With Solid Electrolyte Patents (Class 429/465)
  • Patent number: 11955675
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. The first plate separator and the second plate separator have exterior ends away from the membrane electrode assembly. A first gas diffusion layer is located between the first plate separator and the membrane electrode assembly. A second gas diffusion layer is located between the second plate separator and the membrane electrode assembly. The sub-gasket extends from the membrane electrode assembly laterally toward at least one of the exterior ends. A first seal is located between the first plate separator and the sub-gasket. A conductive trace is attached to the sub-gasket and extends on the sub-gasket from an exterior side of the first seal to a location on an interior side of the first seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PLUG POWER INC.
    Inventors: Jon Owejan, Edward Snyder, Glenn White
  • Patent number: 11949131
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a bipolar plate for an electrochemical system, and to an electrochemical system comprising a plurality of bipolar plates. The electrochemical system may be, for example, a fuel cell system, an electrochemical compressor, a redox flow battery, or an electrolyser. The bipolar plate comprising separator plates, an inlet, and an outlet. A separator plate comprising an active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: REINZ-DICHTUNGS-GMBH
    Inventors: Ahmet Oruc, Bernd Gaugler
  • Patent number: 11933177
    Abstract: A ventilation system including a building having a space inside, a subterranean facility arranged in a basement of the building and having a subterranean space inside, a communication passage establishing communication between the space and the subterranean space, and a ventilation hole establishing communication between an earth outside the building and the subterranean space is provided. A fuel cell unit having an exhaust port is arranged in the subterranean space. The communication passage has a lateral wall protruding downward from a ceiling of the subterranean space. The lateral wall is arranged on the exhaust port side when the communication passage is arranged on a straight line linking the exhaust port and a second opening portion of the ventilation hole on the subterranean space side. The lateral wall is arranged on the straight line side when the communication passage is arranged at a position spaced apart from the straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 11916239
    Abstract: An embodiment apparatus for fabricating a membrane-electrode-subgasket assembly includes a feeding unit including a sheet feeding roller configured to feed a membrane-electrode assembly sheet having catalyst layers provided on both surfaces thereof, a cutting unit including a cutting roller and a support roller configured to rotate in engagement with the cutting roller, wherein the cutting roller is configured to punch portions outside each of the catalyst layers, a first pressing unit including a suction roller and a first hot roller, and a second pressing unit including second hot rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Min Jin Kim, Ki Sub Lee, Yong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 11876265
    Abstract: In order to improve usability of hybrid or fully electric aircraft, a fuel cell having improved efficiency and increased volume/weight specific energy density is provided. The fuel cell has a self-supporting membrane structure that is formed as a triply periodic level surface, which separates a first cavity supplied with gaseous fuel from a second cavity supplied with gaseous oxidizer in a gas-sealed manner while connecting the cavities in an ion-conductive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Kristian Zimmermann, Stephan Friedl, Christian Metzner
  • Patent number: 11862803
    Abstract: A radical scavenger, a manufacturing method therefor, a membrane-electrode assembly including the radical scavenger, and a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly are disclosed. The membrane-electrode assembly contains an ion exchange membrane; catalyst electrodes disposed on both surfaces of the ion exchange membrane, respectively; and a radical scavenger disposed at any one position selected from the group consisting of in the catalyst electrodes, in the ion exchange membrane, between the ion exchange membrane and the catalyst electrodes, and a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Jun-Young Kim, Moo-Seok Lee, Hee-Tak Kim, Seongmin Yuk, Dong-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11791474
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells including a hydrogen peroxide generating catalyst and a hydrogen peroxide decomposing catalyst, the electrolyte membrane exhibiting highly improved durability, and a method of manufacturing the same. Specifically, the electrolyte membrane includes a support and a catalyst particle including a catalyst metal supported by the support, the catalyst metal including one selected from the group consisting of a first metal having catalyst activity to generate hydrogen peroxide, a second metal having catalyst activity to decompose hydrogen peroxide, and a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byoungsu Kim, Bo Ki Hong
  • Patent number: 11777119
