sanjiv Kumar, Sebastian Voigt
  • Patent number: 11482753
    Abstract: A fire-resistant energy storage device includes a fire-resistant chassis, one or more energy storage elements housed in the fire-resistant chassis, and a heat exchanger configured to (a) cool the one or more energy storage elements and (b) protect the one or more energy storage elements from a fire external to the fire-resistant energy storage device. An energy storage assembly includes (a) a plurality of physically separate fire-resistant energy storage devices, each of the plurality of physically separate fire-resistant energy storage devices being configured to protect one or more energy storage elements of the fire-resistant energy storage device from a fire external to the fire-resistant energy storage device, and (b) at least one power converter configured to electrically interface the plurality of physically separate fire-resistant energy storage devices with an electric power buss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: John Røn Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11476478
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a control device. The control device raises the voltage of the fuel cell stack until a predetermined voltage condition is met, by supplying a cathode with an oxidant gas before current sweep is started when the fuel cell system is started and a value measured by a temperature sensor is equal to or less than a temperature determined in advance. The control device executes stand-by control, in which a current command value is kept constant, when a measured voltage value reaches a control start voltage value smaller than a voltage command value in a transition period, and ends the stand-by control by permitting a change in the current command value when the measured voltage value reaches a permission voltage value equal to or more than the voltage command value during execution of the stand-by control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryouichi Namba
  • Patent number: 11462762
    Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a lower case and an upper case. A cell stack of multiple fuel cells is accommodated in the lower case. The upper case is coupled to the lower case. Substrates on which electronic components are implemented are mounted to an inner side of the upper case. A wall extending from a top plate of the upper case is provided between a side plate of the upper case and the substrates. When the upper case is turned, the wall prevents falling dust from adhering to the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11450874
    Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell stack, an electrical device, a harness connected to the electrical device, and a casing incorporating the fuel cell stack, the electrical device, and the harness. The casing includes a first accommodation portion, a second accommodation portion, and a partition wall provided with a first communication hole through which the harness passes, the first accommodation portion accommodating the fuel cell stack, the second accommodation portion accommodating the electrical device, the partition wall partitioning the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion, and the partition wall is provided with at least one second communication hole through which the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion communicate with each other, in addition to the first communication hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Sumikawa, Hiroyuki Sekine, Masahiro Katayama, Masahiko Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11355765
    Abstract: A cooling control system and method for fuel cells are provided. The cooling control system includes a fuel cell, a cooling circulation line connected to the fuel cell to circulate cooling water for cooling the fuel cell therein and a cooling water pump provided on the cooling circulation line to adjust a circulation amount of the cooling water. A calculation unit calculates a thermal energy change of the fuel cell based on a heating value and an amount of radiant heat of the fuel cell. A controller operates the cooling water pump based on the calculated thermal energy change of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jung Hwan Ryu
  • Patent number: 11345331
    Abstract: A heavy duty power distribution system is provided that includes an electric vehicle control module and a cable interface coupled with the electric vehicle control module. The electric vehicle control module includes an electric vehicle frame assembly and a power distribution component coupled with the electric vehicle control module frame assembly. The electric vehicle control module frame assembly is configured to support components of the electric vehicle control module on a vehicle frame rail, e.g., behind a cab thereof. A cowling is disposed around the power distribution component. The cable interface has a first junction and a second junction which are configured to connect the power distribution component with a power source and a load respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Hexagon Purus North America Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Aaron Heffelfinger, Todd F. Sloan, Eric M. Coupal-Sikes, Jordan Foster, Benjamin Parker
  • Patent number: 11271230
