Flow Field Means (e.g., Flow Field Plate, Bipolar Separator, Etc.) Patents (Class 429/457)
  • Patent number: 11588169
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cell stack including a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction; a first end plate including a guide through-hole formed therein, the first end plate being disposed on one end of two ends of the cell stack; a second end plate including a guide support hole formed therein, the guide support hole overlapping the guide through-hole in the first direction, the second end plate being disposed on an opposite end of the two ends of the cell stack; and an enclosure surrounding a side portion between the two ends of the cell stack together with the first end plate and the second end plate, the enclosure being formed as a unitary structure. The enclosure includes a body surrounding the side portion of the cell stack and first and second ends coupled to the first end plate and the second end plate, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Duck Whan Kim, Yong Suk Heo, Suk Min Baeck
  • Patent number: 11515559
    Abstract: A first power output unit connected to a first terminal plate of a fuel cell system is electrically connected to a first external connector through a first joint part at a position above a cell stack body in an outer case. The first joint part includes a tightening member for tightening the first power output unit and the first external connector together by screw tightening, and a cover covering a screw tightening part of the tightening member from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Ikeda, Norihisa Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11482714
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a flow guide, a component for allowing a first fluid to flow from a first manifold to a second manifold and through a reactive zone, a peripheral seal disposed between the flow guide and the component, an intermediate seal disposed between the flow guide and the component, the intermediate seal being encircled by the peripheral seal and encircling the reactive zone, another component opposite the flow guide to allow a second fluid to flow from a third manifold to a fourth manifold and through another reactive zone, and a fluid flow circuit provided between the intermediate seal and the peripheral seal between fifth and sixth manifolds. One of the fifth and sixth manifolds is separated from the first to fourth manifolds by the intermediate seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Sebastien Rosini
  • Patent number: 11469435
    Abstract: A dummy cell disposed at least at one end of a cell stack body in a fuel cell stack includes a dummy electrode assembly. The dummy electrode assembly includes a plate, and a pair of electrodes joined to both surfaces of the plate through adhesive layers, respectively. The adhesive layers are disposed only in a second area that lies outside a first area corresponding to a power generation area of a power generation cell in the dummy electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11469436
    Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell device which can be produced simply and cost-effectively, it is proposed that the fuel cell device comprises the following: a plurality of fuel cell elements which are stacked one on top of another along a stacking direction and form a fuel cell stack; a clamping device for securing the fuel cell elements; a fluid guide unit for supplying fuel and/or oxidizer and/or coolant to the fuel cell elements and/or for removing fuel and/or oxidizer and/or exhaust gas and/or coolant from the fuel cell elements, wherein the clamping device comprises two or more crossmembers which extend at least approximately perpendicularly to the stacking direction, wherein in each case at least one crossmember is arranged at each end of the fuel cell stack, wherein the crossmembers can be drawn towards one another by means of clamping elements and the fuel cell stack can thereby be clamped between the crossmembers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ElringKlinger AG
    Inventors: Stefan Hemmer, Jürgen Kraft, Manuel Morcos, Michael Götz, Wadim Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11466937
    Abstract: A basic structural body for constructing heat dissipation device and a heat dissipation device are disclosed. The heat dissipation device includes a first basic structural body having a wick structure formed on one side surface thereof; and the first basic structural body and the wick structure are structural bodies formed layer by layer. Two pieces of first basic structural bodies can be correspondingly closed together to construct a heat dissipation device internally defining an airtight chamber. In this manner, the heat dissipation device can be designed in a more flexible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kuei-Feng Chiang
  • Patent number: 11456465
    Abstract: A method for producing a bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack includes the following steps: providing two half-plates made of sheet metal, which form the bipolar plate when arranged on top of one another, wherein the half-plates are profiled via deformation of the sheet metal, and wherein, as a result of the profiling, the two half-plates arranged on top of one another contact at at least one contact region and do not contact at at least one non-contact region; carrying out at least one first cut in the non-contact region of at least one half-plate, before the half-plates are arranged on top of one another; Arranging the two half-plates on top of one another and connecting same; and carrying out at least a second cut in the contact region through both half-plates after they have been arranged on top of one another and connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Haase
  • Patent number: 11404707