    Abstract: In a tubular body mounting step, a tubular body is connected to a first end constituting member and a second end constituting member of a fuel cell stack, respectively. At this time, a first opening and a second opening formed at both ends of the tubular body are closed by the first end constituting member and the second end constituting member, respectively. Accordingly, the fuel cell stack is surrounded by the tubular body. A gap is formed between the outer wall of unit cells of the fuel cell stack and the inner wall of the tubular body. In a determination step, a test gas is supplied into the fuel cell stack. Further, whether the test gas exists in the gap is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11757122
    Abstract: An electrochemical module including, a stack obtained by stacking, in a predetermined stacking direction, a plurality of electrochemical elements having a configuration in which an electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a counter electrode layer are formed along a substrate, via an annular sealing portion through which first gas, that is one of reducing component gas and oxidative component gas, flows; a container including an upper cover for pressing a first flat face in the stacking direction of the stack and a lower cover for pressing a second flat face on a side opposite to the first flat face, the stack clamped between the upper cover and the lower cover; an elastic lower plate-like member arranged between the first flat face and the upper cover; and a first gas supply portion and a first gas discharge portion connected to the second flat face in communication with the annular sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Shinke, Kazuyuki Minami, Mitsuaki Echigo
  • Patent number: 11728501
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte layer; a base electrode formed on one side of the electrolyte layer; and a catalyst electrode formed on the other side of the electrolyte layer to be apart from the base electrode with the electrolyte layer interposed therebetween. The catalyst electrode includes: a first electrode portion that covers a part of the electrolyte layer; and a second electrode portion that covers a part of a surface of the first electrode portion to form an electrode portion interface in contact with the first electrode portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND BUSINESS, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ji Hwan An, Jeong Woo Shin, Sung Je Lee, Seong Kook Oh, Jin Geun Yu
  • Patent number: 11697157
    Abstract: The invention relates to an Incineration apparatus, comprising a fluidized bed redox reactor (2) having—a reaction chamber (8) with particulate matter and—a fluidized bottom with at least one reducing agent inlet (9) for a gas to fluidize the particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DOOSAN LENTJES GMBH
    Inventors: Oguzhan Narin, Björn Brosch, Andreas Karpinski
  • Patent number: 11695127
    Abstract: A bipolar plate for use in a fuel cell stack includes a first delimiting surface and a second delimiting surface that is arranged parallel to the first delimiting surface, wherein the delimiting surfaces are arranged spaced apart from one another and define an intermediate space, wherein the bipolar plate includes at least one fuel cell section having a flow field that has depressions that protrude into the intermediate space and is provided so as to make direct contact with a fuel cell, and the bipolar plate includes at least one cooling section that extends therefrom along the delimiting surfaces, wherein at least one heat pipe is arranged in the intermediate space and extends so as to transfer heat from the fuel cell section into the cooling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Wolff, Claus Hoffjann
  • Patent number: 11581561
    Abstract: A cell includes an element portion including a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer that contains Zr and that is located above the first electrode layer, an intermediate layer that contains CeO2 containing a rare earth element other than Ce and that is located above the solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer located above the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a first intermediate layer and a second intermediate layer that contains Zr and Ce and that is located at at least a portion between the first intermediate layer and the solid electrolyte layer. In a plan view from the second electrode layer, the second intermediate layer located at an outer peripheral portion of the intermediate layer includes a portion with a thickness greater than the second intermediate layer overlapping a center of the second electrode layer. A cell stack device, a module, and a module housing device include a plurality of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11557771
    Abstract: In order to provide an electrochemically active unit for an electrochemical device including a membrane electrode assembly, at least one gas diffusion layer and a seal that is linked to at least one of the at least one gas diffusion layers, in the manufacture whereof as even as possible a construction of the penetration region in which the gas diffusion layer of the electrochemically active unit is penetrated by the sealing material of the seal over the periphery of the gas diffusion layer is achievable, the seal includes a linking region, a distribution region and a connection region that connects the linking region and the distribution region to one another, wherein the connection region has a minimum height that is less than a quarter of the maximum height of the distribution region and less than a quarter of the maximum height of the linking region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Stahl, Juergen Kraft, Karsten Dahl, Oliver Fink, Alexander Groeh
