Voltage Patents (Class 429/432)
  • Patent number: 10850632
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle includes: a main power supply; an electric power converter including a capacitor; a relay; a sub power supply; a boost converter; a cooler; and a controller configured to cause the sub power supply and the boost converter to precharge the capacitor, when a main switch of the vehicle is turned on and before the relay is closed to connect the electric power converter to the main power supply. The controller is configured to perform one of a control i) and a control ii) when one of a temperature of the boost converter and a temperature of a coolant in the cooler is higher than a specified temperature threshold. The control i) being a control to start the precharging while starting up the cooler. The control ii) being a control to start up the cooler before the precharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromichi Senba
  • Patent number: 10855076
    Abstract: A method for operating a domestic energy generation installation comprises ascertaining or prespecifying at least one expectation time period, ascertaining an expected load profile of an electrical consumer, ascertaining an expected yield profile of the regenerative energy source in the expectation time period, ascertaining or prespecifying a minimum consumption power which should be available for withdrawal from the storage battery unit, ascertaining an energy balance over one expectation time period from the expected yield profile and the expected load profile, ascertaining a time range of the storage battery unit from the expected load profile, the expected yield profile and the minimum consumption power, which should not be undershot at any time, and from a currently ascertained state of charge of the storage battery unit, operating the fuel cell unit depending on the ascertained time range and operating the electrolysis unit depending on the ascertained energy balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HPS HOME POWER SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Hierl, Dirk Radue, Gunnar Schneider, Uwe Benz, Kevin Schroder, Zeyad Abul-Ella
  • Patent number: 10840528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting oxidation in at least one planar fuel cell stack that includes a multitude of cells is described. The height of the stack is measured to determine if there has been an increase from a previously-measured height. Such an increase correlates with the oxidation of at least some of the planar cells. In some cases, the fuel flow rate or airflow rate to each fuel cell stack can be adjusted, based in part on the oxidation detection technique. A power delivery system with at least two fuel cell stacks is also described, and it includes a stack height-measurement system, a health monitor for the fuel cell stacks, and a load balancer or airflow regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Darren Bawden Hickey, Honggang Wang
  • Patent number: 10818935
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Imanishi
  • Patent number: 10811700
    Abstract: A first metal separator of a power generation cell includes an oxygen-containing gas supply passage extending through the first metal separator in a separator thickness direction, a passage bead formed around the oxygen-containing gas supply passage, and a plurality of tunnels protruding from a side wall of the passage bead and expanded in the separator thickness direction. The plurality of tunnels have the same shape in cross section of a root connected to the passage bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Tomana, Kentaro Ishida, Satoshi Oyama
  • Patent number: 10790519
    Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cell stacks and methods of sealing a planar solid oxide fuel cell. Unit cells within the stack each include a metal frame with a periphery that can both provide a support surface for a membrane electrode assembly, as well as form a fluid-tight seal with a bonded separator plate. The separator plate includes a peripheral lip that bounds a cell-receiving cavity such that a volumetric region is formed within the separator plate to receive at least a portion of the membrane electrode assembly to create a fluid-tight pathway for at least one of the reactants that is being introduced to a corresponding anode layer or cathode layer of the membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Sai P. Katikaneni, Inyong Kang, Jinwoo Park, Hyundal Song, Hyunbae Park, Byungwook Park
  • Patent number: 10784526
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is configured such that at least a part of an underfloor of a vehicle body is formed to have a shape causing a downforce to the vehicle body by wind passing below the underfloor, and an exhaust port via which exhaust gas from a cathode-side passage of a fuel cell is discharged is disposed in a negative pressure region where a negative pressure is caused by the shape causing the downforce. A magnitude of the negative pressure to be caused by the shape is detected or estimated, so that a driving amount of an air supply configured to supply air to the fuel cell is controlled according to the magnitude of the negative pressure thus detected or estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keitaro Yamamori
  • Patent number: 10756369
