Heating By Combustion Patents (Class 429/441)
  • Patent number: 12148893
    Abstract: Battery systems, methods of in-situ grid-scale battery construction, and in-situ battery regeneration methods are disclosed. The battery system features controllable capacity regeneration for grid-scale energy storage. The battery system includes a battery comprising a plurality of cells. Each cell includes a cathode comprising cathode electrode materials disposed on a first current collector, an anode comprising anode electrode materials disposed on a second current collector, a separator or spacer disposed between the cathode and the anode an electrolyte to fill the battery in the spaces between electrodes. The battery system includes a battery system controller, wherein the battery system controller is configured to selectively charge and discharge the battery at a normal cutoff voltage and wherein the battery system controller is further configured to selectively charge and discharge the battery at a capacity regeneration voltage as part of a healing reaction to generate active electrode materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Fantai Kong, Mark Griffin, Jin-Myoung Lim
  • Patent number: 11996565
    Abstract: Electrode plates with feed and product channels are provided that present more spatially uniform chemical and electrochemical compositions to catalytically active electrode structures and ion-conducting electrolyte membrane layers to improve the performance and increase the longevity of the electrochemical devices (e.g., membrane reactors, gas-separation cells, electrochemical compressors, fuel cells, and electrolyzers). Each plate can have a single channel that extends between an inlet and an outlet, and each channel can have a first segment that spirals inwardly from the inlet to a midpoint and a second segment that spirals outwardly from the midpoint to the outlet. The segments are interleaved with each other such that there are alternating flows of less-depleted feed or product and more-depleted feed or product. Consequently, chemical, electrochemical, and thermal behaviors are more uniformly distributed across the membrane-electrode assembly to increase performance and longevity of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: Robert J. Kee, Huayang Zhu
  • Patent number: 11843145
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing an exhaust hydrogen concentration in a fuel cell system includes a first air cut-off valve (ACV) blocking ambient air supplied to a cathode, a second ACV blocking exhaust hydrogen discharged from the cathode, and an air suction valve (ASV) operating in a first mode connecting the cathode and an intake port of an air compressor and in a second mode blocking connection between the cathode and the intake port of the air compressor. The apparatus also includes a controller for operating the ASV in the first mode to store air of the cathode while the first ACV is opened and the second ACV is closed when hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and for operating the ASV in the second mode to discharge ambient air through an exhaust line while the first ACV is opened and the second ACV is opened when ambient air is supplied to the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Won Uk Lee, Nam Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11757119
    Abstract: A method of performing a leak check of a hydrogen supply valve of a fuel cell system includes supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell stack of the system for a predetermined time period closing the supply valve and purge valves, and opening a cathode exhaust valve. The method further includes supplying oxygen to the fuel cell stack for the predetermined time period, continuously measuring a test voltage of the fuel cell stack during the predetermined time period while oxygen is being supplied to the fuel cell stack, and determining that the hydrogen supply valve is leaking in response to the test voltage exceeding a predetermined leak voltage for the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATIONS
    Inventors: Nader Zaag, Sonia Sorbera, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 11728503
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a plurality of accessories, a plurality of maintenance components, and a frame. The frame has a three-dimensional structure having an internal space. The fuel cell stack and the accessories are fixed to the frame in a state where they are accommodated in the internal space. In a plan view of the fuel cell module, the maintenance components are fixed to the frame in a state where the maintenance components are placed in an external space formed on one side from the frame from among external spaces formed outside the internal space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishikawa, Hiroaki Nishiumi
  • Patent number: 11524604
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is mounted with a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack and a battery. The fuel cell vehicle controls operation of the fuel cell system with an ECU, to perform standby power generation from activation to when travel is allowed and to perform power generation during operation of the fuel cell vehicle after travel has been allowed. In an activation method, the power generation current is increased in accordance with a low-temperature efficiency rate during the power generation during operation, the battery is charged and the power generation current is increased in accordance with a standby current increase rate that is lower than the low-temperature efficiency rate during the standby power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Hamachi, Satoshi Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 11511991
    Abstract: Process for the production of a product gas containing nitrogen and hydrogen from ammonia comprising the steps of non-catalytic partial oxidation of ammonia with an oxygen containing gas to a process gas containing nitrogen, water, amounts of nitrogen oxides and residual amounts of ammonia; cracking of at least a part of the residual amounts of ammonia to hydrogen and nitrogen in the process gas by contact with a nickel containing catalyst and simultaneously reducing the amounts of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and water by reaction with a part of the hydrogen formed during cracking of the process gas by contact of the process gas with the nickel containing catalyst; and withdrawing the hydrogen and nitrogen containing product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Christian Henrik Speth, Tommy Lykke Wind, Per Juul Dahl
  • Patent number: 11495805
    Abstract: A fuel cell system, with an air flow system includes a first thermal zone, a second thermal zone, an air blower provided between the first and second thermal zones. The first thermal zone is connected to an inlet port of the fuel cell system. The second thermal zone is connected to an outlet port of the fuel cell system. The air blower is configured to draw in air from the first thermal zone and provide the air to the second thermal zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: WATT Fuel Cell Corp.
