Voltage Patents (Class 429/432)
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Patent number: 11545686Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of unit cells is stacked, a detection unit configured to detect a cell voltage of at least one of the unit cells, a converter configured to regulate an output current of the fuel cell stack, and a control device configured to control the converter. The control device executes current reduction processing for reducing the output current in a stepwise manner when the cell voltage detected by the detection unit is a negative voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuyori Yamada, Masaaki Matsusue
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Patent number: 11518275Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell; a storage portion to store produced water that is produced as a result of power generation by the fuel cell; a drainage valve for switching between a storage state and a drainage state of discharging the produced water from the storage portion to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle; a road information acquisition portion configured to acquire road information on roads on which the fuel cell vehicle travels; and a controller configured to drainage valve control operation. The controller sets a road region meeting a first condition defined in advance regarding road information and that permits the drainage state as a first road region where the drainage state is permitted, and the controller performs drainage if a drainage implementation condition defined in advance, including traveling of the fuel cell vehicle in the first road region, is fulfilled.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Takashi Harayama, Ayano Asai, Koji Terashima, Shigeaki Murata, Tomio Yamanaka, Syun Yoshida
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Patent number: 11522205Abstract: The control device is provided with a power generation part configured to be able to selectively perform normal power generation and low efficiency power generation in which the power generation loss is greater compared with normal power generation when there is a request for warmup of the fuel cell. The power generation part temporarily stops the low efficiency power generation and performs normal power generation when during performance of the low efficiency power generation the target generated electric power of the fuel cell becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined first switching electric power.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryouichi Namba, Toshiyuki Sanada
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Patent number: 11515548Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a reaction gas supply portion, and a control unit. The control unit performs two stages of purging that are a first purging and a second purging in which the flow rate of the reaction gas is smaller than the flow rate of the reaction gas of the first purging, and provides a purging standby time between the first purging and the second purging, and in a case in which an operation mode of the fuel cell stack when power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped is a high output mode in which an output is higher than the output of a normal mode, the control unit makes a purging time longer than the purging time of the first purging that is performed in the normal mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keitaro Yamamori, Koro Fujio
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Patent number: 11513161Abstract: A method of detecting abnormality includes acquiring, by a computer, operation log data that include measured data of a plurality of items related to an operation of a mobile object that is electrically driven; and determining, based on the operation log data, that an abnormality occurs in the mobile object when measured data of two items among the plurality of items do not satisfy a linear relationship, the two items having the linear relationship in a normal state of the mobile object.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Toshio Ito
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Patent number: 11515551Abstract: A fuel cell recovery control system and method are provided to supply hydrogen to the cathode of a fuel cell stack to remove an oxide film formed on a platinum surface of the cathode. The performance of the fuel cell stack is recovered in accordance with the oxide film removal. In addition, electric power generated during the performance recovery of the fuel cell stack is consumed in an inverter and, as such, overcharge of a battery is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Hyun Bae Dong, Won Jung Kim, Yong Doo Son
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Patent number: 11493558Abstract: A capacity measurement system of a secondary battery that estimates an SOC with high estimation accuracy in a short time at low cost is provided. The capacity measurement system of a secondary battery is an estimation system of a state of charge of a power storage device that includes a unit for acquiring time-series data of a voltage measured value and a current measured value of a first power storage device; a unit for normalizing the time-series data of the voltage measured value; a unit for normalizing the time-series data of the current measured value; a database creation unit for creating a database where an SOC of the first power storage device is linked to superimposed data of time-series data of a time axis corresponding to a vertical axis and time-series data of a time axis corresponding to a horizontal axis; and a neural network unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryota Tajima, Akihiro Chida, Masataka Shiokawa
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Patent number: 11489172Abstract: Each of separator members of a fuel cell stack includes a cell voltage terminal protruding outward from an outer peripheral portion of a separator body. Each of the cell voltage terminals includes a plate shaped terminal, first protrusions, and second protrusions. At least some of the cell voltage terminals are arranged in a line in a stacking direction. In the cell voltage terminals facing each other in the stacking direction, the first protrusion of one of the cell voltage terminals and the second protrusion of the other of the cell voltage terminals face each other, and contact each other through an electrically insulating member.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Suguru Ohmori