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for electrical supply of an apparatus by a system including an intermittent electrical source, electrical storage unit, a fuel cell, and an electrochemical unit for generating the fuel. The method includes steps of: determining a power balance of the system depending on the power consumed by the apparatus and supplied by the intermittent electrical source; receiving data representative of the stability of the power balance during a safety period; controlling the fuel cell and the electrochemical unit: to activate the electrochemical unit if the power balance is greater than a first threshold and the data are not characteristic of a subsequent decrease in the power balance; activating the fuel cell if the power balance is less than a second threshold, which is less than the first threshold, and the data are not characteristic of a subsequent increase in the power balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITÉ D'OrlÉANS
    Inventors: Pascal Brault, Cédric Grolleau, Samuel Rouxel, Serge Gasnier, Amael Caillard, Thomas Lecas
  • Patent number: 11171381
    Abstract: A cell pack includes a plurality of unit cells arranged in an arrangement direction and a restraint mechanism for restraining these unit cells. The restraint mechanism includes: a first end plate portion disposed at an end portion in a first direction of the arrangement direction of the plurality of unit cells; a second end plate portion disposed at an end portion in a second direction of the arrangement direction of the plurality of unit cells; and a ring-shaped restraining hoop portion A dimension in the arrangement direction between the first end plate portion and the second end plate portion of the restraining hoop portion is set such that a predetermined restraining pressure is applied in a direction of compressing the plurality of unit cells along the arrangement direction. A method for assembling the cell pack is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seigo Fujishima, Masayuki Kitaura
  • Patent number: 11152634
    Abstract: A method of controlling voltage of a fuel cell includes steps of: determining whether a mode is a high-voltage avoidance mode of the fuel cell; controlling a fuel cell stack voltage to be at a predetermined reference value or less when the mode is the high-voltage avoidance mode of the fuel cell; monitoring individual cell voltages of the fuel cell and determining whether a maximum value of the monitored individual cell voltages exceeds a predetermined individual value; reducing a reference value of the fuel cell stack voltage when the maximum value of the monitored individual cell voltages exceed the predetermined individual value; and controlling the fuel cell stack voltage at the reduced reference value or less. The method and system for controlling fuel cell voltage is provided to secure durability and performance of individual cells of a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gun Hyung Park, Dae Jong Kim, Seung Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11145883
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a first fuel cell; a second fuel cell having a greater maximum power output than the first fuel cell; and a controller configured to cause the first fuel cell to generate greater electric power greater than the second fuel cell when the requested power is smaller than a first threshold, cause the second fuel cell to generate greater electric power than the first fuel cell when the requested power is a second threshold, which is the first threshold or greater and smaller than a third threshold that is greater than the second threshold, is 70% of the maximum power output of the second fuel cell or grater, and is 100% of the maximum power output of the second fuel cell or smaller, and cause both the first and second fuel cells to generate electric power when the requested power is the third threshold or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 11139490
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a secondary battery; first and second fuel cells; first and second scavenging devices configured to scavenge the first and second fuel cells, respectively; and a control device configured to perform a first scavenging process of scavenging the first fuel cell by driving the first scavenging device using a charged power of the secondary battery when the first and second fuel cells are in a power generation stopped state and to perform a second scavenging process of scavenging the second fuel cell by driving the second scavenging device using a generated power of the first fuel cell when the first fuel cell is in a power generation state and the second fuel cell is in the power generation stopped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kumei, Masayuki Ito, Tomohiko Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10998565
    Abstract: A coolant temperature control system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle includes a controller for determining a real time target exit temperature of a fuel cell stack coolant and a communicating device for detecting a fuel cell voltage and a fuel cell current outputted from the fuel cell stack. The real time target exit temperature of the fuel cell stack coolant is determined by an input fuel cell heat to fuel cell power ratio generated from the fuel cell stack for compensating the target exit temperature due to degradation of the fuel cell stack over time. In addition, the coolant temperature control system determines to activate for evaluating the real time target exit temperature of the fuel cell stack coolant when a trip distance of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin Lee
  • Patent number: 10985396
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided and includes a fuel cell assembly in which a plurality of fuel cells are stacked between upper and lower current collectors. The fuel cell stack includes an enclosure that pressurizes and seals the fuel cell assembly in a stacked direction of the fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Suk Min Baeck, Young Bum Kum, Kwi Seong Jeong