    Inventors: Caine Finnerty, Paul Dewald, Mathew Isenberg, William Seil, Robert Grogan
  • Patent number: 10862146
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) configured to determine reactant purity comprising: a first fuel cell (11) configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction between two reactants, having a first reactant inlet (13) configured to receive a test reactant comprising one of the two reactants from a first reactant source (7, 5, 16); a second fuel cell (12) configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction between the two reactants, having a second reactant inlet (14) configured to receive the test reactant from a second reactant source (5); a controller (20) configured to apply an electrical load to each fuel cell and determine an electrical output difference, ODt, between an electrical output of the first fuel cell (11) and an electrical output of the second fuel cell (12), and determine a difference between a predicted output difference and the determined electrical output difference, ODt, the predicted output difference determined based on a historical output of difference
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Michael John Provost, Kevin M. Kupcho, Simon Edward Foster, Ashley James Kells
  • Patent number: 10547068
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell, a combustor disposed in a cathode gas supply line of the fuel cell, a fuel supply unit configured to supply a fuel to the combustor, and a cathode gas supply unit configured to supply a cathode gas to the cathode gas supply line. The system further includes a stop control unit configured to perform a stop control of the fuel cell, which includes a control that sets a cathode gas supply amount from the cathode gas supply unit to a predetermined amount and a control that supplies the fuel from the fuel supply unit in a supply amount corresponding to the cathode gas supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsushi Yamazaki, Tatsuya Yaguchi, Takeshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 10547079
    Abstract: A portable flame electric generation device having metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells includes a furnace, a heat shield structure, a plurality of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells and a housing structure. Each of the metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells includes a porous metal substrate, a first anode layer, a second anode layer, an anode isolation layer, an electrolyte layer, a cathode isolation layer, a cathode interface layer and a cathode current-collecting layer. The metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell is capable of quickly starting up and withstanding thermal shocks, and also liquefied fuel cartridges are applied as heating and fuel sources for transforming the CO and H2 fuels into electricity via electrochemical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chang-Sing Hwang, Chun-Huang Tsai, Chun-Liang Chang, Ming-Hsiu Wu, Te-Jung Huang, Sheng-Fu Yang, Cheng-Yun Fu
  • Patent number: 10044057
    Abstract: A fuel cell anode comprises a porous ceramic molten metal composite of a metal or metal alloy, for example, tin or a tin alloy, infused in a ceramic where the metal is liquid at the temperatures of an operational solid oxide fuel cell, exhibiting high oxygen ion mobility. The anode can be employed in a SOFC with a thin electrolyte that can be a ceramic of the same or similar composition to that infused with the liquid metal of the porous ceramic molten metal composite anode. The thicknesses of the electrolyte can be reduced to a minimum that allows greater efficiencies of the SOFC thereby constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Eric D. Wachsman, Sean Robert Bishop
  • Patent number: 9929415
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a first combustor, a second combustor, a first heating gas return channel, a second heating gas return channel and a gas supplier. The fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte cell with an anode and a cathode. The first combustor supplies a heating gas to the cathode. The second combustor supplies a heating gas to the anode. The first heating gas return channel is arranged to mix at least some exhaust gas discharged from the cathode with the heating gas from the first combustor. The second heating gas return channel is arranged to mix at least some exhaust gas discharged from the cathode with the heating gas from the second combustor. The gas supplier is connected to the first heating gas return channel for supplying the exhaust gas from the cathode to mix with the heating gas of the first combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Takeuchi, Tatsuya Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 9564650
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems related to fuel cells, and in particular, to direct carbon fuel cells. The methods and systems relate to cleaning and removal of components utilized and produced during operation of the fuel cell, regeneration of components utilized during operation of the fuel cell, and generating power using the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC., BROWN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Daniel I. Harjes, D. Andrew Dineen, Jr., Liang Guo, Joseph M. Calo, Valerie J. Bloomfield
  • Publication number: 20150147672