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system that stops producing electricity and exhausts residual electricity in an emergency situation. The fuel cell system includes a stack receiving a reactive gas including a hydrogen and/or an oxygen to produce the electricity, a pump supplying the reactive gas to the stack, a discharge circuit including a resistor that discharges a residual power in the stack and a first relay that electrically connects or disconnects the resistor to or from the stack, a generator connected to a rotational shaft of the pump to convert a driving energy of the rotational shaft of the pump to an electric energy, and a first controller controlling the first relay. The first controller receives the electric energy from the generator and controls the first relay to electrically connect the stack and the resistor such that the residual electricity in the stack is exhausted in the emergency situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nam Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 10744903
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle capable of informing a user outside of the vehicle of the possibility that the fuel cell stops power generation and external power-feeding stops, whereby problems due to unexpected stopping of power feeding can be avoided. In a method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle 100 including an external power-feeding device 50, when it is determined that a state of a fuel cell exceeds a limiting point where deterioration of the fuel cell 20 or a failure of a driving device to supply fuel to the fuel cell 20 occurs during external power feeding, warning is issued to outside of the vehicle 10 before the fuel cell 20 stops power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Okamoto, Hiroyuki Imanishi, Mitsuhiro Nada, Takashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10734662
    Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system, when the fuel cell system is started up and thrown into warming-up operation, sets a rotating speed of the circulation pump to a reference rotating speed, subsequently repeatedly performs: (a) a process of acquiring the first temperature and the second temperature; and (b) a process of controlling the circulation pump by setting the rotating speed of the circulation pump in order that with the first temperature is within a predetermined temperature range, the rotating speed is made generally higher than the reference rotating speed with increasing temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature, and when a condition for rotating the circulation pump at the reference rotating speed is satisfied, the controller sets the rotating speed of the circulation pump to the reference rotating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fusaki Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10693160
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a compressor that supplies cathode gas to the fuel cell stack, and a controller that controls constituent components of the fuel cell system including the compressor. The controller controls the compressor, such that a supply period in which the compressor supplies the cathode gas and a stop period in which supply of the cathode gas is stopped appear alternately, when the fuel cell stack is not required to generate electric power, and the supply period is longer than the stop period, and such that the flow rate of the cathode gas supplied by the compressor in the supply period is smaller than the flow rate in the case where the fuel cell stack is required to generate electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoichi Namba, Tomotaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10661221
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a proton-conducting electrolyte membrane, an anode, a cathode, a first flow path which is disposed on the anode and through which an anode fluid containing hydrogen as a constituent element flows, a second flow path which is disposed on the cathode and through which hydrogen flows, a voltage applicator, a detector which detects a hydrogen cross leak amount passing through the membrane, where the detector detects the hydrogen cross leak amount from, a natural potential of one electrode of the cathode and the anode after forming a state where hydrogen is present at the one electrode and hydrogen is not present at the other electrode of the cathode and the anode, or a current flowing between the anode and the cathode when the voltage is applied from the voltage applicator in a state where the first flow path and the second flow path are both sealed off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenobu Wakita, Yasuhiko Itoh, Yusuke Fujita
  • Patent number: 10637081
    Abstract: A recirculation fuel cell device, which can be utilized on a submarine, may include a fuel cell with an anode side and a cathode side, wherein both the anode and cathode sides have input and output sides. The device may include a first inlet for oxygen and a second inlet for hydrogen. The device may further include a cathode-side connection between the output side of the cathode side and the input side of the cathode side, and an anode-side connection between the output side of the anode side and the input side of the anode side. A water separator may be disposed in the cathode-side connection, and a gas discharge valve for a continuous release of process gases may be disposed on the output side of the cathode side of the fuel cell. Operation of the device may involve recirculating an anode gas stream in its entirety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP MARINE SYSTEMS GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Stefan Krummrich, Hans Pommer
  • Patent number: 10629927
