Of Gaseous Reactant Patents (Class 429/444)
  • Patent number: 11978932
    Abstract: A method of detecting degradation of a membrane electrode assembly in a fuel cell system is provided. In the method, it is possible to detect degradation (cross leakage) of a fuel cell. In the state where variation of a load is suppressed, variation of the gas pressure where a predetermined amount of the fuel gas is supplied from a fuel tank to a fuel cell is measured by a pressure sensor provided in a fuel gas circulation channel extending from the fuel gas outlet to the fuel gas inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Inoue, Kuniaki Ojima, Tomoyuki Inoue, Osamu Ogami
  • Patent number: 11976445
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, devices and methods for generating water from atmospheric air, making use of a molecular selective processing unit and a vapor exchange unit to efficiently generate pure water from water vapors, selectively separated from air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: BEAIR WATER AND AIR TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Joshua Lewis Colman, Gershon Levitsky
  • Patent number: 11967744
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a bypass valve positioned downstream of a compressor and upstream of a fuel cell stack to selectively direct airflow from the compressor to an exhaust bypassing the fuel cell in an attempt to clear a partially or fully obstructed exhaust pipe. The bypass valve may be opened by a controller when an exhaust throttle valve is at or near a wide-open throttle position. The controller may also increase compressor flow and adjust airflow to the fuel cell stack until compressor pressure, speed, or temperature exceed corresponding limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Dale Pryor, Ryan Ma, Craig Michael Mathie
  • Patent number: 11949136
    Abstract: Described herein are direct liquid fuel cells with an alkaline anodic fuel stream including a solution of liquid fuel such as alcohols, ethers, glycols or compounds of hydrazine, and an acidic cathode oxidant stream including a solution of a suitable oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide or a gas steam with 1% to 100% O2. These cells are used as primary stationary and/or mobile power sources and also function in a secondary role as range extenders when coupled with a primary power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Zhongyang Wang, Vijay K. Ramani, Shrihari Sankarasubramanian
  • Patent number: 11923579
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell device includes: a step of determining whether impedance between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode is greater than a predetermined threshold during a steady operation of the fuel cell device; a step of decreasing a flow rate of a gas circulating via a circulation passage connecting a gas introduction passage of the gas supply unit to a gas discharge passage when the impedance is greater than the predetermined threshold; a step of measuring the voltage between the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode when the impedance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, and determining whether the voltage is equal to or less than a first predetermined threshold; and a step of increasing the flow rate of the gas circulating via the circulation passage when the voltage is equal to or less than the first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Sone, Motohiko Sato
  • Patent number: 11923572
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a container and a plurality of cell members radially arranged inside the container. Inside the container, a first fluid flow path through which a first fluid that exchanges heat with an inner portion of the plurality of cell members flows is formed, and a second fluid flow path through which a second fluid that exchanges heat with an outer portion of the plurality of cell members flows is formed. A first heat exchange portion that forms the first fluid flow path and exchanges heat with the cell member has a smaller heat transfer area with the cell member than a second heat exchange portion that forms the second fluid flow path and exchanges heat with the cell member. The first fluid having a larger temperature difference with the cell member than the second fluid flows in the first fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayasaka, Yuuki Mukoubara, Takashi Ojiro, Yasuhiro Osada
  • Patent number: 11923576
    Abstract: Fuel cell batteries are provided, and in particular hydrogen fuel cell batteries composed of at least one stack of cells. The battery is divided into at least two groups of cells able to be supplied with hydrogen separately. In a first phase, only the first group of cells and not the second is supplied; unconsumed hydrogen may however flow between the two groups via at least one evacuation manifold connected to the cells of the two groups. In a second phase, the supply to the two groups is reversed, unconsumed hydrogen still being able to flow between the two groups via the evacuation manifold. In a third phase, after a series of alternations of the two first phases, the two groups are first simultaneously supplied, then a purge valve of the evacuation manifold is opened then closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