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a fuel cell unit, a combustion apparatus, and a controller. The fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell, a casing, a ventilation fan (an air supply device), and a temperature detector configured to detect the temperature of outside air supplied to the casing. An air supply passage through which the outside air is supplied to the casing, and a discharge passage through which a flue gas from the combustion apparatus is discharged, are configured in such a manner as to allow a medium flowing through the air supply passage and a medium flowing through the discharge passage to exchange heat with each other. When the fuel cell unit is to be started up, if the temperature detected by the temperature detector is lower than or equal to a predetermined first temperature and the combustion apparatus is not in operation, the controller refrains from causing the fuel cell unit to operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Akinori Yukimasa, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Atsutaka Inoue
  • Publication number: 20150140463
    Abstract: A heater includes a heater housing extending along a heater axis. A fuel cell stack assembly is disposed within the heater housing and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel cell fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with a fuel cell oxidizing agent. A combustor disposed within the heater housing includes a combustor fuel inlet for introducing the combustor fuel into the combustor, a combustor oxidizing agent inlet for introducing a combustor oxidizing agent into the combustor, and combustor exhaust outlet for discharging a heated combustor exhaust from the combustor. An anode exhaust conduit is connected to the anode exhaust outlet and extends out of the heater housing for selectively communicating a first quantity of the anode exhaust out of the heater housing. The heater housing is heated by the fuel cell stack assembly and the heated combustor exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: BERNHARD A. FISCHER, JR., JAMES D. RICHARDS
  • Patent number: 8980495
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a combustor. The combustor is provided around the heat exchanger. A combustion gas path for supplying a combustion gas produced in the combustor to the heat exchanger and an exhaust gas path for supplying an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack after consumption in power generation reaction are merged at a merger section provided on an upstream side of a heat medium inlet of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 8980490
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell supplied with fuel gas and oxidizing gas to generate electricity; a fuel gas supply unit supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell; an oxidizing gas supply unit supplying the oxidizing gas to the fuel cell; an aftercooler cooling the oxidizing gas supplied to the fuel cell by heat exchange with a coolant; an oxidizing gas temperature detector detecting temperature of the oxidizing gas; and a coolant circulation controller starting circulation of the coolant when the detected temperature of the oxidizing gas exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value is set to a value of not higher than a minimum electricity generation temperature of the fuel cell, and a circulation timing and flow rate of the coolant for the aftercooler are controlled such that the supplied oxidizing gas does not become cold. This enables the fuel cell to generate electricity at cold start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Taniguchi, Hiromasa Sakai, Kotaro Akashi, Nobutaka Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150064592
    Abstract: A heater includes a heater housing extending along a heater axis. A fuel cell stack assembly is disposed within the heater housing and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. A combustor disposed within the heater housing receives an anode exhaust and a cathode exhaust from the fuel cell stack assembly and combusts a mixture of the anode exhaust and the cathode exhaust to produce a heated combustor exhaust. The combustor includes a combustor exhaust outlet for discharging the heated combustor exhaust into the heater housing. The heater housing is heated by the fuel cell stack assembly and the heated combustor exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: BERNHARD A. FISCHER, KARL J. HALTINER, JR., CHARLES J. BADURA
  • Publication number: 20150064593
    Abstract: A heater includes a fuel cell stack assembly disposed within a heater housing and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. A combustor disposed within the heater housing receives an anode exhaust and a cathode exhaust from the fuel cell stack assembly and combusts a mixture of the anode exhaust and the cathode exhaust to produce a heated combustor exhaust. The combustor includes a combustor exhaust outlet for discharging the heated combustor exhaust into the heater housing. A baffle disposed around the fuel cell stack assembly and the combustor defines a heat transfer channel radially between the heater housing and the baffle. A flow director in fluid communication with the combustor exhaust outlet and the heat transfer channel communicates the heated combustor exhaust to the heat transfer channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: KARL J. HALTINER, JR., BERNHARD A. FISCHER, CHARLES J. BADURA
  • Patent number: 8936888