  • Patent number: 11557774
    Abstract: A metal separator is applied to a fuel cell. A method of producing the metal separator involves performing a plate processing step of forming a bead base, and a rubber seal forming step of providing a rubber seal by screen printing for the bead base formed in the plate processing step. The rubber seal forming step includes a first protrusion forming step of forming a first protrusion at the central part in the width direction of a top portion of the bead base, in a cross sectional view taken along a thickness direction of the rubber seal, and a second protrusion forming step of forming a second protrusion configured to cover the first protrusion after the first protrusion forming step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nunokawa, Yasunori Murakami
  • Patent number: 11532825
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a main phase configured by a perovskite oxide including at least one of La or Sr at the A site and that is expressed by the general formula ABO3, and a secondary phase configured by strontium oxide. The occupied surface area ratio of the secondary phase in a cross section of the cathode is greater than or equal to 0.05% and less than or equal to 3%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Fujisaki, Noriyuki Ogasawara, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 11476490
    Abstract: A cell stack device according to the present disclosure includes: a cell stack comprising a plurality of cells; and a manifold configured to supply reaction gas to the plurality of cells, wherein each of the plurality of cells includes: an element part comprising: a fuel electrode layer that is located on the fuel electrode layer; a solid electrolyte layer that is located on the fuel electrode layer; a middle layer that is located on the solid electrolyte layer; and an air electrode layer that is located on the middle layer, the middle layer including: a first middle layer bonded to the solid electrolyte layer; and a second middle layer bonded to the air electrode layer; and a non-element part of the cell that comprises the entire cell excluding the air electrode layer, the non-element part located at least at a first of both ends of the plurality of cells in a longitudinal direction, and the plurality of cells is fixed to the manifold at least at the first end by a sealing material located between the manifo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Imanaka
  • Patent number: 11462749
    Abstract: A unit cell for a fuel cell stack including an anode catalyst layer separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane from a cathode catalyst layer, a first cell end plate separated by a first gas diffusion layer from the anode catalyst layer, and a second cell end plate separated by a second gas diffusion layer from the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the first cell end plate, the second cell end plate, or both include a matrix of electrically-conducting protrusions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Soo Kim, Nathan Craig, Nikhil Ravi, Jake Christensen
  • Patent number: 11456475
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane assembly for a fuel cell, which membrane assembly includes a membrane with a catalyst layer and a frame arranged on the same side of the membrane and a gap between the catalyst layer and the frame. To allow an easy and cost-effective way for manufacturing such a membrane assembly, the manufacturing method may include the following steps: positioning a first decal layer, which is made of the same material as the first catalyst layer, on the first side of the membrane in a way that the first decal layer overlaps the frame, positioning a second decal layer, which is made of the same material as the second catalyst layer, on the second side of the membrane, pressing the first decal layer and the second decal layer against each other with the membrane and the frame positioned in-between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Owen Thomas, Keping Wang, Carmen Chuy, Yunsong Yang
  • Patent number: 11430998
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is described. The fuel cell stack comprises an interconnect assembly comprising a cathode-side interface coupled to an interconnect via a first joint, and an anode-side interface coupled to the interconnect via a second joint, the interconnect assembly having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) at an interface side of the interconnect assembly. The fuel cell stack further comprises a fuel cell element coupled to the interconnect assembly at the interface side via a hermetic seal, the fuel cell element having a second CTE at the interface side, the first CTE and the second CTE satisfying a predetermined CTE matching condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Marianne E. Mata, Ali Yousefiani, Adam J. Lang, Bruno Zamorano Senderos, Chellappa Balan