    Abstract: A conveying device for a fuel cell system for conveying and/or recirculating a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, includes a recirculation fan, a jet pump that is driven by a motive stream of a gaseous medium that is under pressure, and a metering valve. The gaseous medium is supplied to the jet pump by the metering valve. The conveying device further includes an inlet fluidically connected to an anode outlet of the fuel cell and an outlet fluidically connected to an anode inlet of the fuel cell. The jet pump and the metering valve form a combined valve/jet-pump assembly. The components of the conveying device are positioned on a planar carrier element such that flow lines between and/or within the components extend only parallel to the planar carrier element. The planar carrier element is arranged between the fuel cell and the conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 11387467
    Abstract: In a fuel cell separator member of a fuel cell stack, a first metal bead and first ribs are formed integrally with and protruded from a surface of the first metal separator. Each of the first ribs includes a first rib body and two first retracted portions. The protruding height of each of the two first retracted portions is smaller than the protruding height of the first rib body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Ohmori, Takuro Okubo
  • Patent number: 11346585
    Abstract: An electrochemical heat transfer device utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a reservoir having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to reservoirs and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the reservoir or may comprise the outer surface of the reservoir to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two reservoirs and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, William Parmelee
  • Patent number: 11349139
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a catalyst layer of a membrane-electrode assembly may include preparing a solution including an ionomer and a solvent, forming a catalyst slurry composition by adding a carbon powder catalyst to the solution, forming a catalyst layer by applying the catalyst slurry composition onto a base material, and then drying the catalyst slurry composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Lee Jin Ghil, Doyoung Kim, Woon Jo Kim
  • Patent number: 11302931
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a separator assembly for fuel cell includes a separator assembly forming step in which a separator assembly including a first metal separator and a second metal separator each having a protruding bead portion is formed by joining together the surfaces of the first and second metal separators opposite from their respective bead portions protruding, and a preload applying step in which a pair of platens apply a preload in a thickness direction of the separator assembly to a bead seal section formed of one pair of the bead portions, and thereby the bead seal section is plastically deformed. In the preload applying step, the preload applied to a linear portion of the bead seal section is set to be smaller than the preload applied to a curve portion of the bead seal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Shimada, Hajime Yui, Shigeru Watanabe, Toshihiro Shimazoe
  • Patent number: 11296361
    Abstract: A bipolar battery including a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew C. Chu, Qingcheng Zeng, Donald G. Dafoe, Steven Kaye
  • Patent number: 11271221
    Abstract: An electrochemical reaction cell stack including a plurality of unit cells and flat plate-shaped electrically conductive members arranged in a first direction. The electrically conductive members include: a first member having a first surface including a first flat portion and a protruding portion and a second member both located on the first side of the first member in the first direction, the second member having a second surface facing the first surface and including a second flat portion and a recessed portion facing the protruding portion. The thickness of the second member is larger than the thickness of the first member in the first direction. The depth of the recessed portion of the second member from the second flat portion is larger than the protruding length of the protruding portion of the first member from the first flat portion in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MORIMURA SOFC TECHNOLOGY CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Manabe, Takeshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 11247258
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a separator that can effectively prevent warpage is provided. A method for manufacturing a separator according to an embodiment includes disposing a separator material including a flow path forming region between a first upper die and a first lower die, and pressing the separator material using the first upper die and the first lower die to thereby form a first recessed and projected shape in the flow path forming region and form a second recessed and projected shape outside the flow path forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenshiro Moride, Takayuki Furuhata
  • Patent number: 11183704
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a plurality of power generation cells. The plurality of power generation cells are stacked together in a circle, and a tightening load is applied to the plurality of power generation cells in a circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of power generation cells includes a V-shaped electrically conductive base plate. A first reactant gas flow field is provided between power generation cells that are adjacent to each other. A ridge protruding outward is provided in the base plate to provide the first reactant gas flow field by the ridge, and insulating material is provided on the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Toda, Atsushi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 11145878
    Abstract: A fuel cell having an ion-selective separator, a gas diffusion layer and a separator plate, is provided. The separator plate forms, together with the gas diffusion layer, at least one gas-conducting flow field. At least one convergent duct section and at least one divergent duct section are formed in the flow field, wherein the convergent duct section lies adjacent to the divergent duct section. A barrier is provided between the convergent duct section and the divergent duct section such that the gas flows at least partially through the gas diffusion layer in order to pass directly from the convergent duct section into the divergent duct section. At least one additional convergent duct section, at least one additional divergent duct section and at least one additional barrier are provided downstream of the convergent duct section and/or downstream of the divergent duct section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Haase