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system, wherein a controller configured to set the flow volume of a fluid in an anode flow path at an outlet of an anode of the fuel cell to a first flow volume, then set thereafter the flow volume of the fluid in the anode flow path at the outlet of the anode to a second flow volume which is smaller than the first flow volume, and discharge the water in the hydrogen discharge flow path by opening an exhaust and drain valve while the fluid is flowing at the second flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Toida, Yoshiaki Naganuma, Tomohiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10611256
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling a charging voltage of a 12V auxiliary battery for a hybrid vehicle, which can (1) improve charging efficiency of an auxiliary battery by increasing the output voltage of a DC-DC converter during cold start when the outside air temperature is low, (2) improve the charging efficiency of the auxiliary battery by increasing or decreasing the output power of the DC-DC converter according to the state of charge of the auxiliary battery and by increasing the output voltage of the DC-DC converter when many electrical loads are turned on, and (3) allow the DC-DC converter to provide continuous power supply for charging the auxiliary battery by turning on a main switch disposed between a high voltage battery and the DC-DC converter based on a reverse power conversion operation of the DC-DC converter even in the case where the voltage of the auxiliary battery falls below 9V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hong Seok Song
  • Patent number: 10608266
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a start of a fuel cell are provdied. The method includes comparing a derived internal temperature of a stack and a predetermined reference temperature value and determining whether the internal temperature of the stack is less than the reference temperature value when an ON signal of the start of the fuel cell is received. A required heat value is then derived using the internal temperature of the stack when the derived internal temperature of the stack is less than the reference temperature value. A temperature of the stack of the fuel cell is increased until a cumulative heat value caused by a temperature increase of the stack of the fuel cell is equal to the required heat value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 10581100
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell stack is described. The fuel cell stack includes a cathode, an anode, and a temporarily disabled bleed valve that is otherwise configured to transition from a first position to a second position and thereby modulate nitrogen drained from the anode. The method includes increasing a first pressure in the anode via a controller and, concurrent to increasing, decreasing a second pressure in the cathode via the controller. A system and a device including the fuel cell stack are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Manish Sinha, Chad Dubois, Xiaofeng Wang, Sergio E. Garcia
  • Patent number: 10573908
    Abstract: A fuel cell system used in a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell includes: a fuel cell; a fuel gas supply portion which supplies a fuel gas to the fuel cell; a fuel gas discharge portion which discharges exhaust fuel gas from the fuel cell; and a control unit, in which, when an operation of the fuel cell is ended, the control unit performs (a) an exhaust process of discharging the exhaust fuel gas of the fuel cell to reduce a pressure, and (b) a process of increasing a partial pressure of the fuel gas in the fuel cell by supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell after the exhaust process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Imanishi, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10553886
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fuel cell system for generating oxygen depleted air. The fuel cell system may include a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte positioned between the anode and the cathode. The cathode may be configured to receive an air flow and discharge an oxygen depleted air flow. The fuel cell system may further include a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a presence of hydrogen in the oxygen depleted air flow and a controller in communication with the sensor and the fuel cell. The controller may be configured to detect the presence of hydrogen in the oxygen depleted air flow based on the first signal, and in response to detecting the presence of hydrogen in the oxygen depleted air flow, selectively cause a current density of the fuel cell to decrease and/or increase a flow rate of the air flow to the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Buelte, Pierre-François Quet
  • Patent number: 10529996
    Abstract: A plate includes a working face and a header portion. The working face defines a plurality of reactant channels thereon. The header portion is disposed in a peripheral area of the plate and includes a plurality of flanges and a plurality of beads. The flanges are disposed on the header portion and define a plurality of apertures through the plate. Each flange defines a respective one of the apertures. At least one of the apertures is fluidly connected to the reactant channels. The plurality of beads is disposed on the working face. Each bead is disposed about a respective one of the apertures and thereby defines a respective one of the flanges. Each bead defines a shape consisting of bead-corners and bead-sides. Each bead has a sealing surface thereon. The sealing surface is configured to deflect when exposed to a contact pressure to thereby provide a substantially fluid-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sakano, Xi Yang, Liang Xi, Siguang Xu, Joseph N. Lovria, Jeffrey D. Williams, Yu Tomana, Kentaro Ishida