  • Patent number: 11913581
    Abstract: A control conduit for liquid hydrogen offloading is configured to couple a controller of a liquid hydrogen offload system to a liquid hydrogen tanker. The control conduit includes a control line and a gas detector. The control line is configured to transmit a control signal from the controller to the liquid hydrogen tanker. The gas detector is configured to detect hydrogen gas and provide a gas detector signal to the controller. The gas detector is secured to the control line at a predetermined distance from a tanker connection end of the control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FirstElement Fuel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ghassan Sleiman, Tim Brown
  • Patent number: 11888189
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly, an anode-side internal passage, a cathode-side internal passage, an oxygen supply section, and a control device. The oxygen supply section includes a gas circulation passage connected to one end side and the other end side of the cathode-side internal passage, an oxygen supply source connected to the gas circulation passage, and a gas circulation device configured to circulate and flow oxygen gas in any one of one direction and the other direction in the gas circulation passage. The control device switches a flow direction of the oxygen gas by the gas circulation device according to a distribution state of moisture on the cathode electrode of the membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunori Fukuma
  • Patent number: 11884543
    Abstract: Flow through reactors and related methods for use with slurries including water reactive particles are generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jason Fischman, Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart, EthelMae Victoria Dydek, Theodore Bloomstein, Andrew Whitehead, Jean Sack, Eric Morgan
  • Patent number: 11881603
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a mass flow rate measuring unit, an oxygen consumption mass flow rate acquiring unit, an exhaust-side air temperature acquiring unit, and an exhaust-side air humidity estimating unit. The mass flow rate measuring unit measures a first mass flow rate of intake-side air and a second mass flow rate of exhaust-side air. The oxygen consumption mass flow rate acquiring unit acquires a mass flow rate of oxygen consumption. The exhaust-side air humidity estimating unit estimate humidity in the exhaust-side air, on the basis of a difference between a flow rate of intake gas in the fuel cell system and a flow rate of exhaust gas from the fuel cell system, and the mass flow rate of the oxygen consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takumi Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 11870121
    Abstract: A fuel cell column includes a stack of alternating fuel cells and interconnects, where the interconnects separate adjacent fuel cells in the stack and contain fuel and air channels which are configured to provide respective fuel and air to the fuel cells. a manifold plate containing a bottom inlet hole and a bottom outlet hole located in a bottom surface of the manifold plate, top outlet holes and top inlet holes formed in opposing sides of a top surface of the manifold plate, outlet channels fluidly connecting the top outlet holes to the bottom inlet hole, and inlet channels fluidly connecting the top inlet holes to the bottom outlet hole, and a mitigation structure configured to reduce stress applied to the stack due to at least one of a shape mismatch or coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the stack and the manifold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Gasda, Robert Hintz, Karanpal Bhangu, Siddharth Patel, Harald Herchen, Victor Silva, Thuy Thanh Muhl, Tyler Dawson, David Edmonston, Tad Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11859602
    Abstract: Provided are an electroosmotic pump, including: a membrane; a first electrode which is provided on one surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support; and a second electrode which is provided on the other surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support, and a fluid-pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: EOFLOW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jesse Jaejin Kim, Yongchul Song
  • Patent number: 11862780
    Abstract: A power generating system comprised of a hydrogen fuel cell and rechargeable battery connected together in series to be used as a load following system without the use of a DC-DC converter. The hydrogen fuel cell's cathode air compressor is driven off of the output of this power generation system. This is made possible by the following innovations: A novel way to wire the systems in series with the use of switches and bypass diodes, a method to limit the system output voltage so that we do not exceed the maximum voltage of downstream components, and an isolated DC-DC converter to charge the rechargeable battery with the hydrogen fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZeroAvia, Inc.