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Patent number: 11482742Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery stack; a restraint member on one side that restrains one side, in a Y direction, of the battery stack and includes a coolant passage on one side through which coolant flows; a restraint member on the other side that restrains the other side, in the Y direction, of the battery stack and includes a coolant passage on the other side through which coolant flows; an end plate on one side that restrains one side, in an X direction, of the battery stack; and an end plate on the other side that restrains the other side, in the X direction, of the battery stack. At least one of the end plates on the sides, includes a coolant passage on end side through which coolant passes, and the coolant passage on the end side communicates with the coolant passages on the sides.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirotaka Ogino, Chifumi Murayama
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Patent number: 11482718Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a leak in an energy converter system (1) containing a gas. A pressure regulator (3) is used to regulate a gas pressure in the energy converter system (1), and the pressure regulator (3) has a gas metering valve (4). The method has the following steps: a. measuring an inlet pressure (10) of the pressure regulator (3) and measuring an outlet pressure (12) of the pressure regulator (3), b. measuring an output variable (16) of the energy converter system (1) and calculating a gas requirement in the energy converter system (1) on the basis of the output variable (16) of the energy converter system (1), c. determining a first calculated flow (20) through the pressure regulator (3) on the basis of the measured inlet pressure (10) of the pressure regulator (3) and the measured outlet pressure (12) of the pressure regulator (3), d. determining a second calculated flow (22) through the pressure regulator (3) on the basis of the gas requirement, e.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Helerson Kemmer, Johannes Schild
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Patent number: 11462753Abstract: An electric connector for fuel cell stack voltage monitoring includes at least two separate units, each unit including a plurality of pins, each pin being adapted to contact a plate of the fuel cell stack for monitoring a fuel cell stack voltage. The first pin of each unit is adapted to provide a measurement of a reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: POWERCELL SWEDEN ABInventors: Stefan Munthe, Mattias Holmberg
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Patent number: 11462758Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a first fuel cell; a second fuel cell having a greater maximum power output than a maximum power output of 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, or greater and is smaller than a third threshold that is greater than the second threshold and is greater than 50% of a sum of the maximum power outputs of the first and second fuel cells, and cause both the first and second fuel cells to generate electric power when the requested power is the third threshold or greater.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masayuki Ito
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Patent number: 11450869Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell stack having a discharge manifold, a second fuel cell stack having a discharge manifold, a first auxiliary machine used for power generation of the first fuel cell stack, a second auxiliary machine used for power generation of the second fuel cell stack, and a controller configured to control operation of the first auxiliary machine and the second auxiliary machine. The controller is configured to control operation of the first auxiliary machine and the second auxiliary machine, such that one of the first fuel cell stack and the second fuel cell stack, of which a discharge direction of reaction gas discharged from the discharge manifold forms a smaller angle with a vertical downward direction, starts generating power earlier than the other fuel cell stack, after power generation of the first fuel cell stack and the second fuel cell stack is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Ito, Hideyuki Kumei, Tomohiko Kaneko
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Patent number: 11431011Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for determining at least one actual value of a controlled variable of a conditioning unit for a reactant of a fuel cell. In one example embodiment, the method steps for determining the at least one actual value of a controlled variable includes: measuring a measured value of the actual value of the at least one controlled variable, calculating a model value of the at least one controlled variable using a model of the conditioning unit, calculating a model value of the actual value of the at least one controlled variable using a sensor model, calculating a correction value for the at least one controlled variable, and calculating the actual value of the at least one controlled variable as the sum of the correction value and of the model value of the at least one controlled variable.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: AVL List GmbHInventors: János Kancsár, Stefan Jakubek, Christoph Kügele
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Patent number: 11424462Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell. The method includes closing a cathode inlet valve upstream of an inlet of a cathode of the fuel cell to prevent air from entering the fuel cell through the cathode inlet during a shutdown period and a soak period of the fuel cell. The method includes maintaining an anode outlet valve downstream of an outlet of the anode in a closed state to prevent air from leaking into the fuel cell through the anode outlet during the shutdown period and the soak period of the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, Victor Dobrin