  • Patent number: 10522866
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack obtained by stacking a plurality of fuel cells has an internal manifold that extends in a stacking direction of the fuel cells to externally discharge a gas used in the fuel cell, and an extension member that adjoins an inner wall surface of the internal manifold and extends in the stacking direction. The extension member is a bar-shaped member provided in an opposite side to a side where a gas from the fuel cells flows to the inside of the internal manifold and has a sloping surface making an acute angle with an inner-wall lower surface of the internal manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daigo Iwasaki, Hidetaka Nishimura, Hayato Chikugo, Ryoichi Shimoi, Keiji Ichihara
  • Patent number: 10522841
    Abstract: An electrochemical reactor block including at least two pellets cut out of a flexible conductive film including chains of a linear polymer, carbon nanotubes being bound to each of the chains by pi-pi interaction, a catalyst agent selected from the group including enzymes, metal catalysts, macrocyclic catalysts, and redox mediators being trapped between the pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES
    Inventors: Serge Cosnier, Raoudha Haddad
  • Patent number: 10511038
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling hydrogen purging are provided. The hydrogen purging control apparatus includes a purge valve that is disposed at an outlet on an anode side of a fuel cell stack and is configured to adjust an amount of emission of hydrogen containing impurities. Additionally, a controller is configured to adjust an opening and closing cycle of the purge valve based on a required output or an output current of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyung Won Suh, Sang Uk Kwon, Kyu Il Lee
  • Patent number: 10505211
    Abstract: The invention relates to fuel cell unit arranged in an underfloor space of a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell that has a plurality of cells stacked together; and a cell monitor that is arranged in a side region of the fuel cell, and that monitors a state of each of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shirakawa, Norishige Konno, Kazuya Mori
  • Patent number: 10479215
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle comprising: a hydrogen tank which is mounted on the vehicle so as to have a center axis generally parallel to a front/rear direction of the vehicle; a high-voltage electric component which is positioned either forward or rearward of the hydrogen tank and which operates on high voltage; an aftercooler placed between the hydrogen tank and the high-voltage electric component to cool compressed air; and a fuel cell stack which is supplied with the cooled compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuji Aishima
  • Patent number: 10483570
    Abstract: A fuel cell has a stack that includes a fuel electrode and air electrode on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane. The fuel electrode includes first and second fuel ports communicative via a fuel flow path, and the air electrode includes first and second air ports communicative via an air flow path. The fuel cell also includes first and second fuel feeders communicative with the first and second fuel ports, and first and second air feeders communicative with the first and second air ports. The fuel cell also includes a fuel switching unit between the first and second fuel feeders that switches a fuel supply direction between the first and second fuel feeders. The fuel cell further includes an air switching unit between the first and second air feeders that switches an air supply direction between the first and second air feeders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Choonjae Ryu, Dongkeun Yang, Hyoungsuk Woo
  • Patent number: 10396376
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle control method changes an output current of a fuel cell depending on a required generated power and adjusts an air supply flow rate depending on the change of the output current. The output current is reduced in response to a decrease of the required generated power when a gearshift operation of a transmission is under an inertia phase of an upshift operation. The air supply flow rate is controlled to an inertia phase supply flow rate higher than the air supply flow rate set in response to the decrease of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Setoguchi, Mitsunori Kumada
  • Patent number: 10312536
    Abstract: An onboard electrochemical system of an electrochemical cell including a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte separator is selectively operated in either of two modes. In a first mode of operation, water or air is directed to the anode, electric power is provided to the anode and cathode to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to an aircraft fuel tank or aircraft fire suppression system. In a second mode of operation, fuel is directed to the anode, electric power is directed from the anode and cathode to one or more aircraft electric power-consuming systems or components, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to a fuel tank or fire suppression system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Rheaume
  • Patent number: 10305129