  • Patent number: 11374242
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for decoupling reactant activation and reaction completion. Various embodiments of the present disclosure leverage electrodynamic inversion principles to provide fuel cell-like operation. In one exemplary embodiment a fuel cell-like apparatus is configured to: create reactant ions (e.g., fuel ions, oxidant ions, etc.) in isolation, transport the reactant ions to a reaction interface, enable a chemical reaction, harvest the resulting electrical current, and eliminate the exhaust products. The exemplary fuel cell-like device decouples the reactants from directly powering the load. Notably, the redox reaction is allowed to proceed at a reaction interface rather than directly at the anode and cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Minto
  • Patent number: 11355773
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a prevention dam formed outside an alignment pin, such that a sealing material, which has viscosity and fluidity at a sealing temperature of a fuel cell, may be prevented from coming into contact with and adhering to the alignment pin, and pressure applied from the outside may be uniformly applied to the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sanghyun Park, Kwangwook Choi, Sanghyeok Im, Tai Min Noh, Kwangyeon Park, Daehwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11349130
    Abstract: A method of producing an infiltrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) layer. The method begins by infiltrating a solution containing a solute into a SOFC layer to produce a primary SOFC layer. The primary SOFC layer is then dried in a heated environment, wherein the heated environment ranges in temperature from about 25° C. to about 100° C. to produce a dry primary SOFC layer. The dry primary SOFC layer is then cooled at a rate less than about 5° C./min to room temperature to produce a cooled primary SOFC layer. The cooled primary SOFC layer is then heated to a temperature greater than 500° C. then quenching to a temperature from about 10° C. to about 30° C. to produce an infiltrated SOFC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Ye Lin, Ying Liu, Mingfei Liu
  • Patent number: 11335931
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite polymer electrolyte membrane comprising: a support membrane; a metal ion-blocking layer stacked on the support membrane; a stabilization layer; and a protecting layer, wherein the support membrane includes a cation conductive polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ji Hun Ahn, Heung Yong Ha, Sheeraz Mehboob
  • Patent number: 11322766
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell including a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst and a method for forming the solid oxide fuel cell are provided. An exemplary solid oxide fuel cell includes a cell. The cell includes a filled metal substrate including holes substantially filled with a permeable material that includes a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst, wherein the filled metal substrate has a front facing a fuel flow and a back facing an electrochemical stack. A permeable layer is formed on the back of the filled metal substrate that is in contact with the permeable material of the filled holes. The cell includes an anode layer proximate to the permeable layer, an electrolyte layer proximate to the anode layer, a diffusion barrier proximate to the anode layer, and a cathode proximate to the diffusion barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kunho Lee, Sai P. Katikaneni
  • Patent number: 11309549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate (40) for a fuel cell, comprising a first distributing region (50) for distributing a fuel to a first electrode (21) and a second distributing region (60) for distributing an oxidant to a second electrode (22). At least one woven fabric (80) is provided in at least one of the distributing regions (50, 60). The invention further relates to a fuel cell, comprising at least one membrane electrode assembly (10) having a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22), which are separated from each other by a membrane (18), and comprising at least one bipolar plate (40) according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Berner, Jan Hendrik Ohs, Stefan Schoenbauer
  • Patent number: 11309551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator plate for an electro-chemical system. The separator plate comprises: a first passage; an active region with structures for guiding a reaction medium along a first flat face of the separator plate and guiding a coolant along a rear face of the active region on the second flat face of the separator plate; a bead formed in the separator plate for sealing at least the active region; and barrier elements formed in the separator plate, which reduce or prevent a flow of reaction medium on the first flat face of the separator plate along the bead and past the active region. The separator plate fully encloses the first passage and the active region together and that at least one of the barrier elements is at least in parts sunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Stöhr, Claudia Kunz
  • Patent number: 11302948
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Brian C. Benicewicz, Laura Murdock, Lihui Wang, Fei Huang, Andrew Pingitore