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell tube, a flame tip protection member and a current conduction member. The first fuel cell tube has a flame end. The flame end has exit opening. The fuel cell tube is configured to deliver combustible gas to the flame tip region generating a flame kernel. The flame protection member is configured to inhibit at least one of mass transfer and heat transfer between the fuel cell tube and the flame tip region. The current conduction member is disposed through the exit opening of the flame end of the first fuel cell tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Adaptive Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron T. Crumm, Timothy LaBreche
  • Patent number: 8927162
    Abstract: The present invention comprises fuel cells 84 disposed within a fuel cell module 2, a reformer 20, a reformer temperature sensor 148 for detecting a reforming state temperature, and a control section 110 for controlling the operation of the fuel cell module. The control section prohibits the normal startup POX and executes a restart control different from the normal startup POX when the reforming state temperature is at least in a high temperature region within the POX temperature band in a state in which the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell module is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousuke Akagi, Naoki Watanabe, Shuichiro Saigan, Nobuo Isaka
  • Patent number: 8865360
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for a vehicle includes a burner for producing a heat flow by combustion of a fuel gas which reacts with an oxidant. A heating heat exchanger provided to heat a vehicle passenger compartment is arranged in a coolant circuit of the fuel cell system, and is externally heated, at least at times, by the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Gerald Hornburg
  • Patent number: 8841040
    Abstract: In a method to cold-start a fuel cell system at sub-zero temperatures, the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, upstream of which is connected a heating device to heat a cooling agent to be circulated by a coolant pump. To reduce the demand for stored electrical energy, the cold fuel cell stack is operated at such a capacity that it generates power that is sufficient only to operate the heating device and the coolant pump. The power generated by the fuel cell stack is used to operate the heating device for heating the cooling agent as well as the coolant pump, whereby the coolant pump circulates the cooling agent between the fuel cell stack and the heating device. The heating device is switched off as soon as the fuel cell stack reaches a preset temperature that is higher than the original temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Limbeck
  • Patent number: 8790114
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel processing unit in an electrochemical fuel cell power plant, and more specifically to a preheater combustor that forms byproduct compounds that may destroy downstream catalytic reactors for fuel reforming. The present invention includes a retention material that collects the byproduct compounds prior to entry into the downstream reactors. The retention material may be comprised of at least one active compound and a support structure, preferably having a porous body to facilitate tortuous fluid flow. Further aspects of the invention may include an electrical charging device for use with the retention device material that enhances collection of byproduct compounds. The present invention also includes a method of operation for start-up incorporating a retention material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven G Goebel, Gerald E Voecks, Robert N Carter
  • Publication number: 20140186736
    Abstract: Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell module that is small in size and is capable of stably generating power. A plurality of power generation units and are located such that a first fuel cell and an oxidant gas preheater connected to a second fuel cell adjacent to the first fuel cell are adjacent to each other. A solid oxide fuel cell module includes a partition member. The partition member partitions a combustion chamber into a region including the first fuel cell and a region including the second fuel cell as well as into the region including the first fuel cell and a region including the oxidant gas preheater connected to the second fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (Corporation of Japan), MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Tomoshige, Kimihiro Mizukami, Masato Inaoka, Hideki Yoshida, Kei Ogasawara, Shinji Amaha
  • Patent number: 8728673
    Abstract: A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A detector, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, and a water supply apparatus are provided in the fluid supply section. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module section. A power converter and a control device are provided in the electrical equipment section. The module section is interposed between the fluid supply section and the electrical equipment section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Kimiko Fujisawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 8715877
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner, in particular a residual gas burner for a fuel cell system. The burner includes a combustion chamber which is bordered by a supply wall and by a heat exchanger and which is encompassed at the sides by a burner wall. The heat exchanger is a cross-current heat exchanger having a primary path and a secondary path. The supply wall has a burner zone with oxidizer openings for oxidizer gas and with combustion gas openings for combustion gas and a bypass zone with bypass openings for bypass gas. The bypass zone is arranged in a section of the supply wall which is allocated to an area of the heat exchanger adjacent to the primary path and to the secondary path at the inlet end, so that the bypass gas or a bypass gas-burner exhaust gas mixture acts upon this area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kaupert, Guenter Eberspach