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Patent number: 11423378Abstract: A system for enabling electrical devices to exchange either battery or battery fluids or reagents that supply the energy for the battery or device with new recharged batteries or battery fluids or reagents for use in equipment including vehicles, excavating and earthmoving equipment, tractors and agricultural equipment or aircraft, smaller devices such as mobile phones, telecommunication devices and portable computers. This system involves handling and billing systems to ensure this is all done and that satisfactory payment to the supplier parties is achieved. The system involves packaging reagents such as enzymes, anodes, gases, etc. in sealed systems in order to ensure their integrity or having control over the delivery and retrieval and internal use systems to ensure the reagent is kept secure and uncontaminated.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Inventor: Dignan Rayner
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Patent number: 11424472Abstract: A testing device for a fuel cell stack has multiple fuel cells which are stacked along a stack axis with each having media openings in the form of through-holes. Corresponding media openings align to form media lines when in the stacked state. The testing device has a rod which can be introduced into a media line, and at least one sealing element which is arranged on the rod to seal off the media line and to isolate at least one fuel cell of the fuel cell stack from the other fuel cells, and/or at least one contact element which can be introduced with the rod to make electrical contact with an individual fuel cell inside the media line.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Julian Arndt Hirschfeld, Johannes Schmid
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Patent number: 11417902Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system detects catalytic layer deterioration and drainage malfunction by the following inspection process. The controller may: execute drainage of water from a fuel cell, and acquire first/second output voltages of the fuel cell when an output current density of the fuel cell is a first reference current density A1/A2 (A2>A1). When the first output voltage is lower than a first threshold voltage and the second output voltage is higher than a second threshold voltage, the controller may output a first determination signal indicating that the catalytic layer is deteriorated and the drainage is executed without malfunction. When the first output voltage is higher than the first threshold voltage and the second output voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage, the controller may output a second determination signal indicating that the catalytic layer is not deteriorated and the drainage is executed with malfunction.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junji Nakanishi, Tomoo Yoshizumi, Koro Fujio
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Patent number: 11403609Abstract: A system for enabling electrical devices to exchange either battery or battery fluids or reagents that supply the energy for the battery or device with new recharged batteries or battery fluids or reagents for use in equipment including vehicles, excavating and earthmoving equipment, tractors and agricultural equipment or aircraft, smaller devices such as mobile phones, telecommunication devices and portable computers. This system involves handling and billing systems to ensure this is all done and that satisfactory payment to the supplier parties is achieved. The system involves packaging reagents such as enzymes, anodes, gases, etc. in sealed systems in order to ensure their integrity or having control over the delivery and retrieval and internal use systems to ensure the reagent is kept secure and uncontaminated.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Inventor: Dignan Rayner
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Patent number: 11387475Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature of the fuel cell, a cell unit voltage sensor that detects a voltage of each of fuel cell units, and a controller that controls the fuel cell system. The controller restricts an output current of the fuel cell when the voltage of the individual fuel cell unit becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value in a warm-up operation, execute the warm-up operation when the temperature of the fuel cell is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, after the fuel cell system receives a start-up request, and stop an operation of the fuel cell system when a stop condition including that the voltage of the fuel cell unit is continuously equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage value for a predetermined time is satisfied after start of the warm-up operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masashi Toida, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Yusuke Nishida
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Patent number: 11349167Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an open metal-air fuel cell system capable of uninterrupted supply power, which relates to the field of metal-air fuel cell stacks and comprises a sensing subsystem, a controller, a circulating filtration subsystem, an electrolyte solution tank and several open metal-air fuel cell units. Open metal-air fuel cell units are sequentially arranged within the electrolyte solution tank, and each open metal-air fuel cell unit is connected with each other in parallel. An air electrode of the open metal-air fuel cell unit has a tank structure, and the trough structure has a concave surface upwards. The sensing subsystem is arranged within the electrolyte tank. The electrolyte solution tank is connected with a circulating filtration subsystem. The controller is used for controlling a circulating flow of the circulating filtration subsystem depending on electrolyte solution temperature information collected by the sensing subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Inventors: Mingming Dong, Liang Liang, Yu Zhang