  • Patent number: 10980116
    Abstract: A matrix of battery cell modules includes a flexible printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for a conformal wearable battery (CWB) with a plurality of attachment sections for each of a plurality of battery cells that are arranged in a grid-like pattern on a same side of the flexible PCBA. Each battery cell may be joined with a flexible PCB via a welding process. The flexible PCBA is configured to fold along a bend axis so that the flexible PCBA is folded approximately in half. When affixed to the flexible PCBA, the plurality of battery cell modules and a circuitry module form a grid of physical components. When folded, the flexible PCBA forms a three-dimensional grid of physical components comprising at least the battery cell modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Inventus Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilyas Ayub, William Mark Batts, Timothy James Vallaro, Elijah Brett Goldin, Anvin Joe Manadan
  • Patent number: 10930945
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are provided. The control method includes acquiring a first pressure that corresponds to a pressure in an anode immediately before starting and determining a hydrogen supply target differential pressure value that corresponds to a pressure value boosted in the anode by hydrogen supplied to the anode when starting the system, based on an intensity of the acquired first pressure acquired. An opening degree of a hydrogen supply valve connected to the anode is then adjusted to supply sufficient hydrogen to boost the pressure in the anode that corresponds to the hydrogen supply target differential pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Jae Lee, Dae Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 10927774
    Abstract: An engine controller to control a plurality of engines is disclosed. The engine controller may identify a plurality of engines configured to provide power to a load, wherein the plurality of engines have a first set of priorities associated with providing the power to the load; receive a plurality of parameters from a plurality of monitoring devices monitoring the plurality of engines; calculate a plurality of metrics corresponding to the plurality of engines based on the plurality of parameters; determine, based on the plurality of metrics, that a switching condition is satisfied to switch from the first set of priorities to a second set of priorities for the plurality of engines; determine the second set of priorities for the plurality of engines based on the plurality of metrics; and cause the plurality of engines to provide respective amounts of power to the load based on the second set of priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun Cai, Ronald Gayles, Yanchai Zhang, Stephen Nofsinger, Maurice Dust
  • Patent number: 10916787
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a water supply unit configured to supply water from a first water storage unit to a second water storage unit, and a water usage unit uses water in the second water storage unit. The first and second water storage units store produced water form the fuel cell. When the amount of water stored in the first water storage unit exceeds a first predetermined value and the amount of water stored in the second water storage unit is smaller than a second predetermined value, water is supplied from the first water storage unit to the second water storage unit. When water is being used by the water usage unit, water is supplied from the first water storage unit to the second water storage unit even when the amount of water stored in the second water storage unit is not smaller than the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakajo, Takashi Koyama, Ryo Yoshioka, Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 10914233
    Abstract: In a power generation system, exhausted fuel gas exhausted from a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is used as a fuel of a first combustor or a second combustor of a gas turbine, and at the same time, a part of compressed air compressed by a compressor of the gas turbine is used to drive the SOFC. The gas turbine includes the first combustor for burning fuel gas which is different from the exhausted fuel gas, a first turbine configured to be driven by combustion gas supplied from the first combustor, the second combustor for burning at least a part of the exhausted fuel gas, and a second turbine coupled with the first turbine and configured to be driven by combustion gas supplied from the second combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: So Manabe, Kentaro Fujii
  • Patent number: 10910661
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell manufactured using the same. The planar membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell may include an ionomer membrane formed on both side surfaces of an electrode and between the electrode and an electrolyte membrane, thereby increasing interfacial bonding force between the electrode and the electrolyte membrane and improving the durability of a cell. In addition, the membrane electrode assembly may include planar or smooth surfaces such that formation of voids or surface steps between the electrode and a sub-gasket may be prevented, thereby improving airtightness and preventing deterioration attributable to concentration of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min Jin Kim, Woo Jin Lee, Yong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 10897152