    Inventors: Valery Miftakhov, Vadim Belogorodsky, Ilya Grishashvili
  • Patent number: 11855316
    Abstract: A water discharge control system and method for a fuel cell are provided. The water discharge control system includes a fuel cell stack that generates power through an internal chemical reaction, a fuel supply line that recirculates fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack and supplies the fuel to the fuel cell stack, and a water trap that is disposed in the fuel supply line to store water generated in the fuel cell stack. A drain valve is disposed in an outlet port of the water trap to block discharge of the water stored in the water trap to the outside when closed. A drain controller determines whether fuel in the fuel supply line is being discharged through the outlet port when the drain valve is in an open state and closes the drain valve upon determining that fuel is being discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joon Yong Lee, Dong Hun Lee, Soon Woo Kwon
  • Patent number: 11837756
    Abstract: An ion filter for a fuel-cell stack, which is configured for overcoming restrictions related to hydraulic head on the ion filter in a fuel-cell system and has a simplified structure, may include a manifold unit of diverging a coolant introduced from an outside; and an ion filter unit connected to the manifold unit to receive the coolant from the manifold unit and including a cartridge assembly having an ion filter resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Mahle Donghyun Filter Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Ju Ji, Hun Woo Park, Sun Ae Park, Hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 11824237
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a circulation circuit, a gas liquid separator section, a purge channel, a purge valve and an ECU. In a method of operating the fuel cell system at low temperature, after start-up of the fuel cell system, the ECU performs a freezing determination processing step of determining freezing or non-freezing of the gas liquid separator, and in the case where freezing of the gas liquid separator is determined in the freezing determination step, the ECU performs a freezing confirmation processing step of immediately opening the purge valve for predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Hamachi, Yusai Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11814027
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle fuel reactant leak detection system, a computer program product, and a computer implemented method of detecting leakage of a fuel reactant from a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more fuel cell modules, a fuel supply source to supply a fuel reactant to the one or more fuel cell modules via a high-pressure fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve configured to open and close fuel reactant flow through the high-pressure fuel supply line, and a computing device, operatively connected to the fuel supply source. The computing device includes one or more processors caused to conduct, in response to a detection as sensor data of pressure in the high-pressure fuel supply line when the vehicle engine is in a non-operating state, fuel pressure analysis of the sensor data, and detect, based on the fuel pressure analysis, leakage of the fuel reactant at the fuel supply valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Giorgio L Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11782008
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining a process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising first and second oscillatory elements, first and second driving/receiving units, and electronics. The first driving/receiving unit is embodied to excite the first oscillatory element using a first electrical excitation signal to execute mechanical oscillations, and to receive the mechanical oscillations of the first oscillatory element and to convert such into a first electrical, received signal, wherein the second driving/receiving unit is embodied to excite the second oscillatory element by means of a second electrical excitation signal to execute mechanical oscillations, and to receive the mechanical oscillations of the second oscillatory element and to convert such into a second electrical, received signal, and wherein the electronics is embodied to determine the process variable from the first received signal and/or the second received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Erik Hennings, Dagmar Kaschuba, Marco Bezzon
  • Patent number: 11777110
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane-electrode structure in which electrodes are provided on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane and a frame member is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the electrolyte membrane; and a pair of separators for sandwiching the electrolyte membrane-electrode structure, wherein an overlapping portion of the outer peripheral portion of the electrode and the inner peripheral portion of the frame member is disposed in a flow field section in which flow field grooves for allowing a reactant gas to flow along the electrode surface of the electrolyte membrane-electrode structure are formed, and is disposed so as not to extend into buffers between the flow field section and passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Shikano, Masaru Oda, Yoshihito Kimura
  • Patent number: 11757121
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell capable of generating power by receiving a supply of a reformed gas and an oxidant gas; an oxidant gas supply device that supplies the oxidant gas to the fuel cell; a reforming unit that supplies the reformed gas to the fuel cell; a fuel supply device that supplies a fuel which is a raw material for the reformed gas to the reforming unit; a combustion unit that combusts discharged gases of the fuel cell, wherein the reforming unit can reform the fuel into the reformed gas by exchanging heat with a combustion gas produced by the combustion unit; and a first control unit controls the fuel supply device to additionally supply the fuel to the fuel cell through the reforming unit in order to prevent the oxidant gas from flowing in from downstream of a fuel electrode of the fuel cell at the time of stopping the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuto Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 11735789