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Patent number: 11343763Abstract: In one aspect, a network node receives a message indicating that UEs that require service are expected to enter a service area of the network node. The network node determines, based on the message, that a change in power management for radio equipment corresponding to the service area is required. The network node determines a timing for initiating the change in power management for the radio equipment, taking into account a predicted time for when the UEs are expected to enter the service area, and triggers the change in power management for the radio equipment, based on the determined timing. In another aspect, the network node predicts a departure time from the first service area for the UEs. The network node then sends to another network node, prior to the predicted departure time, an indication that the UEs are expected to enter a service area of the other network node.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)Inventors: Esther Sienkiewicz, Joakim Axmon
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Patent number: 11335928Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a hardware and software architecture enabling electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) to be performed on multiple electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells, at the same time without human interaction with the electrochemical devices and to use EIS to dynamically monitor the performance of a fuel cell system. Embodiment methods may include determining an impedance of a set of fuel cells using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, determining an ohmic polarization of the set of fuel cells from the impedance, determining a concentration polarization of the set of fuel cells from the impedance, comparing the ohmic polarization of the set of fuel cells to a first threshold, comparing the concentration polarization of the set of fuel cells to a second threshold, and initiating a corrective action when the ohmic polarization is above the first threshold or when the concentration polarization is below the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Karthick Sudhan S, Bhavana Ganesh, Abhishek Dudhmande, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ian Russell
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Patent number: 11322763Abstract: A system of fuel cells for an aircraft includes a plurality of fuel cells, a hydrogen circuit, an air circuit, and a first cooling circuit configured to cool a first subset of cells including at least two cells. The first cooling circuit includes a computer-controlled device for mixing a first liquid coolant at a first temperature with a second liquid coolant at a second temperature lower than the first temperature to obtain a liquid coolant having a target temperature, a liquid coolant restrictor configured to distribute the liquid coolant between the cells of the first subset, and an outlet valve, the opening of which is controlled by the computer as a function of the cooling needs of the cells of the first subset. The use of a cooling circuit to cool several fuel circuits makes it possible to limit the bulk of the fuel cells system.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignees: AIRBUS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBHInventors: Didier Poirier, Guido Klewer, Anthony Roux, Olivier Raspati, Matthieu Thomas, Olivier Verseux, Manuel Silvestre Salas
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Patent number: 11316181Abstract: A fuel cell unit structure includes: power generation cells; separators; a flow passage portion formed between the separators and including flow passages configured to supply gas to the power generation cells; gas flow-in ports configured to allow the gas to flow into the flow passage portion; gas flow-out ports configured to allow the gas to flow out from the flow passage portion; and an adjustment portion configured to adjust an amount of the gas flowing through the flow passages. The adjustment portion includes a first auxiliary flow passage provided between the power generation cells arranged to be opposed to each other on a same plane with a gas flow-in port of the gas flow-in ports being located on an extended line of an extending direction of the first auxiliary flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiro Takahata, Motoki Yaginuma
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Patent number: 11245124Abstract: A diagnostic system for determining the cathode gas quality of a fuel cell system has a fuel cell stack, with a diagnostic fuel cell which can be connected at the cathode side to a cathode supply line and at the anode side to an anode supply line of the fuel cell system. The diagnostic system furthermore comprises a detection unit which is configured to detect a measured value or the measured value time curve of the diagnostic fuel cell operating with the cathode gas provided via the cathode supply line and with the anode gas provided via the anode supply line. The present disclosure moreover relates to a fuel cell system having a diagnostic system, and to a corresponding method.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AGInventors: Lasse Schmidt, Sebastian Kirsch, Gerold Hübner
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Patent number: 11228045Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution structure (10) for providing at least one reaction gas, in particular a gas mixture containing oxygen (O2), for a fuel cell (100) or an electrolyser, having a first structure element (11) and a second structure element (12), wherein the first structure element (11) and the second structure element (12) are designed and arranged with respect to one another such that: a distribution area (15) for the reaction gas is formed between the first structure element (11) and the second structure element (12); a plurality of feed channels (16) branch off from the distribution area (15) and are orientated substantially perpendicular to the distribution area (15); and a plurality of discharge channels (17) are formed below the second structure element (12) and are orientated parallel to the distribution area (15).Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Helerson Kemmer, Jan Hendrik Ohs, Kai Weeber, Stefan Schoenbauer, Ulrich Berner
