Arrangement Or Process For Reactant Control (e.g., Pressure Or Concentration, Etc.) Patents (Class 429/443)
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Patent number: 8580459Abstract: A fuel cell includes plural single cells and first sidewalls disposed on the outer side of a cell stack including the plural single cells. In the first sidewalls, holes for supplying the reactive gas to the cell stack are formed. The single cells are disposed in a row shape along a jetting direction (lateral direction) of the reactive gas jetted from the holes. The holes are formed such that a part of the reactive gas jetted from the holes brushes against at least the single cells disposed in positions closest to the first sidewalls and the remaining part of the reactive gas does not brush against the single cells disposed in the closest positions.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Toto Ltd.Inventors: Yousuke Akagi, Naoki Watanabe, Shuichiro Saigan, Nobuo Isaka
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Patent number: 8580458Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a cell unit comprising a fuel cell, a fuel tank unit for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit, and a fuel feed unit for supplying the fuel from the fuel tank unit to the cell unit in a thin housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The fuel tank unit, the fuel feed unit, and the cell unit are located in a specific order in one direction between two opposite ends of the housing. The fuel tank unit includes a valve, which supplies fuel to the fuel feed unit and opens to supply the fuel to the fuel feed unit only when the fuel tank unit is mounted. The fuel feed unit connects sides of the fuel tank unit and the cell unit that face each other and reduces a pressure of a gaseous fuel supplied from the fuel tank unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Nakakubo, Ken Eguchi, Mitsuhiro Watanabe
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Patent number: 8568934Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing system for inerting a gas volume. A first exhaust gas that is provided by a fuel cell, and a second exhaust gas that is provided by a hydrogen reformer, can be mixed to form an inert gas mixture. The mixture can be fed into the gas volume for inerting.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventors: Heinz-Detlef Naeve, Juergen Friedrich Haastert, Lars Frahm
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Publication number: 20130273448Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator unit is mounted on a manifold. The fuel pressure regulator unit includes a housing providing a fuel inlet passage, a regulated fuel outlet passage, a sense pressure passage, a recycle passage and a mixed fuel passage. A pressure regulator is provided in the housing and is arranged fluidly between the fuel inlet passage and the regulated fuel outlet passage. The sense passage fluidly interconnects the mixed fuel passage and the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator is configured to regulate the flow of fuel from the fuel inlet passage to regulated fuel passage in response to a pressure from the sense pressure passage. An ejector is arranged within the housing and fluidly between the regulated fuel outlet passage and the mixed fuel passage. An ejector is configured to receive recycled fuel from the recycle passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2011Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: UTC Power CorporationInventors: Garrett W. Fink, David Melo Ferreira, Christopher John Carnevale
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Patent number: 8557463Abstract: A method of load following operation of a fuel cell system may include measuring a temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, obtaining a reformable flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel capable of being reformed in the reforming catalyst layer at the temperature, and controlling electric power generation based on the relationship between the reformable flow rate and a minimum value.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: JX Nippon Oil Energy CorporationInventor: Susumu Hatada
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Patent number: 8557451Abstract: An elongated fuel processor assembly is coupled to a fuel cell stack for producing a reformate for consumption by the fuel cell stack. The elongated fuel processor assembly includes an annular core having a thermal conduction mass for conducting heat, an annular reformer surrounding and supported by the annular core, and a vaporizer surrounding and supported by the annular core.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Protonex Technology CorporationInventors: David Edlund, Nathan Palumbo, Forrest Harrington, Paul Kimball
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Patent number: 8546035Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of ensuring responsiveness during acceleration even when a motor with a smaller torque as compared to the related art is used. A control apparatus reduces the revolution speeds of motors of an air compressor, a circulation pump and a cooling pump by a coasting operation, without performing a regenerative control, when a load required from a fuel cell (electrical power required by various motors and auxiliary apparatuses) is being reduced and a travel speed is equal to or higher than a set speed. With such a configuration, even when a driver later reaccelerates a vehicle by, for example, pressing down an accelerator, required acceleration force is smaller as compared to the related art, and thus a motor with a small torque can be employed.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Katano
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Patent number: 8546034Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a reactant gas pipe for supplying a reactant gas to the fuel cell, and an injector for controlling the state of the gas on the upstream side in the reactant gas pipe and supplying the reactant gas to the downstream side by driving a valve element with an electromagnetic drive force at a predetermined drive cycle to separate the valve element from a valve seat. The injector is provided integrally in the fuel cell, and hence the vibration and noise of the injector can be absorbed and suppressed by the fuel cell as a heavy article.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Katano, Norio Yamagishi, Akihisa Hotta