  • Patent number: 8691462
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) is provided and includes a fuel cell stack (3), a cathode recuperator heat exchanger (33) adapted to heat an air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream, and an air preheater heat exchanger (39) which is adapted to heat the air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Todd M. Bandhauer, Michael J. Reinke, Jeroen Valensa
  • Patent number: 8685582
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell and at least one air conveyor that conveys a process air flow to the fuel cell. At least one heat exchanger is also provided, through which the process air flow flows after the air conveyor and through which a cooling medium flow flows. A region with catalytically active material is arranged in the flow direction of the process air flow before or in the region of the heat exchanger. In addition a fuel can be fed to the region with the catalytically active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Steinhauser, Gerhard Konrad
  • Patent number: 8672674
    Abstract: A burner (1) for burning a gaseous oxidant with a gaseous fuel, with a combustion chamber (2), in which the combustion reaction takes place during the operation of the burner (2), has a wall structure (4) which defines the combustion chamber (2) on the inlet side and which has oxidant openings (5) for introducing the oxidant into the combustion chamber (2) and fuel openings (6), which are separate therefrom, for introducing the fuel into the combustion chamber (2). The wall structure (4) has an oxidant distributor space (7), which is fluidically connected with the oxidant openings (5) on the outlet side and is fluidically connected with at least one oxidant feed opening (9) on the inlet side, as well as contains a fuel distributor space (8), which is fluidically separated from the oxidant distributor space (7) and is fluidically connected on the outlet side with the fuel openings (6) and is fluidically connected with at least one fuel feed opening (10) on the inlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kaupert, Markus Münzner, Jörg vom Schloss
  • Patent number: 8642223
    Abstract: A method for determining a flow of a gas through an injector and a flow of a gas through a valve in a fuel cell system. The method includes determining an injector flow estimation for the gas flowing through the injector and determining a valve flow estimation for the gas flowing through the valve. The method also includes calculating an error that is a difference between the injector flow estimation and the valve flow estimation and adjusting the flow of the gas through the valve based on the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Seth E. Lerner, Steven R. Falta
  • Patent number: 8623563
    Abstract: An SOFC system is started-up efficiently in a short time while letting a hydrogen concentration in a reformed gas high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Iwao Anzai
  • Patent number: 8614023
    Abstract: A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system having a hot zone with a center cathode air feed tube for improved reactant distribution, a CPOX reactor attached at the anode feed end of the hot zone with a tail gas combustor at the opposing end for more uniform heat distribution, and a counter-flow heat exchanger for efficient heat retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Protonex Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Poshusta, Charles W. Booten, Jerry L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20130337354
    Abstract: A power generation system includes: an air intake passage; a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell; a case configured to house the fuel cell, a ventilator (air supply unit), and an air intake temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the intake air supplied to the case; a combustion device that includes a combustor; an exhaust gas passage configured to discharge a flue gas generated in the combustion device to the outside; and a controller. The air intake passage and the exhaust gas passage are configured to allow heat exchange to occur between media flowing through the passages. The controller causes the combustion device to operate when the fuel cell system is activated and the temperature detected by the air intake temperature detector is equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Akinori Yukimasa, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Atsutaka Inoue
  • Patent number: 8597842
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, an evaporator, a reformer, and a combustor for at least heating any of the fuel cell stack, the heat exchanger, the evaporator, and the reformer. The fuel cell module is surrounded by an inner heat insulating layer and an outer heat insulating layer. The inner heat insulating layer is used in a high temperature area, and the outer heat insulating layer is used in a low temperature area. The inner heat insulating layer contains a large amount of metal component in comparison with the outer heat insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Yamamoto, Bunichi Saito, Yukihiko Kiyohiro, Koji Dan, Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 8580450