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Patent number: 11177491Abstract: A fuel cell having a structure for detachably mounting a cell-monitoring connector thereon includes separators arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a first direction, each of the separators including a receiving recess arranged in one side thereof, and hook-shaped gaskets respectively disposed on the separators and located around the receiving recess. The cell-monitoring connector includes a housing, at least a portion of the housing being received in a receiving space defined by the receiving recess, and connection terminals inserted into the housing to be connected to the separators. The housing includes a body inserted into the receiving space in a second direction that intersects the first direction, and a lever portion including a latching protrusion configured to be latched to or separated from a corresponding gasket among the hook-shaped gaskets by a pressing operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Molex, LLC, Yura CorporationInventors: Ki Wook Ohm, Kwi Seong Jeong, Duck Whan Kim, Suk Min Baeck, Ju Han Kim, Seung Jun Yeon, Young Bum Kum, Yong Suk Heo, Ho Sung Lee, Joon Woo Kim
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Patent number: 11177493Abstract: A fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell unit that is composed of a plurality of fuel cells including a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, a first supply device and a second supply device that supply reactive gas to the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell respectively, and a control device that controls running of the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell and operation of the first supply device and the second supply device. The control device suspends electric power generation by the first fuel cell and drives the first supply device to hold an opening circuit voltage of the first fuel cell within a target range, and suspends electric power generation by the second fuel cell and stops driving the second supply device when an output P required of the fuel cell unit is equal to 0.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Ito, Yasushi Araki, Tomohiko Kaneko
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Patent number: 11165080Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a supply device configured to supply a cathode gas to the fuel cell; and a control unit configured to execute recovery processing of causing a catalyst of the fuel cell to recover from performance deterioration by lowering an output voltage of the fuel cell. The control unit is configured to, when the recovery processing that has been executed is completed, control the supply device to place the fuel cell in a power generation paused state while making a stoichiometric ratio of the cathode gas lower than a stoichiometric ratio of the cathode gas in a normal operation state that is a state before execution of the recovery processing.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiko Kaneko, Masayuki Ito, Hideyuki Kumei
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Patent number: 11158909Abstract: A connector includes a protrusion. The protrusion protrudes toward a distal end side to serve as a distal end of the connector. The connector moves in a diagonal direction relative to a first separator. A worker positions the connector in a Z direction, before moving the connector. With an upward protrusion and an inward protrusion formed, the worker standing by a first side wall looks into a casing from above to see a portion around an attachment portion. When the connector is positioned close to the attachment portion, the worker looking into the casing from above cannot see a bottom surface of the connector. The worker can see the protrusion even when he or she cannot see the bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Imanishi
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Patent number: 11148546Abstract: A power supply control device that estimates a full charge capacity of a battery includes a determination unit that determines whether there is a need to correct a currently estimated full charge capacity when a state of charge of the battery is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value at a timing at which a power supply of the vehicle is turned OFF, a power transfer unit that transfers a predetermined power from the battery to another battery when the determination unit determines that there is a need to correct the currently estimated full charge capacity, and a capacity estimation unit that performs a predetermined full charge capacity estimating process on the battery at a timing at which the power supply of the vehicle is turned ON after power transfer by the power transfer unit or during the power transfer by the power transfer unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takayuki Akaishi, Sunao Horitake
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Patent number: 11139494Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system performs cathode gas supply control to raise an average cell voltage of a fuel cell stack by increasing supply of cathode gas to the fuel cell stack, when electric power required to be generated by the fuel cell stack is equal to zero, and the average cell voltage is lower than a predetermined target voltage. Under the cathode gas supply control, the controller sets the target voltage when a predetermined condition indicating that crossleak is likely to occur is satisfied, to a value higher than a reference target voltage as the target voltage in the case where the condition is not satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryoichi Namba, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Fujimura
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Patent number: 11139496Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell, second fuel cell, first voltage detector, second voltage detector, and controller. The first voltage detector detects voltage of first unit cells of the first fuel cell for every “N” unit cells on average, and the second voltage detector detects voltage of the second fuel cell as a whole, or detects voltage of second unit cells of the second fuel cell for every “M” unit cells on average, where “M” is larger than “N”. The controller determines whether any of the second unit cells is in a fuel deficiency state, based on the detection result of the first voltage detector, when a predetermined condition under which states of the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell are regarded as being close to each other is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Itou, Yasushi Araki