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Patent number: 8530104Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system including stopping power generation of a fuel cell which generates electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, filling and keeping a combustible gas in a cathode of the fuel cell after said step, supplying the oxidizing gas to the cathode, supplying the combustible gas discharged from the cathode in response to the previous step to a combustor capable of heating a fuel generator for generating the fuel gas or an exhaust pipe connected to the combustor via a branch passage branching from an oxidizing gas passage located downstream of the cathode, diluting the combustible gas supplied to the combustor or the exhaust pipe with air supplied to the combustor or exhaust gas supplied to the exhaust pipe such that the combustible gas has a concentration lower than a combustion lower limit, and discharging the diluted combustible gas to atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masataka Ozeki, Akinari Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka
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Patent number: 8524405Abstract: A system and method for detecting small hydrogen leaks in an anode of a fuel cell system. The method includes determining that a shut-down sequence has begun, and if so, deplete the cathode side of a fuel cell stack of oxygen. The method then increases the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined set-point, and monitors the pressure decay of the anode side of the stack. The method compares the rate of pressure decay to an expected pressure decay rate, and if the measured pressure decay rate exceeds the expected pressure decay rate by a certain threshold, determines that a potential leak exists.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John P. Salvador, Joseph Nicholas Lovria
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Patent number: 8524409Abstract: A fuel-cell flow regulator is placed in a fuel cell having two entrances, each of which is formed at one of two sides of the fuel cell. The fuel cell is composed of a plurality of single cells, each of which includes a fuel inlet and a fuel passage in communication with the fuel inlet. The fuel passages jointly define a fuel tunnel in communication with all of the entrances. The flow regulator is located at the fuel tunnel and movable back and forth along the fuel tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: National Central UniversityInventors: Chung-Jen Tseng, Tad Tsai, Tung-Chieh Chen
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Publication number: 20130224614Abstract: A method of controlled fuel release from a fuel storage composition including applying an electric field to a section of the fuel storage composition, supplying a reagent to the section of the fuel storage composition, measuring a system parameter, and adjusting an electric field parameter based on the system parameter measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: ARDICA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: ARDICA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
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Patent number: 8507144Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a fuel cell system that is fed fuel and provided information on the fed fuel. The system generates information about fuel utilization in the fuel cells and oxygen to carbon ratio (O/C ratio) in the fuel cell system process and includes features for controlling a loading of the fuel cells. The fuel cell system also includes a first closed loop controller for controlling the feeding of fuel by taking into account the fuel utilization information as process feedback information, and by implementing a constraint function taking control of O/C ratio by restricting output of the first controller when said O/C ratio deviates from an allowed range, and a second controller for controlling active fuel cell loading by implementing a constraint function taking control of fuel utilization restricting output of the second controller when said fuel utilization deviates from an allowed range.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Convion OyInventors: Kim Åström, Toni Ollikainen
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Patent number: 8507136Abstract: A fuel cell includes a reforming unit, a carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a fuel cell, a burner unit and a raw gas supply device. At the star-up operation of the fuel cell system, an amount of combustion air delivered to the burner unit by an air blower is adjusted according to a total amount of a raw gas to be supplied to the burner unit and an amount of a desorbed raw gas desorbed out of raw gas components adsorbed to at least one of catalysts in a fuel processor.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Kiyoshi Taguchi
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Patent number: 8507141Abstract: A system and method for correcting an estimation of nitrogen in an anode side of a fuel cell stack. The system includes a fuel cell stack and a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in an anode sub-system. The system also includes a controller configured to control the estimation of nitrogen permeation from the cathode side to the anode side of the stack, where the controller determines if the pressure in the anode sub-system equilibrates with atmospheric pressure in a shorter period of time after shutdown compared to the time necessary for the anode sub-system to reach approximately atmospheric pressure after a previous shutdown or calibrated time value, and corrects the estimation of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack if the pressure equilibrates in a shorter period of time.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Matthew A. Lang, Daniel C. Di Fiore, William H. Pettit, Steven R. Falta, John C. Fagley