    Abstract: A fuel battery system includes a fuel battery, an electric storage, a voltage adjuster, a pump, an abnormity detector, and circuitry. The fuel battery generates electricity using fuel gas and oxidant gas. The voltage adjuster is connected to at least one of the fuel battery and the electric storage. The voltage adjuster is configured to adjust voltage output from the fuel battery or the electric storage to output the adjusted voltage to a load. The pump supplies the oxidant gas to the fuel battery using electric power output from at least one of the fuel battery and the electric storage. The voltage adjuster is connected between the fuel battery and the pump. The abnormity detector detects abnormity in the voltage adjuster. The circuitry is configured to restrict the electric power supplied to the pump in a case where the abnormity detector detects the abnormity in the voltage adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Sakai, Kuniaki Ojima, Masaaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10293807
    Abstract: A power control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The system includes a high-voltage battery that is capable of being charged or discharged, a first motor and a second motor, a first inverter connected to the first motor, and a second inverter connected to the second motor. Additionally, a converter has a first side connected to the battery and a second side connected in parallel to the first inverter and the second inverter and a diode is connected in parallel to both sides of the converter. A controller is configured to operate the converter and the first and second inverters to cause electric power of the high-voltage battery to be bypassed via the diode and directly supplied to the first inverter or the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Su Hyun Bae, Hong Geuk Park, Sung Kyu Kim, Mu Shin Kwak
  • Patent number: 10279702
    Abstract: A technique of diagnosing a fuel cell stack is provided. In particular, current and voltage of a fuel cell stack are measured during driving of a fuel cell vehicle and the current and voltage are sequentially stored. It is then determined based on the stored current whether the vehicle is being operated at constant current. Different factors are analyzed depending on whether the vehicle is being operated at constant current, and then it is determined whether the fuel cell stack is in a normal state. A moisture supply into the fuel cell stack is calculated if it is determined that the fuel cell stack is not in the normal state. Based on the calculated moisture supply, whether the fuel cell stack is in a dryout state is diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ja Hoo Koo, Sung Jin Chung, Sang Uk Kwon
  • Patent number: 10276884
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sangbok Won, Young Bum Kum, Kwi Seong Jeong
  • Patent number: 10224558
    Abstract: The present invention enables the determination of an operating point of a fuel cell so as to prioritize the fulfillment of an amount of required power generation while avoiding various limitations, such as a current limit, in a fuel cell system that warms up the fuel cell by a low efficiency operation. A controller 70 multiplies a voltage command value Vcom obtained in step S3 by a current command value Icom obtained in step S1, then, this is divided by a final voltage command value Vfcom obtained in step S4, thereby obtaining a final current command value Ifcom to determine an operating point (Ifcom, Vfcom) during a warm-up operation (step S5), and then the process ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kaneko, Yoshiaki Naganuma, Yutaka Tano, Yohei Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10164276
    Abstract: A fuel cell device is improved for operating conditions during a partial load operation. The fuel cell device comprises a cell stack formed by electrically connecting fuel cells for generating power by fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas; a fuel gas supply unit for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cells; and a power adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of current that is supplied to an external load and a controller for controlling the fuel gas supply unit and the power adjustment unit. The controller adjusts, during the partial load operation of the fuel cell device and when the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack is at low flow rate. The a relationship between a fuel utilization rate of the cell stack and the amount of power generated by the cell stack can be nonlinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ono Takashi, Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Naruto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10122037
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operating point change of a fuel cell stack (10) operated with an anode operating medium and with a cathode operating medium, in which the fuel cell stack (10) is controlled in such a way that, starting from an initial electric power (L1), the fuel cell stack generates a target power (L2) requested by an electrical consumer (51), which is greater than the initial power (L1) is provided. It is provided that the electric power generated by the fuel cell stack (10) is controlled in accordance with a predetermined current-voltage profile (S1, S2, S3), so that a voltage present at the fuel cell stack (10), starting from an initial voltage (U1) corresponding to the initial power (L1), passes through a local voltage minimum (Umin) and then increases to an end voltage corresponding to the target power (L2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Maren Ramona Kirchhoff, Sebastian Kirsch, Patrick Zihrul, Ingmar Hartung
  • Patent number: 10115982