  • Patent number: 11127957
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator having high electrical conductivity is provided. A fuel cell separator including, on a substrate, an antimony-doped tin oxide film, in which the antimony-doped tin oxide film contains a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polyethylene glycol (PEDOT/PEG) copolymer in a content of 15% by volume or more but 25% by volume or less is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Takata
  • Patent number: 11114676
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator having high corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity is provided. This fuel cell separator includes, on a substrate, a composite film containing an antimony-doped tin oxide and a tin-doped indium oxide, in which an element ratio of tin to indium (Sn/In) in the composite film is 1.4 or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Takata
  • Patent number: 11101470
    Abstract: Oxygen-containing gas discharge passages are provided in a first metal separator of a fuel cell of a fuel cell stack. The oxygen-containing gas discharge passages include an upper oxygen-containing gas discharge passages and a lower oxygen-containing gas discharge passage. In the first metal separator, a central position at the center between the upper oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and the lower oxygen-containing gas discharge passage is positioned below the center of an oxygen-containing gas flow field in the gravity direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Yu Tomana, Hiroshi Morikawa, Yosuke Nishida, Takahiro Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 11081706
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body of power generation cells stacked in a horizontal direction. An oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed in the fuel cell stack, for allowing an oxygen-containing gas to flow along an electrode surface of a membrane electrode assembly. A plurality of oxygen-containing gas discharge passages for discharging the oxygen-containing gas as a reactant gas pass through the fuel cell stack in a stacking direction of the power generation cells. Each of the oxygen-containing gas discharge passages is connected to an outlet. The plurality of oxygen-containing gas discharge passages are connected together by a first connection channel at an end opposite to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sakano, Hiroshi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11043685
    Abstract: A method for producing a resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes: a first conveyance step of supporting a sheet-shaped member having a cathode and an electrolyte membrane by a resin frame member to which the sheet-shaped member is joined and linearly conveying the supported sheet-shaped member to a pressure bonding device; a second conveyance step of conveying an anode to the pressure bonding device by way of a rotary table; and a pressure bonding step of heating and pressing the cathode and the anode from above and below by the pressure bonding device to thereby integrate the cathode and the anode together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Yoshida, Kensuke Namba, Yosuke Konno, Masami Kurimoto, Yusuke Wada
  • Patent number: 11024858
    Abstract: A separator plate for an electrochemical system has two metal individual plates. The plates have passage openings for operating media and possibly coolant, and distribution structures. The distribution structures are formed in the metal individual plates and which each communicate with at least two of the passage openings. A peripherally extending sealing structure is formed in each of the metal individual plates at least peripherally around the electrochemically active region and at a distance therefrom and/or peripherally around at least one of the passage openings and at a distance from the edge thereof. The cross-section of the sealing structure has a bead roof, two bead flanks, and at least in some segments, two bead feet. At least in the region of the bead roof of the sealing structure at least in some segments, the sealing structure extends sinuously with at least two wave periods having convex and concave segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: REINZ-DICHTUNGS-GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Stoehr, Claudia Kunz, Stephan Wenzel
  • Patent number: 10998560
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack 11 includes a cell laminate 21 composed of a plurality of stacked cells 20, and air is introduced from an anode end part 21a of the cell laminate 21. The cell laminate 21 has two end cells 24 installed adjacently to a cathode end part 21b side, thereby providing the cathode end part 21b with high thermal insulation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norishige Konno, Hiroki Okabe
  • Patent number: 10930965
    Abstract: A collapsible power generator (e.g., a fuel cell) isolating envelope for managing airflow in and out of a fuel cell, while providing thermal and electrical insulation between said fuel cell and the interior of a power plant enclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the collapsible fuel cell isolator is formed from a flat material into a parallelogram, allowing easy installation into the interior of said enclosure. Once the collapsible fuel cell isolating envelope is inside the enclosure, the collapsible fuel cell isolator may be opened up to a final rectangular form, and mounted in place such that a fuel cell may then be placed into the interior of the collapsible fuel cell isolating envelope. The collapsible nature of the fuel cell isolator allows the isolator to maximize the interior volume of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ALTERGY SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Phillip Alexander Barat