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generating electricity and heat by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel and air, a thermoelectric element converting heat, emitted from the fuel cell, into electrical energy, and a heat storage tank storing heat emitted from the thermoelectric element. The fuel cell system includes therein a configuration allowing for the conversion of heat, emitted from a fuel cell, into electricity or the utilization of heat, thereby minimizing the amount of heat that is released at the final stage. Therefore, a reduction in the size of a heat storage tank can be achieved, and the electricity conversion efficiency of a fuel cell can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eon Soo Lee, Jae Hyuk Jang, Tae Kon Koo
  • Patent number: 8535842
    Abstract: Combustion heaters having internal combustion chambers are located adjacent the end cells of a stack of fuel cells to directly, conductively heat the end cells during cold start-up of the stack. Similar heater(s) may also be located within the stack when cold starting under extremely cold conditions. A method of combustion thawing a fuel cell stack is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Thompson, Robert L. Fuss
  • Patent number: 8460838
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell module contains a plurality of integral bundle assemblies, the module containing a top portion with an inlet fuel plenum and a bottom portion receiving air inlet feed and containing a base support, the base supports dense, ceramic exhaust manifolds which are below and connect to air feed tubes located in a recuperator zone, the air feed tubes passing into the center of inverted, tubular, elongated, hollow electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells having an open end above a combustion zone into which the air feed tubes pass and a closed end near the inlet fuel plenum, where the fuel cells comprise a fuel cell stack bundle all surrounded within an outer module enclosure having top power leads to provide electrical output from the stack bundle, where the fuel cells operate in the fuel cell mode and where the base support and bottom ceramic air exhaust manifolds carry from 85% to all 100% of the weight of the stack, and each bundle assembly has its own control for vertical and horizont
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Gillett, Paolo R. Zafred, Matthew W. Riggle, Kevin P. Litzinger
  • Patent number: 8450017
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel-cell-based cogeneration system with radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors. The fuel-cell-based cogeneration system with RFID sensors includes the fuel-cell-based cogeneration system and an RFID data processing system. The RFID data processing system captures data of the temperature and flow rate from the RFID sensors, while the system data are in turn converted into RFID signals. The RFID data processing system transmits a control signal generated from the RFID signal to control the operation of the fuel-cell-based cogeneration system. Since the RFID transmission technology, the sensor error caused by wires is consequently reduced. Furthermore, overall sensitivity and accuracy of the RFID sensors are increased, which leads to an accompanying increase in the stability of the operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: To-Wei Huang, Ting-Kuan Li, Zhan-Yi Lin, Yu-Ming Sun, Chi-Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8445156
    Abstract: A multi-stream heat exchanger includes at least one air preheater section, at least one cathode recuperator section, and at least one anode recuperator section, wherein each section is a plate type heat exchanger having two major surfaces and a plurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of risers through at least some of the plates, and a plurality of flow paths located between plates. The cathode recuperator section is located adjacent to a first edge surface of the anode recuperator, and the air preheater section is located adjacent to a second edge surface of the anode recuperator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Weingaertner, Martin Perry, Swaminathan Venkataraman, Vlad Kalika
  • Publication number: 20130115538
    Abstract: A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell system (101) including a fuel cell (11) and a case (12); a ventilation fan (13); a controller (102); a combustion device (103); and a discharge passage (70) formed to cause the case (12) and an exhaust port (103A) of the combustion device (103) to communicate with each other and configured to discharge an exhaust gas from the fuel cell system (101) and the combustion device (103) to an atmosphere from an opening of the discharge passage (70), the opening being open to the atmosphere. The ventilation fan (13) is configured to ventilate an inside of the case (12). In a case where the controller (102) determines that the combustion device (103) has operated when the ventilation fan (13) is operating, the controller (102) increases the operation amount of the ventilation fan (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Yasuda, Akinori Yukimasa, Atsutaka Inoue, Junji Morita, Hiroshi Tatsui
  • Patent number: 8389172
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a combustor. A combustion gas path for supplying the combustion gas produced in the combustor to the heat exchanger as the heat medium is provided. The combustion gas path is provided between a space of dual walls comprising a first inner plate and a second inner plate and a first case unit and a second case unit accommodating a load applying mechanism and the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Homma
  • Publication number: 20130040216