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) comprises: a plurality of cell units including a first cell unit (10A) and a second cell unit (10B) positioned below the first cell unit (10A) in the vertical direction; and at least one connection portion including a first connection portion (20A) for connecting the first cell unit (10A) and the second cell unit (10B). In the fuel cell system (100), the cell units each have at least one electrode cell (2) equipped with: a processing bath (3) having a flow path (8) for circulating a liquid to be processed; a liquid supply inlet (11A, 11B) for supplying the liquid to be processed to the flow path (8); and a liquid discharging outlet (13A, 13B) for discharging the liquid to be processed from the flow path (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Shuji Nakanishi, Hiroaki Usui, Naoki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10115985
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an oxidant gas supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power, whereby the controller having a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the predetermined temperature, and after a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of oxidant gas to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature oxidant gas remaining on the oxidant gas electrode side is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Yousuke Akagi, Megumi Shimazu, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Patent number: 10082097
    Abstract: A method of improving fuel efficiency by analyzing a driving pattern of a vehicle may include: calculating weighting factors according to a driving pattern of the vehicle at coordinates, which are the ratios of weightings accumulated at the coordinates to the sum of the weightings accumulated at all coordinates in an engine operation region; calculating a reference fuel consumption ratio KFUEL and a reference NOx exhaust ratio KNOx using the weighting factors; determining whether the reference NOx exhaust ratio KNOx exceeds a predetermined comparative value; and controlling an engine to improve fuel efficiency when the reference NOx exhaust ratio KNOx is equal to or less than the predetermined comparative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin-Ha Kim, Soon-Chan Pyo
  • Patent number: 10056629
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an output of a fuel cell system is capable of estimating a dry state of a fuel cell vehicle by comparing air flow rates, and adjusting a maximum output applicable to the fuel cell vehicle, thus enabling the fuel cell vehicle to be stably driven. The method for adjusting the output of the fuel cell system includes comparing an air flow rate required for driving and an actually introduced air flow rate to calculate an average air flow rate, and calculating an available output of the vehicle using preset mapping data with respect to the average air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyo Seop Kim
  • Patent number: 10044053
    Abstract: A method for starting operation of a solid polymer fuel cell from a temperature below 0° C. is disclosed that prevents certain problems with ice formation as the fuel cell thaws. During startup, the method involves providing the volumetric oxidant flow at a rate less than two thirds of its maximum when the coolant temperature is near 0° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Elisabeth Funk Woolliams, Richard G. Fellows, Adrian Kent Roett, Laura Iwan, Matthew Blair Guenther, Christopher Richards
  • Patent number: 10024927
    Abstract: A cell monitor connector is provided that can prevent detachment of the cell monitor connector from a fuel cell device with a simple configuration. A connector 4 for measuring voltage has a housing 41 with a plurality of slits 45 formed therein and an end of a separator 21 of a plurality of fuel cells 2 can be inserted into the slits 45. The housing 41 has a rib 46R at at least one end in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 2 such that the rib 46R projects in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Tsutomu Shirakawa, Hiroyuki Imanishi
  • Patent number: 9997796
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for a fuel cell vehicle, capable of preventing an unnecessary error in calculating high potential avoidance power to calculate power for high potential avoidance with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Bono, Hiroyuki Imanishi
  • Patent number: 9991535
    Abstract: The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell 40 that receives supply of reactant gas to generate power; output characteristic updating means for updating an output characteristic of the fuel cell 40 based on output current and output voltage measured by a current sensor 140 and a voltage sensor 150; maximum power calculation means for calculating, using the output characteristic, the maximum power available at the fuel cell 40; and determination means for determining whether a value of the output characteristic is in an assumed situation where the output characteristic value is assumed to be temporarily lowered, wherein while the output characteristic value is determined by the determination means to be in the assumed situation, the maximum power calculation means calculates the maximum power using the output characteristic updated by the output characteristic updating means just before transition to the assumed situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Bono, Satoshi Shiokawa, Osamu Hamanoi
  • Patent number: 9979027