    Abstract: Devices and methods for managing the state of health of an electrolyte in redox flow batteries (RFB) efficiently are described. A diffusion cell is added to the RFB which controls one or more properties of the electrolytes using the diffusion of protons through a proton exchange membrane. The diffusion cell can resemble an electrochemical cell in that there are two fluid chambers divided by a proton conducting membrane. Anolyte flows through one side of the device where it contacts the proton conducting membrane, and catholyte flows through the second side of the device where it contacts the other face of the proton conducting membrane. The concentration gradient of protons from high concentration in the catholyte to low concentration in the anolyte is the driving force for proton diffusion, rather than electromotive force, which greatly simplifies the design and operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David E. Gray, William T. Kender, Stuart R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11710870
    Abstract: An electrical power control system includes a first fuel cell system and a second fuel cell system, and a waste electricity unit connected in series with a switch unit. The waste electricity unit and the switch unit are connected in parallel with each of the fuel cell systems. At a time when at least one power supply system is started, a control unit selectively executes a charging control and a waste electricity control, based on at least one of temperature information and electrical storage information. The charging control suppresses a rise in voltage by supplying the electrical power of the power supply system to the power storage device. The waste electricity control suppresses a rise in voltage by supplying the electrical power of the power supply system to the waste electricity unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Iguchi
  • Patent number: 11695145
    Abstract: A method for treating hydrogen-containing and oxygen-containing residual gases of fuel cells, wherein the residual gases are fed to a gas circuit, and a residual gas mixture resulting therefrom is circulated in the gas circuit by a device for converting hydrogen and oxygen to water. In order to reduce the amount of hydrogen and oxygen in the residual gas mixture, at least part of the residual gas mixture is discharged from the gas circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Torsten Brandt, Markus Hertweck, Günter Putschky, Daniel Christian Sander, Stefan Siedler, Fabian Straub
  • Patent number: 11686304
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor-expander according to the present invention comprises a cylinder, a piston, a crankshaft connected to the piston, a first valve for a low pressure compressible fluid, a second valve for a high pressure compressible fluid, and a valve drive mechanism for driving the first valve and the second respectively such that, during a compression process, the low-pressure compressible fluid is sucked into the cylinder from the first valve in synchronization with the rotation of the crankshaft and the high-pressure compressible fluid compressed in the cylinder is discharged from the second valve, and that, during an expansion process, the high-pressure compressive fluid is introduced from the second valve into the cylinder, and the low-pressure compressible fluid expanded in the cylinder is discharged from the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motoyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11688870
    Abstract: A fuel cell energy circulative utilization system includes an input energy, a first electric cell having an electricity output terminal and an energy output terminal, a second electric cell having an electricity input terminal, an energy input terminal, and an energy output terminal, and an energy circulation control device connected among the first and second electric cells and the input energy. The input energy includes an energy source containing hydrocarbons or hydrogen and connected to an energy input port of the first electric cell in order to make the first electric cell outputs electricity through the electricity output terminal and energy products of thermal energy and water through the energy output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Energy Express Corporation
    Inventor: Ling-Yuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 11670784
    Abstract: In a gas supply system of one embodiment, a gas control ECU performs an initial monitoring step of comparing first detection information of a high-pressure sensor to a first threshold value and, after it is determined that the first detection information has become less than or equal to the first threshold value, performs a secondary monitoring step of comparing second detection information of a mid-pressure sensor to a second threshold value. The gas control ECU causes a valve-open period and a valve-closed period of an injector in the secondary monitoring step to be longer than the valve-open period and the valve-closed period of the injector in the initial monitoring step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kawase, Kazuyuki Kadowaki, Koichi Takaku
  • Patent number: 11652223
    Abstract: An anode gas purge control method for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is disclosed. An anode water management structure is constructed, and an anode nitrogen concentration observer is used to control the anode water management structure to operate. Liquid water contained in gas of a fuel cell stack is taken out by controlling a hydrogen flow rate through a hydrogen circulating pump and removed through a second water-vapor separator. Liquid water precipitated by gas condensation is removed through a first water-vapor separator. A nitrogen concentration observed value is obtained by using the anode nitrogen concentration observer, a purge duration is obtained by using a purge continuation process model, and when the nitrogen concentration observed value reaches a nitrogen concentration threshold, the purge valve is opened and nitrogen is discharged. After the purge duration, the purge valve is closed, and next cycle is entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Zhiyang Liu, Chizhou Yan