  • Patent number: 10910658
    Abstract: A fluid passage for supplying or discharging fluid extends through a metal separator in a separator thickness direction, and a bead seal configured to prevent leakage of the fluid protrudes from the metal separator. A folded portion is formed in an outer marginal portion of the metal separator or in an inner marginal portion of the fluid passage, and the folded portion is bent or curved in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the bead seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Yu Tomana
  • Patent number: 10903508
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack may employ a construction in which a plastic film frame is used to frame a catalyst coated membrane within. In one advantageous embodiment, the plastic film frame is adhesive coated on one side and laminated at its inner edge to one surface of the catalyst coated membrane and at its outer edge to the flow field plate on the opposite side. In another advantageous embodiment, the plastic film frame is laminated to sealing features incorporated in a transition region in the flow field plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Nissan Motor Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Simon Farrington, Charles Lee, Alvin Lee
  • Patent number: 10892498
    Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell device includes a cell stack assembly of a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode. A pressure plate is situated near one end of the cell stack assembly. A spacer between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate has a length, a width, and a height. The height of the spacer defines a spacing between the pressure plate and the end of the cell stack assembly. The spacer has a plurality of ribs that define at least two fluid reservoirs. At least one of the ribs separates the fluid reservoirs so that fluid in one of the reservoirs is isolated from fluid in the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Donald J. L. Roy
  • Patent number: 10847807
    Abstract: Flexible air-breathing microscale fuel cells are produced using ion exchange polymer membranes without silicon substrates or other rigid components. The microscale fuel cells provide long-life energy supply sources in portable electronics due to reduced volume, high energy density, and low cost. More particularly, the microscale fuel cell has a direct hydrogen flow-through porous anode electrode with a pair of air-breathing cathodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ronald Besser, Seyed Reza Mahmoodi
  • Patent number: 10818954
    Abstract: An electric component connection mechanism of a fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell stack body, terminal plates, end plates, and a housing. A plurality of fuel cells that generate electricity by electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are stacked in the fuel cell stack body. The terminal plates are disposed on both ends of the fuel cell stack body in a stacking direction of the fuel cells. The end plates are stacked on the terminal plates on the sides opposite to the fuel cell stack body. The terminal plates include terminals that penetrate through and protrude out of the end plates. The terminals are connected to high-voltage cables. Moving mechanisms that support the terminal plates while allowing the terminal plates to advance and retreat in the stacking direction with respect to the end plates are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Goto, Hiroo Yamaguchi, Daisuke Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 10811697
    Abstract: Methods for designing one or a pair of half plates of a fuel cell include providing a first half plate defining a first half plate metal bead, wherein the first half plate metal bead protrudes from the first half plate forming a convex side, providing a second half plate defining a second plate metal bead, wherein the second half plate metal bead protrudes from the second half plate forming a convex side, determining a pressure profile between the convex sides of the first half plate metal bead and the second half plate metal bead in a compressed state, and adjusting a height of the first half plate metal bead and/or the second half plate metal bead in one or more locations to increase the uniformity of the pressure profile. Increasing the uniformity of the pressure profile can include reducing a range of the plurality of pressure measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Liang Xi, Jeffrey A. Rock, Xi Yang, Siguang Xu
  • Patent number: 10763518
    Abstract: A plate member for a cell stack, a cell stack assembly, a method of forming a plate member for a cell stack and a method of assembling a cell stack may be provided, and the plate member comprises a channel sheet comprising at least one peak and one trough for forming fluid flow channels; two alignment parts, each alignment part comprising a main body and one or more alignment members, the main body having a through hole provided within the main body; and wherein the alignment part is capable of aligning the channel sheet parallel to a plane of the main body and the alignment member is capable of aligning the alignment member to another corresponding alignment member along an axis passing through the alignment member; and further wherein the channel sheet is disposed between the two alignment parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC
    Inventors: Ming Han, Yunzhong Chen, Lei Wang, Chun Yu Ling
  • Patent number: 10727523
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple power generating units and a dummy unit, and respectively providing openings providing reactant-gas supply manifolds. Each power generating unit includes one or more first supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof. The dummy unit includes one or more second supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof, and a second supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the second supply passage ports where the second supply passages are connected to the opening is located at a lower position in the vertical direction than a first supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the first supply passage ports where the first supply passages are connected to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Takenori Yamasaki, Atsushi Ida, Daisuke Hayashi, Shuji Kurita, Takashi Kondo, Keiji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10727521