    Abstract: Deterioration of a power storage device is reduced. Switches that control the connections of a plurality of power storage devices separately are provided. The switches are controlled with a plurality of control signals, so as to switch between charge and discharge of each of the power storage devices or between serial connection and parallel connection of the plurality of power storage devices. Further, a semiconductor circuit having a function of carrying out arithmetic is provided for the power storage devices, so that a control system of the power storage devices or a power storage system is constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Takahashi, Junpei Momo, Yutaka Shionoiri
  • Patent number: 10892508
    Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell stack having a stacked plurality of single cells; a stack case housing the fuel cell stack; a component case having an opening dosed by a wall of the stack case that is parallel to a stacking direction of the single cells; and a high-voltage component which is housed inside the component case and fixed to at least one of an opposite wall and an extending wall of the component case, on a surface of that wall facing the inside of the component case, and to which electricity generated in the fuel cell stack is supplied. The opposite wall faces the opening. The extending wall extends from the opposite wall toward the stack case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 10844501
    Abstract: Electrocatalysts composed of single atoms dispersed over porous carbon support were prepared by a lithium-melt method. The new catalysts demonstrated high selectivity, high Faradic efficiency and low overpotential toward to the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: UChicago Argonne, LLC, Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University
    Inventors: Di-Jia Liu, Tao Xu, Dominic Rebollar, Haiping Xu
  • Patent number: 10794250
    Abstract: An electrochemical reactor 70 is provided with a proton conductive solid electrolyte layer 75; an anode layer 76 arranged on the surface of the solid electrolyte layer and able to hold water molecules; a cathode layer 77 arranged on the surface of the solid electrolyte layer; and a current control device 73 controlling a current flowing through the anode layer and the cathode layer. The current control device reduces the current flowing through the anode layer and the cathode layer, when the water molecules held in the anode layer become smaller in amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakuma, Keishi Takada, Hiromasa Nishioka
  • Patent number: 10741857
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a water storage unit configured to store water recovered from the fuel cell and be able to drain the stored water, a water usage unit configured to use the water in the water storage unit, and a control unit configured to control a drain of the water from the water storage unit. The control unit is configured to, when a first predetermined time has elapsed since a last drain of the water from the water storage unit, drain the water from the water storage unit. The control unit is configured to, when it is predicted that the water in the water storage unit is used by the water usage unit within a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time, not drain the water from the water storage unit even when the first predetermined time has elapsed since the drain of the water from the water storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakajo, Takashi Koyama, Ryo Yoshioka, Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Patent number: 10727512
    Abstract: A device for monitoring electricity generation comprising: an acquirer that acquires a total value of cell voltage from multiple cells including fuel cells; an increaser that increases the anode gas now rate to the multiple cells when the total value shows a possibility of negative voltage occurring in some of the multiple cells; and a judger that judges if negative voltage occurred in some of the multiple cells based on the total value following the increase of the anode gas flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Shiokawa, Tetsuya Bono, Osamu Hamanoi
  • Patent number: 10720618
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an end plate and a battery module. The end plate comprises an end plate body, which has an inner surface and an outer surface that are opposed in a thickness direction of the end plate body, the outer surface is engaged with a fixing band for the battery module; and a limiting assembly, which is disposed on the outer surface, the limiting assembly includes a fixed clamping member and a movable clamping member which are spaced apart from each other in a height direction of the end plate body and are used in cooperation with each other. A clamping space is formed between the fixed clamping member and the movable clamping member. The movable clamping member can make room for the fixing band so that the fixing band enters the clamping space by the movable clamping member and is limited within the clamping space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Chao Long, Huabin Zou, Derong Wang, Linggang Zhou, Cong Bao
  • Patent number: 10714783
    Abstract: A system includes a first plurality of fuel cell stacks configured to generate a first portion of an electric potential and a second plurality of fuel cell stacks configured to generate a second portion of the electric potential. The system includes a positive electrical bus bar conductively coupled with the first plurality of fuel cell stacks and configured to power an electrical load using the generated electric potential. The system includes a negative electrical bus bar conductively coupled with the second plurality of fuel cell stacks and configured to electrical load using the generated electric potential. The positive electrical bus bar is elongated and extends between the first plurality of fuel cell stacks and the negative electrical bus bar is elongated and extends between the second plurality of fuel cell stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Irfan Saif Hussaini, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Keith Garrette Brown