  • Patent number: 11644806
    Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing automated control systems to control operations of target physical systems and/or their components (e.g., a fuel cell, wind turbine, HVAC unit, etc.), such as based at least in part on models of their dynamic non-linear behaviors that are generated by gathering and analyzing information about their operations under varying conditions. The techniques may include, for each of multiple levels of inputs to the system/component and/or other factors, injecting a corresponding signal input into the system/component, and using active sensors to collect time changes of the responses to these pulses. Information about the inputs and the responses is used to generate an incremental parametric model representing the internal state and behavioral dynamics of the system/component, which is further used to control additional ongoing operations of the system/component (e.g., to control whether and how much output is produced in a current or future time period).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Veritone Alpha, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf Kohn, Xiaofeng Zhang, Girish Thirukkurungudi Sekar
  • Patent number: 11637296
    Abstract: An ejector has a variable nozzle structure and is installed in a fuel cell recirculation line to supply new hydrogen and a recirculation gas. The ejector includes: a first housing having a first hole through which hydrogen is supplied and an orifice through which the hydrogen is discharged; a second housing disposed in the first housing and having a second hole into which the hydrogen passing through the first hole flows; and a poppet penetrating a third hole defined at one side of the second housing. The poppet is configured to adjust an area of a space opened by the orifice discharging the hydrogen. The hydrogen flowing into the second housing is discharged through a space between the other side opposite to the one side of the second housing and the poppet to move to the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyo Sub Shim, In Tae Park
  • Patent number: 11626600
    Abstract: A reactant gas channel part provided outside an auxiliary machinery case of a fuel cell system is connected to a case through hole. A plurality of channel seal members are provided between the auxiliary machinery case and the reactant gas channel part, where the channel seal members are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the case through hole and surround the case through hole. The reactant gas channel part has an opposing surface that faces a surrounding portion of the auxiliary machinery case that surrounds the case through hole. The channel seal members include an inner seal member abutting on the opposing surface and an outer seal member disposed radially outside of it. A connection channel communicating with an internal space of the auxiliary machinery case is formed between the inner seal member and the outer seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Mitani, Ryoichi Yoshitomi, Hiroyasu Ozaki, Toshinobu Mito
  • Patent number: 11626601
    Abstract: To provide a hydrogen storage unit that can heat a storage container including hydrogen absorbing alloy with favorable thermal efficiency, and a fuel cell system provided with the hydrogen storage unit. The cell body of the fuel cell is provided with a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, and a stack cooling passage configured to cool the fuel cell stack by circulation of a heat medium. The hydrogen storage unit of the hydrogen supply unit of the fuel cell is provided with: a housing; a plurality of cylinders that are housed in the housing and include hydrogen absorbing alloy; and a temperature control member having a heat medium flowing through the temperature control member so as to heat or cool the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11623530
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a battery and a fuel cell that supply an electric power to an electric motor for traveling. A controller sets a maximum increase rate of an output torque of the electric motor for a predetermined time after the fuel cell starts activation to be a first upper limit rate. The controller sets the maximum increase rate of an output torque after the lapse of the predetermined time to a second upper limit rate that is larger than the first upper limit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Fukami
  • Patent number: 11603831
    Abstract: Provided are an electroosmotic pump, including: a membrane; a first electrode which is provided on one surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support; and a second electrode which is provided on the other surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support, and a fluid-pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: EOFLOW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jesse Jaejin Kim, Yongchul Song
  • Patent number: 11600902
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a dielectric substrate; an integrated circuit (IC) die disposed inside an opening of the dielectric substrate, where the IC die is configured to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals; a dielectric material in the opening of the dielectric substrate and around the IC die; a redistribution structure along a first side of the dielectric substrate, where a first conductive feature of the redistribution structure is electrically coupled to the IC die; a second conductive feature along a second side of the dielectric substrate opposing the first side; a via extending through the dielectric substrate, where the via electrically couples the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature; and an antenna at the second side of the dielectric substrate, where the second conductive feature is electrically or electromagnetically coupled to the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ashutosh Baheti, EungSan Cho, Saverio Trotta