    Abstract: A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system having a hot zone with a center cathode air feed tube for improved reactant distribution, a CPDX reactor attached at the anode feed end of the hot zone with a tail gas combustor at the opposing end for more uniform heat distribution, and a counter-flow heat exchanger for efficient heat retention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: PROTONEX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: PROTONEX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8367261
    Abstract: Fuel cell device comprising a fuel cell assembly with at least one polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and a fuel delivery means for providing a fuel flow. The device is provided with means for pre burning adapted to burn fuel entering the fuel cell assembly during the start up phase until the fuel flow is increased to a predetermined level and/or the oxygen concentration is decreased to a predetermined level. A method of operating the assembly comprises the steps of initiating the start up phase by causing the fuel delivery means to deliver a fuel flow, whereby a means for pre burning burns off fuel entering the fuel cell assembly, monitoring the fuel flow and/or the oxygen concentration and when the fuel flow is increased to a predetermined level and/or the oxygen concentration is decreased to a predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: MYFC AB
    Inventor: Anders Lundblad
  • Publication number: 20130017464
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, a combustor, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a power converter, a control device, and a casing containing the fuel cell module, the combustor, the fuel gas supply apparatus, the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, the water supply apparatus, the power converter, and the control device. The casing includes a casing body and an open/close door that opens/closes the casing body by rotation about a vertical axis through hinges. The power converter and the control device are attached onto the open/close door at upper and lower positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Kimiko Fujisawa, Tetsuya Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20120321979
    Abstract: A method for determining a flow of a gas through an injector and a flow of a gas through a valve in a fuel cell system. The method includes determining an injector flow estimation for the gas flowing through the injector and determining a valve flow estimation for the gas flowing through the valve. The method also includes calculating an error that is a difference between the injector flow estimation and the valve flow estimation and adjusting the flow of the gas through the valve based on the error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Seth E. Lerner, Steven R. Falta
  • Patent number: 8333125
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system with which fuel cell stacks can be tested automatically or manually so that production of pollutants and consumption of electricity are little. The system runs various analyses and tests on the fuel cell stacks and provides operative conditions such as temperatures and fluid flows needed in the tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Atomic Energy Council—Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Yu-Ching Tsai, Wen-Tang Hong, Hung-Yu Wang, Wei-Ping Huang, Ruey-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 8329353
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell (3); a water passage (8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18); an electric heater (19) configured to heat the water passage; a water-related temperature detector (20); a first abnormality detector (22, etc.) configured to detect first abnormalities; a second abnormality detector (28, etc.) configured to detect second abnormalities; and a controller (21), and the controller is configured to stop an operation of the fuel cell system when the first abnormality is detected by the first abnormality detector or when the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector. In a case where the fuel cell system stops since the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector, the controller causes the electric heater (19) to carry out an operation as an antifreezing operation when the water-related temperature detector detects a temperature that is not more than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Yasuda, Takashi Nishikawa, Hideo Ohara, Masataka Ozeki
  • Patent number: 8329345
    Abstract: Combined power generation equipment combining a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and a gas turbine so as to construct a closed cycle system adapted to recover the total amount of carbon dioxide produced during power generation by feeding fuel and only O2 at an equivalent ratio, thereby obtaining CO2 as an oxidizing agent of a cathode gas, thus achieving high efficiency of a high order, the combined power generation equipment comprising a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) 2 for performing power generation by the electrochemical reaction of an anode gas containing H2 and a cathode gas containing O2, a combustor 3 in which exhaust gas of the MCFC 2 is introduced and combusted, a gas turbine 4 for expanding a combustion gas from the combustor 3, and a circulatory line 15 for mixing CO2 of the exhaust of the gas turbine 4 into the cathode gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Central Research Institute Of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Eiichi Koda, Fumihiko Yoshiba