  • Patent number: 10693161
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system having a fuel cell, which determines whether an operating state thereof is a low-temperature-startup operation or a normal-running operation and performs recovery control for increasing a concentration gradient of water in an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell to be greater than that in the normal-running operation when it is determined that the operating state is the low-temperature-startup operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumio Kagami
  • Patent number: 10630093
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the architecture of the power supply of a load, includes the following steps: determination of a mission profile (16) sizing according to the power required by the load over time; definition of the sources of energy storage for hybridization; association of a characteristic behavior model with each source of energy storage; determination of the couples of sources of energy storage that can generate the mission profile with a minimum mass; and determination, from the potential couples of sources of energy storage, of the couple with the weakest mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: AIRBUS GROUP SAS, AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS, AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Benoit Fleury, Gregor Massiot, Pierre-Bertrand Lancelevee, Julien Labbe
  • Patent number: 10629929
    Abstract: A test cell configured to qualify an apparatus for characterizing cells of at least one fuel cell and a method for producing such a test cell. The test cell includes a first and a second contact face respectively including a first and a second contact area entirely or partially occupying a surface of the corresponding contact face, the first and second contact faces together delimiting an interior volume. The test cell further includes an equivalent passive circuit configured to have an equivalent impedance to at least one cell of a fuel cell, the equivalent circuit including a first and a second output terminal respectively connected to the first and second contact areas, the equivalent circuit being housed in the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Julien Vulliet
  • Patent number: 10615437
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a voltage sensor that measures output voltage of the fuel cell; a converter that boosts the output voltage; and a control unit that controls the converter using a duty ratio including a feedforward term and a feedback term, the feedforward term being set to perform feedforward control, the feedback term being set to perform feedback control, wherein when the control unit causes the converter to boost the output voltage, and when the feedforward term calculated by specified Expression I exceeds an upper limit calculated by specified Expression II, the control unit causes the converter to boost the voltage output from the fuel cell with the duty ratio including the upper limit and the feedback term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Tano, Shinji Aso, Yuji Kakeno
  • Patent number: 10593973
    Abstract: A fuel cell system incorporated in a vehicle includes a fuel cell that uses a reaction gas to generate electric power and a controller. When output restriction that restricts the electric power output by the fuel cell is performed, (a) the controller does not store a content of the performed output restriction as a history in a case where a throttle opening of a throttle is smaller than an opening threshold or an output request is smaller than an output threshold, the output request being issued to the fuel cell and set in accordance with the throttle opening, and (b) the controller stores the content of the performed output restriction as a history in a case where a condition specified in advance is satisfied while the throttle opening is greater than the opening threshold and the output request is greater than the output threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromu Saito
  • Patent number: 10547041
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a grouping of battery cells and a plurality of array frames for retaining the grouping of battery cells. Each of the plurality of array frames includes a ratchet feature. A column bolt includes a raised surface configured to mate with the ratchet feature of each of the plurality of array frames to secure the plurality of array frames together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Saravanan Paramasivam, Mladen Marjanovic, Kimberley King, Steve Droste
  • Patent number: 10529999
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus, a power supply system, and a power supply method increase the power generation efficiency of the system overall in a system that includes a plurality of power source units. A power supply apparatus operates distributed power sources in parallel, the distributed power sources including power source units, and supplies output power from the distributed power sources to a load. The power supply apparatus includes a controller that controls each power source unit so that output power from whichever of the power source units has higher power generation efficiency is prioritized to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Suzuki