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer. The cathode contains a perovskite composite oxide as a main component and contains a compound that includes at least one of S and Cr as a secondary component. The cathode has a surface on the opposite side to the solid electrolyte layer. The surface of the cathode includes a first region and a second region that is positioned downstream of the first region in relation to the direction of oxidant gas flow in which the oxidant gas flows over the surface. The first region and the second region respectively contain a main phase configured by a perovskite composite oxide and a secondary phase that is configured by the compound. The occupied surface area ratio of the secondary phase in the first region is greater than the occupied surface area ratio of the secondary phase in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ohmori, Shinji Fujisaki, Takashi Ryu
  • Patent number: 9954368
    Abstract: Provided is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) management device for managing a BESS for receiving and charging electrical energy and supplying the electrical energy to a DC/AC converter by discharging the charged electrical energy in a power supply system. The BESS management device includes a measurement unit configured to measure State of Charges (SOCs) of a plurality of series-connected modules or cells in the BESS and a DC power supply unit configured to supply DC power to one of the plurality of modules or one of the plurality of cells on the basis of the SOCs of the plurality of modules or cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Kwan Kang
  • Patent number: 9876243
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system, capable of quickly detecting the pressure rise caused by a faulted open anode injector, reducing pressure in the fuel cell stack when the fault occurs, and taking remedial action to allow continued operation of the fuel cell stack, and militate against a walk-home incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kiran Mallavarapu, Abdullah B. Alp
  • Patent number: 9853311
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: an external load connected to a fuel cell; an electric power adjusting unit configured to adjust a generated electric power of the fuel cell in accordance with electric power consumption of the external load; a humidity control unit configured to control humidity of an electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell on the basis of the generated electric power of the fuel cell; an output voltage detecting unit configured to detect an output voltage of the fuel cell; and a cross leakage determining unit configured to cause the humidity control unit to increase the humidity of the electrolyte membrane when the fuel cell generates the electric power, the cross leakage determining unit being configured to determine whether a cross leakage amount increases or not on the basis of a change in the output voltage at that time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiko Okui
  • Patent number: 9831515
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering an output of a fuel cell is provided. The system and method for recovering an output of a fuel cell includes: an output recovering device connected to a fuel cell stack through at least one coolant heater line; and a vehicle controller configured to communicate with the output recovering device and control supply of a coolant, air, and hydrogen to the fuel cell stack. The output recovering device also includes a current supplier configured to supply a current to the fuel cell stack and a controller configured to communicate with the vehicle controller and control the current supplied from the current supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Yo In Song, Sung Mun Cho, Jae Young Jang
  • Patent number: 9802506
    Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle, includes: a tank that stores a reactive gas which is to be supplied to a fuel cell; a filling port that fills the reactive gas into the tank and is connected with a supply tube that supplies the reactive gas; a lid that closes the filling port; an open-close sensor that detects open/closed position of the lid; a recorder unit that records a travel history which indicates the fact that the vehicle moves; and a controller unit that controls the vehicle. Upon satisfaction of conditions that the vehicle is in a drivable state, that the recorder unit has no travel history since activation of the fuel cell system and that the open/closed position of the lid detected by the open-close sensor indicates an open position, the controller unit sets the vehicle to a non-drivable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 9776526
    Abstract: A fuel cell system to be installed on a vehicle includes a fuel cell, a secondary battery, an SOC detector that detects a temperature and a state of charge of the secondary battery, an accelerator position detector that detects an accelerator depressed amount, and a controller that controls power to be generated by the fuel cell. The controller includes: a required generation power calculator that calculates required generation power based on the accelerator depressed amount and the temperature and the state of charge of the secondary battery; and a maximum required power calculator that calculates maximum required power based on the accelerator depressed amount and the temperature and the state of charge of the secondary battery. The maximum required power includes allowable charging power correlated with a maximum value of charging power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Kakeno, Mitsuhiro Nada, Kenji Umayahara, Yusuke Nishida