  • Patent number: 11296332
    Abstract: A cell may include a columnar support having a first main face and a second main face; and an element comprising a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer laminated in sequence on the first main face of the support. The porosity of at least one of the two end portions of the support in the longitudinal direction L may be lower than that of the central portion of the support in the longitudinal direction L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Koi
  • Patent number: 11283096
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrochemical sensor material includes positioning sheets of molded graphene nanoplatelets on each side of a proton exchange membrane and integrating graphene nanoplatelets into regions of the proton exchange membrane adjacent its surfaces by applying heat to increase the temperature of the proton exchange membrane to its glass transition temperature and applying compressive pressure to press a portion of each sheet of molded graphene nanoplatelets into the softened polymeric material of the proton exchange membrane. Following application of heat and pressure, the proton exchange membrane is cooled and excess graphene material is exfoliated. Electrochemical sensor components are cut from the material and electrochemical devices and systems are constructed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Arborsense, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Kulkarni, Donald Kahaian
  • Patent number: 11276903
    Abstract: An electricity storage device according to one embodiment is an electricity storage device in which a plurality of bipolar electrodes in which a positive electrode layer is provided on one surface of a collector plate and a negative electrode layer is provided on the other surface of the collector plate are stacked via separators and includes a plurality of spacers arranged along peripheral edges of the collector plates between the respective collector plates adjacent to each other in a stacking direction and a resin frame covering outer peripheries of the plurality of spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA KIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kojiro Tamaru, Takayuki Hirose, Atsuhiko Nishii, Satoshi Endo, Tomohiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11276869
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hydrogen fuel cell stack with one or more hydrogen fuel cell (102) having in turn a proton exchange membrane (104), a hydrogen reaction layer (112) and an oxygen reaction layer (116) within a pair of bipolar plates (106). At least a bipolar plate (106) comprises a channel (108) inside for hydrogen inflow. Additionally, this disclosure relates to a method of upgrading a hydrogen fuel cell stack, said method comprising inserting a channel (108) for hydrogen inflow inside at least a bipolar plate (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: José Antonio Blanco, Nieves Lapeña, Jose L. Lemus, Enrique Emilio Serrot Hauke, Eduardo G. Ferreyra
  • Patent number: 11228040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas distributor plate for a fuel cell, comprising a first distribution structure for distributing a fuel to a first electrode and a second distribution structure (60) for distributing an oxidation agent to a second electrode. According to the invention, there is at least one wire element (80) in at least one of the distribution structures (60). The invention further relates to a fuel cell, which comprises at least one membrane electrode unit having a first electrode and a second electrode, which are separated from each other by a membrane, and at least one gas distribution plate according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander Eifert
  • Patent number: 11145870
    Abstract: A method of producing an infiltrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) layer. The method begins by infiltrating a solution containing a solute into a SOFC layer to produce a primary SOFC layer. The primary SOFC layer is then dried in a heated environment, wherein the heated environment ranges in temperature from about 25° C. to about 100° C. to produce a dry primary SOFC layer. The dry primary SOFC layer is then cooled at a rate less than about 5° C./min to room temperature to produce a cooled primary SOFC layer. The cooled primary SOFC layer is then heated to a temperature greater than 500° C. then quenching to a temperature from about 10° C. to about 30° C. to produce an infiltrated SOFC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Ye Lin, Ying Liu, Mingfei Liu
  • Patent number: 11108060
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack structure in which unit cells are stacked includes first window frames and second window frame. The second window frames each have an area larger than an area of a first window frame and are periodically disposed at a predetermined interval in a direction in which the unit cells are stacked. Heat movement is promoted, a temperature deviation in the fuel cell stack structure is mitigated, and a temperature distribution is uniformized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Tai Min Noh, Jaesung Kim, Sanghyeok Im, Kwangyeon Park, Ye Hoon Im, Kwangwook Choi, Junwon Choi
  • Patent number: 11063278