    Abstract: A device comprising a first solid oxide fuel cell and a second solid oxide fuel cell. The first solid oxide fuel cell comprises a first anode, a first cathode and a first electrolyte, wherein the first electrolyte is positioned between and connected to the first anode and the first cathode. The second solid oxide fuel cell comprises a second anode, a second cathode and a second electrolyte, wherein the second electrolyte is positioned between and connected to the second anode and the second cathode. In this device the cathode distance between the first cathode and the second cathode is less than the anode distance between the first anode and the second anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY
    Inventors: Ying Liu, Mark Jensen, Mingfei Liu
  • Patent number: 10693172
    Abstract: A manufacturing method includes providing a cell stack including fuel cells and has a first end and a second end. A first end plate is provided at the first end of the cell stack. The first end plate has a first end plate through hole. A second end plate is provided at the second end of the cell stack. A connecting member is provided to connect the first end plate and the second end plate. A first knock is inserted into the first end plate through hole and into a first connecting member installing hole. A first seal is located between the first knock and the first end plate in the first end plate through hole. The first end plate is moved in the stacking direction to contact the connecting member. A fastening member is inserted into the first knock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nara, Kosuke Takagi, Yoshihito Kimura
  • Patent number: 10586990
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a cell stacked body in which fuel cells are stacked in multiple layers; an end plate by which the fuel cells are fastened; and a dummy cell interposed between the cell stacked body and the end plate, wherein the end plate includes a gas inlet for introducing a reactant gas from an outside, and a gas outlet for discharging the reactant gas to the outside, and the dummy cell includes a gas supply manifold delivering the reactant gas having passed through the gas inlet to the cell stacked body, a gas exhaust manifold delivering the reactant gas having passed through the cell stacked body to the gas outlet, and a bypass channel connecting the gas supply manifold to the gas exhaust manifold and being partially curved to allow the condensed water to be collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10566590
    Abstract: A battery system includes at least one apparatus configured to increase safety when using at least one component of the battery system. The at least one apparatus is configured to degas the at least one component. The at least one component has a degassing opening. The at least one apparatus is configured to be attached to the at least one component by joining, and the at least one apparatus is configured to cover the degassing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andy Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 10559834
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a plurality of channels formed in a reaction surface in the direction of gravity in order to permit reaction gas and generated water to flow therethrough. The fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gas diffusion layer (GDL). The channels have a wave shape in the reaction surface, and each of the channels includes curved portions and straight portions that are arranged alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyung Min Kim, Sang Mun Jin
  • Patent number: 10553891
    Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a flow cell device. The device comprises: an exchange membrane, extending essentially in a plane; an adhesive, at a periphery of the membrane; and two half-cells, each on a respective side of said plane, the half-cells sandwiching the membrane. The membrane spans a smaller area than each of the areas of the half-cells, whereby a peripheral space is defined at the periphery of the membrane between two opposing faces of the half-cells. This space is at least partly filled with an adhesive, so as to secure the two half-cells to each other with the membrane encapsulated therein. The present invention is further directed to a method of fabrication of such a flow cell device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Ebejer, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 10544514
    Abstract: A gas diffusion device includes a first gas diffusion layer that diffuses gas and is formed of metal and at least one first metal plate that is provided on at least one main surface of the first gas diffusion layer and includes a manifold hole through which gas flows and a gas flow path which communicates with the manifold hole, and the gas flow path passes through the first metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Ukai
  • Patent number: 10494729
    Abstract: A module for an HTE reactor or an SOFC fuel cell, the module including a circuit for the circulation of a gas, in addition to the reactive gases required for the electrolysis reaction or the reverse reaction in an SOFC cell, the circuit enabling, during the operation under pressure, the additional gas to equalise, on one side of the glass- and/or vitroceramic-based seals, the pressure of the reactive gases generated on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Michel Planque, Magali Reytier, Guilhem Roux
  • Patent number: 10497945