  • Patent number: 11581555
    Abstract: A fuel supply control system and method for a fuel cell are disclosed. The system includes: a fuel cell configured to receive a fuel gas and an oxidation gas and generate electric power; a recirculation line configured to circulate gas containing the fuel gas and connected to a fuel electrode of the fuel cell; a discharge valve provided in the recirculation line and configured to allow the gas to be discharged to the outside when open; a discharge amount estimator configured to estimate a discharge amount of the discharged gas based on a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the recirculation line, a consumption amount of the fuel gas consumed in the fuel cell, and a change in the amount of the gas in the recirculation line; an offset calculator configured to calculate the discharge amount of the gas estimated by the discharge amount estimator with the discharge valve closed, as a discharge offset; and a controller configured to control opening/closing of the discharge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Young Park, Hak Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11552316
    Abstract: A hydrogen supply control method of a fuel cell system is provided. The method includes measuring the pressure of a front line of a supply line having relatively low humidity and the pressure of a front end of an ejector, without a pressure sensor of an anode. The amount of supplied hydrogen is then adjusted using the measured pressure and the pressure of the anode is estimated more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ho June Bae, Hyeon Seok Ban
  • Patent number: 11522203
    Abstract: A drying method of a fuel cell includes holding the fuel cell having separator plates exposed on the surface of the fuel cell at a predetermined angle, and blowing air to the fuel cell at an angle in a range of 5° or larger and 85° or smaller with respect to the surface of the separator plate of the fuel cell held at the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukako Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11511231
    Abstract: An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a cell stack including alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an inlet manifold configured to introduce a fluid to one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments an outlet manifold, and one or more of a fluid flow director disposed within the inlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the inlet manifold and direct the fluid into the one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments, and a second fluid flow director disposed within the outlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the outlet manifold via one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Griffis, Li-Shiang Liang, William Lane, Simon P. Dukes, Kris Wy Loon Lim
  • Patent number: 11508979
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments of the novel aircraft fuel cell system without the use of a buffer battery, the fuel cell and compressor would be sized sufficiently larger for the intended application, allowing the compressor to change speeds much faster. This in turn would allow power outputs to change much quicker. If power outputs can change as quickly as the application dictates, then a buffer battery is not necessary. In one or more embodiments, because the system is mostly electronically controlled, software can be written to protect the fuel cell from instantaneous power spikes. If a large power output is suddenly requested of the fuel cell, the software can smooth out the demand curve to provide an easier load profile to follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZeroAvia, Inc.
    Inventors: Valery Miftakhov, Vadim Belogorodsky, Ilya Henry Grishashvili
  • Patent number: 11502315
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and a method for purging the condensate water and hydrogen of a fuel cell stack, which may allow the condensate water and hydrogen discharged from a stack to be directly bypassed to an exhaust line of a humidifier rather than a shell side of the humidifier to be purged to the atmosphere according to the operation state and operation condition of the stack, thereby solving a problem in that an inverse voltage is generated upon cold operation of a fuel cell system, a flooding phenomenon occurs in the stack, or the like to improve the operation stability of the stack and the operation efficiency of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bong Hyun Jung, Ik Jae Son
  • Patent number: 11482712
    Abstract: A catalyst for a fuel cell anode comprises an alloy of Pd and at least two other transition metals, at least one of which which binds to hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide at least as strongly as Pd does. Suitable transition metals which bind more strongly are Co, W, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ta, Zr and Re. PdCoW is the most preferred alloy. The catalyst is used on the anode of a hydrogen oxidising fuel cell, such as a PEMFC to catalyse the hydrogen oxidation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ilika Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Elliott Hayden, Jonathan Conrad Davies, Laura Jane Offin
  • Patent number: 11482719
    Abstract: A system for providing oxygen to a fuel cell circuit includes a compressor and a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells. The system also includes a plurality of pipes and a pressure sensor designed to detect pressure at a first location. The system also includes a memory to store a model of the fuel cell circuit and an ECU. The ECU determines a control signal corresponding to desirable operation of the compressor and determines flow values of the gas through each component based on the detected pressure and the model of the fuel cell circuit. The ECU also determines pressure values of each component based on the determined flow values and the model of the fuel cell circuit. The ECU also controls operation of the compressor based on the control signal, at least one of the flow values, and at least one of the pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jared Farnsworth, Daniel Folick, Shigeki Hasegawa, Naoki Tomi