    Abstract: A method for making contact with a plurality of separator plates of a fuel cell system includes the steps of: inserting at least one connecting element of a cell voltage monitoring system between two directly adjacent separator plates so that two connecting parts of the connecting element that are able to move with respect to one another are arranged at least in certain regions between the directly adjacent separator plates; and relatively moving the two connecting parts that are able to move with respect to one another so that at least one first connecting part of the connecting parts moves at least in sections toward a separator plate of the directly adjacent separator plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marco Hausrath, Florian Kriesch, Stefan Haase
  • Patent number: 11043683
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack that produces electric power and water through an electro-chemical reaction of hydrogen and air. A controller of the fuel cell system calculates an amount of water in the fuel cell stack based on output power of the fuel cell stack and a maximum amount of residual water to which the amount of water in the fuel cell stack converges over time. The fuel cell system may detect the amount of water in the fuel cell stack in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Ho Lee, Jong Jin Yoon
  • Patent number: 10998558
    Abstract: Fuel cell stack assemblies (100) have a positive end plate (200) and a negative end plate (300), The end plates (200, 300) can be formed from a central structural element (220, 320) with an insulating end plate cover (210, 310) and an insulating end plate manifold (230, 330). A plurality of cathode plates (150) and a plurality of fuel cell assemblies (250) can be arranged in a stack having an alternating pattern of cathode plates (150) and fuel cell assemblies (250), with the positive end plate (200) and the negative end plate (300) provided on either end of the stack of cathode plates and fuel cell assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Longley, Jonathan Cole
  • Patent number: 10971293
    Abstract: A spin-orbit-torque magnetization rotational element includes: a spin-orbit torque wiring layer which extends in an X direction; and a first ferromagnetic layer which is laminated on the spin-orbit torque wiring layer, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer has shape anisotropy and has a major axis in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction on a plane in which the spin-orbit torque wiring layer extends, and wherein the easy axis of magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer is inclined with respect to the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction on a plane in which the spin-orbit torque wiring layer extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sasaki, Yohei Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 10938038
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, includes feeding the anode with an impure hydrogen stream having low levels of carbon monoxide up to 5 ppm, and wherein the anode includes an anode catalyst layer including a carbon monoxide tolerant catalyst material, wherein the catalyst material includes: (i) a binary alloy of PtX, wherein X is a metal selected from the group consisting of rhodium and osmium, and wherein the atomic percentage of platinum in the alloy is from 45 to 80 atomic % and the atomic percentage of X in the alloy is from 20 to 55 atomic %; and (ii) a support material on which the PtX alloy is dispersed; wherein the total loading of platinum group metals (PGM) in the anode catalyst layer is from 0.01 to 0.2 mgPGM/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Limited
    Inventors: Rachel Louise O'Malley, Enrico Petrucco
  • Patent number: 10926645
    Abstract: A temperature control device (1) for a battery system (100) having a circulation system (10) with a temperature control unit (20) for controlling the temperature of at least one battery (110) of the battery system (100), and at least one power semiconductor (30) for disconnecting and establishing a flow of electrical current between the at least one battery (110) and a consumer (200) of the at least one battery (110), wherein the at least one power semiconductor (30) is assigned to the temperature control unit (20) in such a way that the temperature control unit (20) can be heated by waste heat of the at least one power semiconductor (30) which is produced during the disconnection and/or establishment of the flow of electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Rilling, Gergely Galamb
  • Patent number: 10923735
    Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell stack includes applying an electrically conductive, compliant contact print ink containing an electrically conductive material, a plasticizer, a solvent, and a binder to at least one of a surface of an electrode of a fuel cell or a surface of an interconnect, and placing the fuel cell and the interconnect in the fuel cell stack such that the compliant contact print ink is located between the electrode of the fuel cell and the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Andres Leming
  • Patent number: 10897056