    Abstract: A process (30) for producing a distributor plate (1) for an electrochemical system, wherein the distributor plate (1) has at least one metal foil (2) having a first surface (3) and a second surface (4) and the process (30) has the following process steps: a) pretreatment (31) of the metal foil (2); b) mask formation (32) at least on the first surface (3) of the pretreated metal foil (2); c) structure formation (33) at least on the first surface (3) of the metal foil (2) provided with the mask (10), as a result of which a first fluid distributor structure (5) is formed; d) mask removal (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Weeber, Silvan Hippchen
  • Patent number: 10483580
    Abstract: A solid state fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a ceramic electrolyte. The ceramic electrolyte includes a silicate oxyapatite represented by REy?xMxSiO6O27±?, where RE is a rare earth metal, M is an alkali metal, x is greater than 0 and less than 2, y ranges from 9.3 to 10, and ? ranges from 0 to 2. A method for making the solid state fuel cell is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: National Taipei University of Technology
    Inventors: Sea-Fue Wang, Yi-Xin Liu, Ting-Ting Yang
  • Patent number: 10480082
    Abstract: The invention essentially consists in supplying fuel (either steam or a mixture of steam with CO2 or H2 or CH4) to distinct zones of a cell or a group of stacked cells and of an adjacent cell or group of adjacent stacked cells within a given (co-)electrolysis reactor or a SOFC fuel-cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Magali Reytier, Nicolas Bardi
  • Patent number: 10476087
    Abstract: A fuel cell electricity generation unit including a single cell; first and second interconnectors; a separator; a metal frame member disposed between the separator and the first interconnector; and a gas sealing member having a contact portion in contact with the surfaces of the separator and the second interconnector. The unit has a contact overlap region overlapping with the contact portion in a first direction, and each of the gas sealing member, the separator, the frame member, the first interconnector, and the second interconnector is present in the contact overlap region. At least one of a first weld portion sealing between the separator and the frame member and a second weld portion sealing between the frame member and the first interconnector is formed at a position whose distance from the periphery of the single cell is greater than the distance between the periphery and the contact overlap region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Morikawa
  • Patent number: 10446859
    Abstract: An exemplary manifold assembly includes a gas inlet manifold configured to introduce a gas to a fuel cell. A gas outlet manifold is configured to direct gas away from the fuel cell. A drain channel connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. The drain channel is configured to carry liquid from the gas inlet manifold to the gas outlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Tommy Skiba, Christopher John Carnevale
  • Patent number: 10403920
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel battery cell capable of suppressing absorption of water discharged from a manifold by a porous body disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and a separator, and so improving drainage performance. This fuel battery cell 1 includes: a porous passage 20c that is disposed to be opposed to a membrane electrode assembly 10m on a cathode side, and a separator 30 sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly 10m and the porous passage 20c, the separator including a cathode off-gas discharging through hole 32b through which cathode off-gas discharged from the porous passage 20c flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10333158
    Abstract: A plate assembly includes a first plate and a second plate positioned adjacent to one another. The first plate includes a first sealing member formed thereon. The second plate includes a second sealing member formed thereon. The first sealing member includes a first end surface and first opposing sides extending from the first end surface. The second sealing member includes a second end surface and second opposing sides extending from the second end surface. The first and second sealing members are offset relative to one another by a first offset distance (D1) in a first longitudinal direction. By varying the sealing member's base width periodically, a greater sealing force is achieved. By offsetting alignment of pairs of sealing members along the seal path, uniform pressure along the seal path is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Siguang Xu, Xi Yang, Liang Xi
  • Patent number: 10320012
    Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided having an active structure with an anode and cathode in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween, a fuel passage adjacent the anode for supplying fuel to the active structure, and an air passage adjacent the cathode for supplying air to the active structure. A porous ceramic layer is positioned between each of the anode and fuel passage and the cathode and air passage, the porous ceramic layers having a porosity configured to permit transport of fuel and air from the respective fuel and air passage to the respective anode and cathode. An inactive surrounding support structure is provided that is monolithic with the electrolyte and the porous ceramic layers, wherein the inactive surrounding support structure lacks the anode and cathode in opposing relation and the active structure resides within the inactive surrounding support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
  • Patent number: 10297853
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell with a dense barrier layer formed at or near the outer surface of the top and/or bottom electrode layers in a fuel cell stack. The dense barrier layer (DBL) acts as a seal to prevent gas in the electrode layer (either air in a cathode layer or fuel gas in an anode layer) from leaking out of the stack though the outer surface of the outermost electrode layers. The use of a DBL with porous outer electrode layers reduces the amount of gas escaping the stack and minimizes the chances for leak-induced problems ranging from decreases in performance to catastrophic stack failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian P. Feldman, Craig M. Adams, Zachary R. Patterson, Ayhan Sarikaya, Aravind Mohanram