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Patent number: 8506368Abstract: A wireless communication device (200) and method (300) adapted to prolong the useful life of an energy storage device is disclosed. In its simplest form, it can include: detecting (310) a first threshold of an energy conversion module comprising at least one of a temperature threshold, oxygen threshold, voltage, a current threshold, a power threshold and moisture threshold; sensing (320) a temperature in proximity to a thermal module comprising at least one of a fuel tank, an electronic computing module, and a housing; and generating (330) an air stream based on the detected first threshold (310) and the sensed temperature (320). The device (200) and method (300) can automatically and dynamically manage, for example, temperature, oxygen and/or moisture of an energy storage module, to maintain the energy storage module within desired specifications and tolerances. This can help to prolong the useful life of the energy storage module and its components and help to maintain a maximum recharging capacity.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLCInventor: Greg R. Black
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Patent number: 8497045Abstract: The present invention provides a purge system for a fuel cell, which can reduce the time required to thaw a frozen valve during cold start-up and reduce the whole start-up time, thus improving the cold start performance. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a purge system for a fuel cell with improved cold start performance, the system preferably including a main pipe connected to a purge gas outlet of a fuel cell stack to discharge a purge gas purging the fuel cell stack and impurities; an auxiliary pipe branched from the main pipe; a purge valve installed in each of the main pipe and the auxiliary pipe to perform an purge operation; a cut-off valve installed at an upstream side of the purge valve in the auxiliary pipe; and a controller for controlling the operation of the purge valves and the cut-off valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Jae Jun Ko, Nam Woo Lee, Young Min Kim, Sang Uk Kwon, Ik Jae Son, Woo Suk Sung, Jong Hyun Lee
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Publication number: 20130189598Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method for controlling the fuel cell system are provided. The method includes detecting an output characteristic value of the fuel cell system and controlling the fuel cell system to respectively operate in at least two of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode at different time points according to the detected output characteristic value. Accordingly, the fuel cell system is capable of stably generating electric power, and is adapted to different operation environments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: YOUNG GREEN ENERGY CO.Inventors: Din-Sun Ju, Po-Kuei Chou, Tsai-Hsin Cheng
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Publication number: 20130189601Abstract: A fuel supply (10) is attachable to a fuel cell system (12). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector (14) configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves (24, 26) or filler material (23a-d) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube (114) and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: SOCIETE BICInventor: SOCIETE BIC
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Patent number: 8492039Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are capable of preventing anode flooding due to a temperature difference between a stack and reformate upon starting a fuel cell system. The method of controlling a fuel cell system including steps of detecting a temperature of a fuel cell stack, detecting a temperature of reformate that is generated in a fuel reformer and then is supplied to the fuel cell stack through a heat exchanger, and setting the temperature of the reformate to be lower than the temperature of the fuel cell stack during a starting time of the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Man-Seok Han, Dong-Hyun Kim, Ming-Zi Hong, Ju-Yong Kim, Jun-Won Suh, Ria Ju, Yasuki Yoshida, Woong-Ho Cho, Hyun Kim, Jin-Hong An
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Patent number: 8492043Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes cell blocks (101, 102) each formed by stacking cells (51, 52) and a cooling medium connecting channel (103) connecting a cell block internal cooling medium channel (153A) of the cell block (101) and a cell block internal cooling medium channel (153B) of the cell block (102) in series. A catalyst layer includes a catalyst support and polymer electrolyte adhered to the catalyst support, the catalyst support containing an electrode catalyst and carbon powder supporting the electrode catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Haruhiko Shintani, Yoichiro Tsuji
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Method of mitigating fuel cell degradation due to startup and shutdown via hydrogen/nitrogen storage
Patent number: 8492046Abstract: A method of operating the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side by flowing hydrogen into the anode side and flowing air into the cathode side. The fuel cell produces electricity that is used to operate a primary electrical device. To shut down the stack in one embodiment, the primary electrical device is disconnected from the stack. The flow of air into the cathode side is stopped and positive hydrogen pressure is maintained on the anode side. The fuel cell stack is shorted and oxygen in the cathode side is allowed to be consumed by hydrogen. The inlet and outlet valves of the anode and the cathode sides are closed. Thereafter, the flow of hydrogen into the anode side is stopped and the flow of exhaust from the cathode side is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul Taichiang Yu, Frederick T. Wagner, Glenn W. Skala, Balsu Lakshmanan, John P. Salvador -