    Abstract: A process for forming an electrolyte for a metal-supported solid-oxide fuel cell, the process comprising: a. combining a doped-ceria powder with a sintering aid and solvent to form a slurry; b. applying the slurry to an anode layer; c. drying to form a green electrolyte; and d. firing the green electrolyte to form a sintered electrolyte; wherein the slurry in step b. comprises doped-ceria powder with a physical property selected from bimodal particle size distribution, a BET surface area in the range 15-40 m2/g, a spherical morphology, or combinations thereof together with an electrolyte obtained by the process, a fuel cell and fuel cell stack, comprising the electrolyte, and the use of the fuel in the generation of electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: Robert Leah, Adam Bone, Carl Matthews, Mike Lankin, Mahfujur Rahman
  • Patent number: 10862154
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell, a first gas flow path, a second gas flow path, a pressing member, and a cell supporting member. The first gas flow path is provided on a first cell surface side of the fuel cell. The second gas flow path is provided on a second cell surface side of the fuel cell. The pressing member is disposed in the first gas flow path, and presses the first cell surface of the fuel cell. The cell supporting member is disposed in the second gas flow path, and supports the second cell surface of the fuel cell that is pressed by the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hattori, Shinichi Sugihara
  • Patent number: 10826100
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane, an electrochemical battery including the polymer electrolyte membrane, an electrochemical battery module including the electrochemical battery, a flow battery including the polymer electrolyte membrane, a method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte membrane, and an electrolyte solution for a flow battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jeongbae Lee, Tae Geun Noh, Bong Hyun Jeong, Geungi Min, Sikwon Moon, Sujin Byun
  • Patent number: 10784521
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack including a plurality of SOFCs and a plurality of interconnects. Each interconnect is located between two adjacent SOFCs, and each interconnect contains a Mn or Co containing, electrically conductive metal oxide layer on an air side of the interconnect. The SOFC stack also includes a barrier layer located between the electrically conductive metal oxide layer and an adjacent SOFC. The barrier layer is configured to prevent Mn or Co diffusion from the electrically conductive metal oxide layer to the adjacent SOFC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Eric Petersen, Mina Touma, Richard Stephenson
  • Patent number: 10770737
    Abstract: A gasket comprising: a first sealing part surrounding the sealed area; and a second sealing part surrounding the sealed area and being provided external to an area surrounded by the first sealing part. When a compressive deformation ratio is defined as a ratio of a deformation amount in a height direction to pressure applied to the gasket in the height direction, in the first sealing part, the compressive deformation ratio at a section to be arranged on a first fuel cell side is greater than the compressive deformation ratio at a section to be arranged on a second fuel cell side, and in the second sealing part, the compressive deformation ratio at a section to be arranged on the second fuel cell side is greater than the compressive deformation ratio at a section to be arranged on the first fuel cell side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuaki Nonoyama, Kenji Sato, Hideya Kadono
  • Patent number: 10700365
    Abstract: A cell may include a columnar support having a first main face and a second main face; and an element comprising a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer laminated in sequence on the first main face of the support. The porosity of at least one of the two end portions of the support in the longitudinal direction L may be lower than that of the central portion of the support in the longitudinal direction L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Koi
  • Patent number: 10665879
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a solid oxide fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte layer provided between the anode and the cathode and a method for fabricating the solid oxide fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Woo Kim, Changseok Ryoo, Kwangwook Choi, Jongjin Lee, Jeong Mi Choi, Bu Won Son, Doohyun Baek
  • Patent number: 10651476
    Abstract: A cell stack device includes a cell stack including a plurality of cells arranged, and a manifold configured to allow a reaction gas to be supplied to the plurality of cells. First end portions of the plurality of cells are fixed to the manifold with a sealing material. The plurality of cells each include: a supporting substrate extending in a length direction; an element portion including a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and an air electrode layered on the supporting substrate; and an interlayer located between the solid electrolyte layer and the air electrode, extending to each of the first end portions of the plurality of cells, and having a porosity greater than a porosity of the solid electrolyte layer. The interlayer includes an exposed portion exposed from the air electrode at each of the first end portions of the plurality of cells and the sealing material provided on the exposed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Imanaka