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Patent number: 11127959Abstract: A valve is disposed in a reactant gas system apparatus of a fuel cell system. The valve includes a housing having an internal channel as a passage of water, and heaters in the form of rods inserted into the housing. An orifice having a small channel cross sectional area is provided at a predetermined position of the channel. The heaters are inclined from a solenoid of the valve in an axial direction of the housing, and front ends of the heaters are positioned close to the orifice.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryoichi Yoshitomi, Tetsuya Fukuda
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Patent number: 11097621Abstract: In a power source system, a high-voltage battery and a low voltage battery are configured to store electric powers to be supplied to a traveling motor and an accessory, respectively. A step-up unit is interposed between the low-voltage battery and the traveling motor, and is configured to step up a voltage of the low-voltage battery and apply the stepped-up voltage to the traveling motor. A controller is configured to perform switching to a normal-time electric power supply circuit, in which the high-voltage battery and the traveling motor are coupled to each other, when the high-voltage battery is in a normal state and perform switching to an abnormal-time electric power supply circuit, in which the low-voltage battery and the traveling motor are coupled to each other via the step-up unit, when the high-voltage battery is in an abnormal state.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichiro Masaki, Takashi Inoue
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Patent number: 11088377Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system includes delivering an oxidant to at least one fuel cell by at least one oxidant delivery device where the stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant is modified on the basis of the delivery rate of the oxidant delivery device.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Volker Formanski, Maximilian Zettl
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Patent number: 11063266Abstract: A connector is moved obliquely to a first separator. An optical distance measuring device is used to optically measure an attachment position of the connector while using the first separator as a reference. A reference plane of the first separator is used as a reference. An inspection plane of the connector is also used as a reference. The inspection plane is formed to be parallel to the reference plane in the state that the connector is accurately attached to an attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Imanishi
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Patent number: 11056701Abstract: A fuel cell system, including: an electric power generation control unit; an insulation-resistance measurement signal generation unit configured to generate a voltage-divided AC signal obtained by dividing an amplitude of a measurement AC signal; and an insulation resistance measurement unit configured to measure a resistance value of the insulation resistance, in which when the insulation resistance measurement unit detects, in a state where a voltage is maintained during an intermittent operation of the electric power generation control unit, an excessive noise state indicating a change in which a range of fluctuations of the peak value of the voltage-divided AC signal exceeds a predetermined allowable range of fluctuations, the insulation resistance measurement unit instructs the electric power generation control unit to change a fluctuation frequency of an output voltage of the fuel cell from a current frequency and then measures the resistance value of the insulation resistance.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiichi Toriumi, Shunsuke Kawakami
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Patent number: 11031608Abstract: A connecting element for making electrical contact with at least one separator plate of a fuel cell stack includes a housing and a contact element which is arranged in the housing and has a contact end for making contact with the separator plate and has a connection end for connection to a continuing line. A positive z-direction is defined from the contact end in the direction of the connection end. A cutout is provided in the housing, wherein the contact element is positioned in the cutout. The contact end is arranged on a first side of the cutout. The connection end is arranged on the second side of the cutout. The contact element has an interlocking element which bears in an interlocking manner against the housing on the first side of the cutout.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Stefan Haase, Florian Kriesch
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Patent number: 11018357Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell in which a plurality of cells are stacked; a voltage sensor configured to measure a cell voltage of the fuel cell; and a pressure sensor configured to measure an anode gas pressure in the fuel cell. When the cell voltage is lower than a predetermined threshold voltage, in a state in which an amount of supply of cathode gas to the fuel cell is secured, and a rate of decrease in the anode gas pressure is larger than a predetermined threshold rate, it is determined that a cross leak abnormality has occurred in the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tornio Yamanaka, Kenji Umayahara
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Patent number: 10981471Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell outputting generated power to an external load; a secondary battery outputting charged power to the external load; and a controller performing a first control that controls output power of the fuel cell and output power of the secondary battery such that the output power of the secondary battery has a ratio predetermined in accordance with an output demand from the external load, in the power supplied to the external load, the controller switches the first control to a second control when the output demand satisfies a predetermined condition with which the output power of the secondary battery is predicted to reach a limit value with the first control, the second control sets a target value of the output power of the fuel cell such that the output power of the secondary battery is smaller than that in the first control.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshiaki Tsuruta