Patent number: 8486577Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the invention, a hydrogen leakage detection process closes a shutoff valve, which shuts off a supply of hydrogen from a hydrogen supply unit into a hydrogen supply flow path, and opens a pressure regulator, which reduces a pressure of hydrogen in the hydrogen supply flow path, so as to keep the hydrogen supply flow path in a state with no pressure regulation and make the fuel cell system in a leakage detectable state. In this leakage detectable state, the hydrogen leakage detection process measures at least one of a pressure and a flow rate as a state quantity of hydrogen in the hydrogen supply flow path that feeds the supply of hydrogen to fuel cells. The hydrogen leakage detection process analyzes a detected behavior of the state quantity in the leakage detectable process and specifies the occurrence of a hydrogen leakage in the downstream of the hydrogen supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2006Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Koji Katano, Nobuhiro Tomosada
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Patent number: 8486572Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel gas generating means for generating a hydrogen-rich fuel gas from a source material having, as a main ingredient, a compound containing carbon and hydrogen; a source material supply source for supplying a source material to the fuel gas generating means; a fuel gas supply means for supplying the fuel gas from the fuel gas generating means to a fuel gas flow channel of a fuel cell at which channel a fuel electrode is placed; and a bypass means for supplying the source material from the source material supply source to the fuel gas flow channel, bypassing the fuel gas generating means. At least at one of time periods before start of and after end of power generation, the source material, as a displacement gas, is injected into the fuel gas flow channel of the fuel cell via the bypass means.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinari Nakamura, Masataka Ozeki, Shinji Miyauchi, Tomonori Asou
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Patent number: 8481219Abstract: A fuel cell system and an operation method thereof are provided, which are capable of properly executing special shutdown of the fuel cell system in the event of a trouble in purge operation by use of material gas. In the fuel cell system (100), if an abnormality occurs in a purge process by use of material gas during shutdown of the fuel cell system (100), the controller (11) brings, according to the contents of the abnormality, the opening/closing state of fuel electrode opening/closing devices (26, 23, 24) for opening and closing the outlet/inlet of a fuel electrode (13a), oxidant electrode opening/closing devices (25, 28, 20, 27) for opening and closing the outlet/inlet of an oxidant electrode (13c) or hydrogen generator opening/closing devices (21, 23, 22) for opening and closing the outlet/inlet of a hydrogen generator (12) into a state that is different from their opening/closing state when the purge process by use of the material gas is performed.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hideo Ohara, Akinari Nakamura, Masataka Ozeki, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Akinori Yukimasa
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Publication number: 20130171537Abstract: A forward check valve and a fuel cell system in which fluid control is performed with increased reliability when a highly active fluid is used are structured such that when an edge portion of a cap is joined to an edge portion of a valve housing, a peripheral edge portion of a diaphragm is pushed and sandwiched by a peripheral edge portion of the cap and a placement portion. Further, the diaphragm is formed of rubber. As a result, the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm is compressed by the peripheral edge portion of the cap and the placement portion, so that the degree of contact at a contact portion between the placement portion and the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm becomes very high. Consequently, in the forward check valve, joints of the members including a joint of the edge portion of the cap and the edge portion of the valve housing do not contact methanol.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2013Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
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Patent number: 8475965Abstract: The fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel cell, a reformer, a carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a first raw material supply source, a first valve which is provided to a first raw material flow passage, a second valve which is provided downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a second raw material supply source which supplies a raw material to the inside of a flow passage which is closed by the first valve and the second valve from downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, and a control unit which controls the first valve and the second valve, wherein the control unit, after the first valve and the second valve are closed, supplies the raw material fed from the second raw material supply source to the inside of the flow passage closed by the first valve and the second valve at the time of stopping the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akinari Nakamura, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Yoshikazu Tanaka
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Patent number: 8475966Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank. The apparatus comprises an input conduit for connecting to the vent of the tank. An input manifold connects the input conduit to an input of a compressor with an output manifold connecting an output of the compressor to an input of a storage tank. An output conduit connects an output of the storage tank to the turbine generator for generating electrical power by processing the flammable vapor. An electrical connector directs electrical power from the turbine generator to drive the apparatus as well as to supply surplus power to an external load.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: IES Consulting, Inc.Inventors: James William Knight, Donald Edward Haynes, Jr.
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Patent number: 8470485Abstract: A fuel cell system having an on-off valve, such as an injector, disposed in a fuel supply flow path restrains a pressure detection error of a fuel gas in the vicinity of the on-off valve to a small level. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply flow path for supplying a fuel gas, which is supplied from a fuel supply source, to the fuel cell, an on-off valve which adjusts the condition of a gas on an upstream side of the fuel supply flow path and then supplies the gas to a downstream side, and a control means which controls the drive of the on-off valve at a predetermined drive cycle, wherein the control means sets the upper limit value of a duty ratio at each drive cycle of the on-off valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Norimasa Ishikawa
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Patent number: 8470484Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of stably supplying hot water to a load is provided. The fuel cell system includes a solid-oxide fuel cell 31, a heat exchanger 40 that exchanges heat between an exhaust gas from the solid-oxide fuel cell 31 and water, a hot water storage tank 42 that reserves the water, circulation pipes 43a and 43b for circulating the water between the hot water storage tank 42 and the heat exchanger 40, and a circulation pump 41 provided to the circulation pipes 43a and 43b. The fuel cell system is provided with a controller 39 that controls the fuel utilization ratio during power generation by the solid-oxide fuel cell 31 in accordance with the used amount of reserved hot water.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventor: Taneo Higuchi
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Publication number: 20130149620Abstract: A method for purging non-fuel gasses from a fuel supply of a fuel cell system, including measuring a first parameter indicative of fuel concentration within the fuel supply, in response to the first parameter measurement satisfying a purge condition, wherein the purge condition is satisfied when the first parameter measurement is indicative of the fuel concentration below a predetermined concentration threshold, opening a purge valve fluidly coupled to the fuel supply and generating a purging pressure within the fuel supply to purge the fuel supply, measuring a second parameter indicative of purge completion, and in response to the second parameter measurement satisfying a purge completion condition, closing the purge valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: ARDICA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Ardica Technologies, Inc.
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Patent number: 8455147Abstract: A limit switch for detecting opening/closing of a hood is connected to a controller. A power supply relay is also connected to the controller. A switching contact of the relay is located on power supply line for supplying power supply from a fuel cell. When the hood is closed, the limit switch is on and the controller maintains the switching contact in a closed state so that power supply from the fuel cell to various power-consuming components is allowed. On the other hand, when the hood is opened, the limit switch is turned off. In response to this, the controller opens the switching contact so that the power supply from the fuel cell to the various power-consuming components is shut off.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Hideyuki Tanaka, Nobuo Watanabe
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Patent number: 8455146Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (10) includes a power supply (58) that directs a direct current to catalysts (24), (26) of a fuel cell (22) after terminating flow of electricity to a primary load (52), and after flow of an oxidant adjacent the cathode catalyst (26) is terminated, and while a reformate fuel is directed adjacent the anode catalyst (24). Pure hydrogen fuel generated thereby at the cathode catalyst (26) is directed into a hydrogen storage tank (62). Upon start-up of the power plant (10), the stored hydrogen gas is directed from the tank (62) to flow adjacent the anode catalyst (24) while a reformer (12) is being warmed up for operation, to provide virtually instantaneous start-up of the plant (10). Optionally, the stored hydrogen may be used occasionally during operation with the reformate fuel to meet an increased demand for electricity.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: UTC Power CorporationInventor: Michael L. Perry
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Patent number: 8450020Abstract: A method for determining the health of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a constant flow of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack, shutting off a flow of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack when a predetermined concentration of hydrogen in the anode side has been achieved, and identifying a catalyst surface area and a catalyst support surface area for catalyst layers in the fuel cell stack. The method also includes determining the total parasitic current of the fuel cell stack to determine a cross-over parasitic current and a shorting resistance of the fuel cell stack. The method further includes calculating the catalyst surface area and the catalyst support surface area of the catalyst layers and comparing the difference between the identified catalyst surface area and the calculated catalyst surface area to estimate the change in the catalyst surface area.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Puneet K. Sinha, Andrew J. Maslyn, Balasubramanian Lakshmanan
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Patent number: 8450018Abstract: A system and method for determining when to trigger reconditioning of a fuel cell stack and when to disable the reconditioning of the fuel cell stack. In one embodiment, the stack reconditioning is triggered when a maximum stack power estimation falls below a first predetermined power threshold. The reconditioning of the stack can be disabled so it is not performed when the trigger occurs if the reconditioning process does not raise the maximum power estimation above a second predetermined power threshold or the time from one reconditioning trigger to a next reconditioning trigger is less than a predetermined time threshold, or both.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Manish Sinha, Sriram Ganapathy, Tayoung Choi, David A. Arthur
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Patent number: 8445149Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a diluting apparatus which comprises a first introducing portion, a second introducing portion and an inner space and a discharge portion, and a control unit which comprises discharged fuel gas quantity detection means, a current remaining fuel gas detection means and a purge treatment means. In this fuel cell system purging the fuel gas is controlled calculating a current remaining fuel gas quantity in the inner space based on a fuel gas quantity introduced into the inner space, a flow rate of an oxidizing off-gas, a ventilation rate and a flow rate of a diluting gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Matsumoto, Kenichiro Ueda, Junji Uehara
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Patent number: 8445145Abstract: A method of purging residual hydrogen from a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes providing an air stream, providing a temporary nitrogen stream by removing oxygen from the air stream with an adsorbent bed and passing the nitrogen stream through the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John P. Salvador, Craig S. Gittleman, Gerald E. Voecks
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Patent number: 8445157Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Dien Nguyen, Ian Russell, Matthias Gottmann, Deepak Bose, Darren Hickey, Stephen Couse
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Patent number: 8445147Abstract: A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly, Matti A. Lilback
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Patent number: 8440359Abstract: A method for filling a fuel cell system with a fuel during start-up is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuels cells, each fuel cell having an active area, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, the anode supply manifold and in fluid communication with a source of fuel; providing an anode sub-system in fluid communication with an anode side of the fuel cell stack; and supplying the fuel to the fuel cell stack substantially uniformly and substantially simultaneously to compress any fluids in the fuel cell stack into a volume between an end of each active area adjacent to the anode exhaust manifold and an outlet of the anode sub-system.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gary M. Robb, Steven G. Goebel, Daniel I. Harris
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Patent number: 8439328Abstract: An inlet shut valve or an outlet shut valve has a main diaphragm and a sub-diaphragm, wherein a valve closing pressure chamber and a valve opening pressure chamber are provided, respectively, on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the main diaphragm. Furthermore, an atmospheric pressure chamber and a pressure chamber constituting a channel are provided, respectively, on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the sub-diaphragm. A drive shaft constituting a valve element is driven in the direction for bringing about a valve open state by both forces, i.e. a first force acting by pressure difference between the valve closing pressure chamber and the valve opening pressure chamber and a second force acting by pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure chamber and the pressure chamber constituting a channel and acting in the same direction as the first force.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Takeshita
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Patent number: 8440360Abstract: This invention provides a fuel cell device which is simple in structure and easy to detect a fuel residual amount and includes a fuel tank accommodating a plurality of hydrogen storage alloys having mutually different hydrogen desorbing characteristics, a power generating section that uses the hydrogen desorbed from the fuel tank to generate electric power, a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the hydrogen supplied into the power generating section, and an output circuit that produces a pressure variation detected by the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideaki Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8426080Abstract: A method of replacing a gas in a fuel cell system is provided, which comprises the steps of detecting that a fuel cartridge is connected to the fuel cell system having a fuel cell and supplying a fuel from the fuel cartridge on the basis of the detection to start replacement of gas in the fuel cell system. Thereby, a simple gas replacement method is provided for replacing the gas other than the fuel, which has entered the fuel cell system that is supplied with the fuel from the fuel cartridge, with the fuel. Especially, a user does not have to perform the gas replacement operation manually. The gas replacement can be automatically performed.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuichiro Saito
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Patent number: 8415066Abstract: A pressure regulating valve has a first pressure deformation portion connected to and receiving a pressure on a fuel demand side, a second pressure deformation portion opposed to the first pressure deformation portion and receiving a predetermined pressure, first and second flow passages, and a communication passage communicating the first and second flow passages to each other. A valve member has a connecting portion connecting the first and second pressure deformation portions together, and has a valve element provided at the connecting portion and configured to close the communication passage when moved toward the second pressure deformation portion. When the pressure on the fuel demand side is lower than a predetermined value, the valve element does not close the communication passage, but when the pressure on the fuel demand side is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the valve element closes the communication passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventors: Takafumi Sarata, Norimasa Yanase, Toru Ozaki, Tsuneaki Tamachi, Kazutaka Yuzurihara, Fumiharu Iwasaki, Noboru Ishisone
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Patent number: 8415065Abstract: A fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell, a DC/DC converter that is electrically connected to the fuel cell, and a control unit that controls the supply of a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and issues a voltage command to and drives the DC/DC converter to perform high potential avoidance control of restraining an output voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a high potential avoidance voltage lower than an open circuit voltage. The control unit continues to drive the DC/DC converter so as to perform the high potential avoidance control for a predetermined time after stopping supplying the fuel cell with hydrogen and air in response to the inputting of a system operation stop command.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Michio Yoshida
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Patent number: 8415063Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, anode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of an anode gas supplied to the fuel cell, and cathode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of a cathode gas supplied to the fuel cell. The system further includes pressure control means that sets the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied when starting the fuel cell higher than the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied during power generation in the fuel cell, and controls the anode gas pressure adjusting means and the cathode gas pressure adjusting means so that a cathode gas pressure increase is started in accordance with the start of an anode gas pressure increase when the pressure of the anode gas is increased to the set pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Tsunemasa Nishida, Hitoshi Hamada, Kenichi Tokuda, Junji Nakanishi, Tsutomu Ochi, Shinji Matsuo, Takahiro Nitta
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Patent number: 8409762Abstract: A method for adaptively controlling a fuel delivery injector in a fuel cell system, including determining a feed-forward bias for the fuel delivery injector, determining an injector flow set-point for the fuel delivery injector, monitoring stack current, determining a transient pressure correction for the stack and correcting the injector flow set-point.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Patrick Frost, Darrell W. Burleigh, Daniel C. Di Fiore
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Patent number: 8399140Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a normally-closed first shut-off valve provided upstream from the fuel cell and opening and closing pipes c1 and allowing air supplied from an air pump to pass therethrough; a normally-closed second shut-off valve opening and closing a pipe allowing cathode off-gas, discharged from the fuel cell, to pass therethrough; a valve-driving section for opening and closing discs of the shut-off valves; and valve lock units maintaining discs of the shut-off valves in open state when the cathode is released by opening the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve during electro-chemical reaction progressing in the fuel cell. This structure provides a simple and small-size fuel cell system capable of maintaining opening state of shut-off valves stably and reliably.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., LtdInventors: Narihiro Takagi, Kuri Kasuya
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Publication number: 20130065149Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode; an oxidant gas flowpath supplying the oxidant gas to the fuel cell and discharging the oxidant gas from the fuel cell; a first shut-off valve disposed upstream from the fuel cell and having a first valve body; a second shut-off valve disposed downstream from the fuel cell and having a second valve body; a cathode control unit for sealing the cathode; and a scavenging unit for scavenging the anode by supplying the oxidant gas to the anode, wherein the cathode control unit, before scavenging the anode by using the scavenging unit, unseals the cathode by opening the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve. The fuel cell system is capable of preventing the valve bodies pressed against seat sections from being frozen even below the freezing temperature, and capable of avoiding a situation unable to restart a turned-off state of the fuel cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTDInventor: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
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Patent number: 8389167Abstract: A system and method for preventing low performing cells in a fuel cell stack. The method includes periodically providing a pulse of the cathode input airflow at low stack current densities, and comparing the current density output of each cell in response to the pulse. Those cells that do not have significant water accumulation will provide one voltage signature and those cells that do have a significant water accumulation will provide another voltage signature. If one or more of the cells exhibit the voltage signature for water accumulation, then the cathode inlet airflow pulses can be provided more often to prevent the cells from failing.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Patrick Frost, Manish Sinha, Jason R. Kolodziej