  • Patent number: 11476477
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a target operating point determination unit that determines a warm-up target operating point based on a required electric power amount during warm-up and a required heat generation amount during warm-up; an operation control unit; and a failure state identification unit that identifies whether an electric power consumption device that operates by consuming generated electric power generated by the fuel cell has failed. When a failure of the electric power consumption device is identified, the target operating point determination unit determines an operating point that satisfies a required electric power amount during a failure that is set to be smaller than the required electric power amount during the warm-up and a required heat generation amount during the failure that is set to be smaller than the required heat generation amount during the warm-up as a target operating point during the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryouichi Namba, Hiroyuki Tsunekawa
  • Patent number: 11462754
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell stack including a cathode flow field and an anode flow field, an atmospheric air pressure acquisition unit for obtaining pressure of atmospheric air, and a pump for sucking the atmospheric air and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the cathode flow field through a supply channel. In the case where the temperature is predicted to be below freezing temperature after the time of stopping operation of the fuel cell stack, a scavenging period for the time of stopping operation is set based on the atmospheric air pressure, in order to perform scavenging of the cathode flow field by the oxygen-containing gas in a manner that the cathode flow field is placed in a predetermined humid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanimoto, Joji Nakashima, Go Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11462755
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to reduce the drying of the inside of the fuel cell stack and increase the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack by reducing a circulation gas flow rate during high temperature operation. Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack, an ejector, a first injector which supplies fuel gas to the ejector, a second injector which has a smaller fuel gas injection amount than the first injector and which supplies the fuel gas to the ejector, a third injector which supplies the fuel gas to fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supplier, a first supply flow path, a second supply flow path which enables the supply of the fuel gas from the third injector to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack, a circulation flow path, a temperature detector, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11450871
    Abstract: A system for controlling gas flow in a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack and a valve designed to adjust gas flow through the circuit. The system further includes an ECU that is designed to determine a target flow rate of the gas through the valve. The ECU is further designed to determine a flow compensation value corresponding to an amount of compensation of the target flow rate of the gas through the valve that compensates for fluid accumulation or decumulation in the fuel cell circuit. The ECU is further designed to determine a compensated target flow rate of the gas through the valve based on the target flow rate and the flow compensation value. The ECU is further designed to determine a desired valve position of the valve based on the compensated target flow rate and to control the valve to have the desired valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jared M. Farnsworth, Daniel C. Folick, Shigeki Hasegawa, Naoki Tomi
  • Patent number: 11444295
    Abstract: An aircraft power plant comprising novel air management features for high-power fuel cell applications, the features combine supercharging and turbocharging elements with air and hydrogen gas pathways, utilize novel airflow concepts and provide for much stronger integration of various fuel cell drive components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ZeroAvia, Inc.
    Inventor: Valery Miftakhov
  • Patent number: 11437635
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that is supplied with a reaction gas to generate electricity; a plurality of auxiliary components used for power generation of the fuel cell; and a control device that causes the fuel cell to generate electricity when a predetermined scavenging start condition is satisfied and controls the auxiliary components using electric power generated by the fuel cell to perform a scavenging process of removing water in a flow path of the reaction gas using the reaction gas, during a stop period in which electric power is not supplied to a load from the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mahiro Ozeki, Masashi Toida, Hiroaki Mori, Toshiyuki Sanada
  • Patent number: 11431006
    Abstract: A system for supplying hydrogen using waste heat of a fuel cell includes: a fuel cell to produce electric power using hydrogen; an internal cooling line in which a cooling medium flows and configured to pass through the fuel cell while cooling the fuel cell with the cooling medium; a solid hydrogen storage provided on a downstream side of the fuel cell on the internal cooling line and configured to discharge the hydrogen through absorption of waste heat of the heated cooling medium and to supply the discharged hydrogen to the fuel cell; and a hydrogen supply line to connect the solid hydrogen storage and the fuel cell and to supply the discharged hydrogen. In particular, the internal cooling line is reconnected to the fuel cell after passing through the solid hydrogen storage and provides the cooled cooling medium to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young Jin Cho, Kyung Moon Lee, Byeong Soo Shin, Hoon Mo Park, Dong Hoon Nam