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Patent number: 10971742Abstract: In a fuel cell state determination method for determining an internal state of a fuel cell supplied with an anode gas and a cathode gas to generate electricity, a decrease of a reaction resistance value of the cathode caused by hydrogen evolution reaction generated in the cathode as the fuel cell has an oxygen deficiency state is detected, and the oxygen deficiency state is determined on the basis of detection of the decrease of the reaction resistance value.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Aoki
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Patent number: 10971747Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a first fuel cell that generates electric power using a hydrogen-containing fuel gas; a second fuel cell that generates electric power using off-gas exhausted from the first fuel cell and containing hydrogen that has not reacted in the first fuel cell; a first control device that controls the electric power output from the first fuel cell by adjusting a current or a voltage being output from the first fuel cell; a second control device that controls the electric power output from the second fuel cell by adjusting a current or a voltage being output from the second fuel cell; and an output control device that controls at least one of the first control device or the second control device such that a total electric power being generated by the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell approaches an electric power demand.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: TOKYO GAS CO., LTD.Inventors: Tatsuya Nakajima, Shumpei Taku, Kazuki Isshiki
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Patent number: 10960775Abstract: The two DC/DC converters perform DC/DC conversion of the power source voltage of the driving battery for supplying power to the motor of the vehicle and supply to an automatic operation load and a general load as an electrical component mounted on the vehicle. A switch is connected between the outputs of the two DC/DC converters. The two DC/DC converters and the switch are accommodated in one accommodating case.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Shuuji Satake
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Patent number: 10923738Abstract: A coolant injection controller for a fuel cell system, the coolant injection controller configured to actively control the flow of a coolant to a fuel cell assembly for cooling and/or hydrating the fuel cell assembly in response to a measure of fuel cell assembly performance, wherein the coolant injection controller is configured to provide for a first mode of operation if the measure of fuel cell assembly performance is below a predetermined threshold and a second mode of operation if the measure of fuel cell assembly performance is above the predetermined threshold, the first and second modes having different coolant injection profiles and wherein, in the first mode of operation, the coolant injection profile provides for control of the flow of coolant by alternating between at least two different injection flow rates.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Shahin Moghimi, Vince Gardner, Nathaniel Palmer, Simon Foster, Pratap Rama
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Patent number: 10910659Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing a state of fuel cell are provided. The system includes a signal measurement unit that has a high pass filter with a predetermined cut-off frequency and a voltage measurement circuit, and that measures a first AC voltage to measure the fuel cell state diagnosis signal and a noise measurement unit including a band pass filter that has a predetermined pass band and a voltage measurement circuit, and that measures a second AC voltage to measure the fuel cell state diagnosis noise. A controller calculates a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of fuel cell state diagnosis data based on the first and second AC voltages, determines the corresponding fuel cell state diagnosis data to be reliable when the SNR value is greater than a predetermined reference value, and applies the fuel cell state diagnosis data to a control of a fuel cell vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sangbok Won, Young Bum Kum, Kwi Seong Jeong
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Patent number: 10882406Abstract: A control device is configured to control a first boost converter and a second boost converter. The control device is configured such that, when a prescribed state where an output of the second boost converter cannot be made at a ratio of an output voltage to an input voltage in the second boost converter to be equal to or more than a predetermined value is detected, the control device calculates a target output voltage of a fuel cell by using an voltage on an input side or an output side of the second boost converter measured by a measuring portion and a first value which is equal to or larger than a minimum boost ratio of the first boost converter, and controls the fuel cell so that an output voltage of the fuel cell is equal to or lower than the target output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryosuke Oya
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Patent number: 10886557Abstract: An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiko Sato, Takanori Mori
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Patent number: 10854901Abstract: A fuel cell assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first fuel cell stack in series with a variable resistor and a second fuel cell stack in parallel with the first fuel cell stack and in series with a contactor. A resistance level of the variable resistor is adjusted in response to deactivating the contactor. A method of regulating a fuel cell assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill