Having Means For Supplying Reactant Or Electrolyte Patents (Class 429/513)
  • Patent number: 11605822
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator includes ribs. The fuel cell separator has a plurality of gas flow paths separated from each other by the ribs. The fuel cell separator has, on a surface of the ribs on the gas flow path side, a liquid water flow path provided separately from the gas flow paths along the gas flow paths. The liquid water flow path has an expanded region in which a cross-sectional area of the liquid water flow path in a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid water flow path is larger than a cross-sectional area of the liquid water flow path in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction in a remaining region of the liquid water flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hua Li
  • Patent number: 11603008
    Abstract: A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle for use in charging the vehicle is configured to communicatively couple to the electric vehicle via a network connection to a wireless network provider and electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector. Vehicle charging station is further configured to receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle via the network connection, deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector, and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nathan Bowman Littrell
  • Patent number: 11600827
    Abstract: A method of making an alkaline membrane fuel cell assembly is disclosed. The method may include: depositing a first catalyst layer on a first gas diffusion layer to form a first gas diffusion electrode; depositing a second catalyst layer one a second gas diffusion layer to form a second gas diffusion electrode; depositing a thin membrane on at least one of: the first catalyst layer and the second catalyst layer; joining together the first and second gas diffusion electrodes to form the alkaline fuel cell assembly such that the thin membrane is located between the first and second catalyst layers; and sealing the first and second gas diffusion layers, the first and second catalyst layers and the thin membrane from all sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HYDROLITE LTD
    Inventor: Charly David Azra
  • Patent number: 11588159
    Abstract: A control system and method for preventing a fuel cell from overheating are disclosed. The system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power through reaction of fuel gas and oxidation gas; a cooling line in which a cooling medium flows and performs heat exchange with the fuel cell; a cooling pump installed on the cooling line and configured to circulate the cooling medium through the cooling line; a cooling controller that controls an operating state of the cooling pump on the basis of the temperature of the fuel cell or the cooling medium; and a power generation controller that limits power generation of the fuel cell on the basis of the operating state of the cooling pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seong Cheol Jeong, Jae Won Jung, Jong Gyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11577977
    Abstract: In one aspect, composite particles are described herein. A composite particle comprises a substrate, composite metallic or metal oxide nanoparticles supported by the substrate and an amphiphilic or hydrophilic component associated with the substrate, wherein the composite metallic or metal oxide nanoparticles comprise iron and at least one additional transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, TRIAD GROWTH PARTNERS, LLC
    Inventors: Lauren Greenlee, Mojtaba Abolhassani, Charles Boyd Gause, Colm Griffith Humphreys, Alexis Wells Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11573160
    Abstract: A method for determining the oxygen surface exchange property of a material in a solid oxide fuel cell. The method begins by first receiving a data stream comprising of continuous weight measurements of the material and time measurements of when the continuous weight measurements of the material are taken. While receiving the data stream an oxygen concentration test is performed which involves: flowing a degradation gas flow onto the cathode material while simultaneously increasing the temperature of the primary gas flow to a set temperature, flowing the degradation gas flow onto the material at the set temperature, stopping the degradation gas flow and starting a primary gas flow at the set temperature, flowing the primary gas flow onto the material at the set temperature, and stopping the primary gas flow and starting a secondary gas flow at the set temperature. This data stream is then displayed analyzing the weight change of the material over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Ye Lin, Ying Liu, Paul Michael Alvey
  • Patent number: 11563246
    Abstract: The battery module of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells and a heat exchange unit configured to cool the plurality of battery cells, and the heat exchange unit includes: a flow frame through which coolant inflows and outflows; and a frame cover which is in contact with the plurality of battery cells, wherein the frame cover is coupled to the flow frame to form a flow space, through which the inflowing and outflowing coolant flows, together with the flow frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SK ON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae Ryong Jeon, Sun Mo An, Young Sun Choi
  • Patent number: 11563227
    Abstract: Benthic microbial biofuel cells (BMFCs) are a potential non-toxic and renewable source of underwater power. BMFCs function by coupling an anaerobic anode to an oxygenated cathode. However, current in-situ BMFCs on average produce less than 1W of power. Potential causes are internal ohmic resistance and low capture efficiency of the bacteria-generated charge due to macroscopic average distances between bacteria and electrodes. A microfluidic BMFC chip is enclosed to study those potential causes. The chip is built using elastomer microfluidics to provide biologically-inert microfluidic confinement of the bacteria, forcing them to be no further away than the height of the containment microchamber (?90 ?m) from the microelectrode matrix built on the glass substrate of the chip. The matrix captures the charge without location bias (due to its H-architecture) and conducts it to the outside circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Emil Paskalev Kartalov, Tricia Nguyen, Yolanda Meriah Arias-Thode
  • Patent number: 11545676
    Abstract: A cooling and gas dehumidifying system comprising a cooling circuit in which a thermal fluid is circulated. The system further comprises a cooling arrangement arranged in the cooling circuit and configured to cool the thermal fluid flowing therethrough. A consumer gives up heat energy to the thermal fluid flowing through the cooling circuit. A gas dehumidifier having a heat exchanger arrangement is configured to be thermally coupled in a gas dehumidifying operating state with the thermal fluid flowing through the cooling circuit downstream of the cooling arrangement and having a first temperature, and thereby give up heat energy to the thermal fluid, and to be thermally coupled in a de-icing operating state with the thermal fluid flowing through the cooling circuit downstream of the consumer and having a second temperature, and thereby absorb heat energy from the thermal fluid, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • Patent number: 11505328
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a shift reactor (110) configured to: receive carbon monoxide produced by the vehicle; and process the received carbon monoxide to produce an output comprising hydrogen; and a fuel cell (112) coupled to the shift reactor (110) and configured to: receive the hydrogen from the shift reactor (110); and produce, using the received hydrogen, electricity for use on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Graham Andrew Holland, Gordon Charles Woodhouse
  • Patent number: 11508978
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an oxidizing gas supply system, a cooling medium circulation pump, a stack temperature acquisition unit, and a control unit. After a first time point when a change in an acquisition temperature turns from downward to upward after the change in the acquisition temperature turns from upward to downward for the first time after the start of the warm-up operation processing, the control unit sets a decrease speed in cases of decreasing a rotational speed of the cooling medium circulation pump to a smaller value than a value set before the first time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryouichi Namba
  • Patent number: 11495842
    Abstract: A heat dissipating structure for a battery is provided between a heat source and a cooling member and enables heat dissipation from the heat source by conducting heat from the heat source to the cooling member. The heat dissipating structure includes: a thermally conductive sheet containing at least one of metal, carbon, and ceramic and settable between the heat source and the cooling member; and a cushion member at least partially covered with the thermally conductive sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU POLYMER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Ando
  • Patent number: 11492130
    Abstract: A redundant propulsion device includes a propeller and electric motors. The electric motors are configured to drive the propeller. The electric motors are disposed with respect to a propeller shaft of the propeller so that, around the propeller shaft, at least one of the electric motors is disposed at each of the locations in the longitudinal direction of the propeller shaft. The electric motors are disposed at positions such that an output shaft of each of the electric motors does not overlap an output shaft of any other one of the electric motors as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the propeller shaft from the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Hirabayashi, Kazuaki Kotani, Kazushige Sato
  • Patent number: 11482724
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for a lithium accumulator comprising: a negative electrode comprising metallic lithium as active material; a positive electrode associated with an aluminium current collector; and an electrolyte placed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, wherein the negative electrode is provided with a layer comprising a compound containing aluminium at its face in contact with the electrolyte, and in that the electrolyte comprises at least one lithium salt chosen from among lithium imide, lithium triflate, lithium perchlorate salts and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Yvan Reynier, Céline Barchasz
  • Patent number: 11460049
    Abstract: An ejector includes a shaft coupled to a passage formation member defining a refrigerant passage inside a body, and the shaft is slidably supported by a support member fixed to the body. A drive mechanism moves the shaft in an axial direction to change a passage sectional area of the refrigerant passage. The passage formation member is provided with a vibration suppressive member including a first mobile end that applies a load to enlarge the refrigerant passage and a second mobile end that applies a load to narrow the refrigerant passage. Both the first mobile end and the second mobile end are disposed on a same side of a slide region of the support member in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichiro Kawamoto, Kazunori Mizutori, Etsuhisa Yamada, Teruyuki Hotta, Eitaro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11431003
    Abstract: A separator assembly used for a fuel cell includes one pair of metal separators joined together and including a bead seal section including one pair of seal bead portions projecting in opposite directions respectively, an elastic body disposed in the bead seal section, and a first communication hole which extends through the separator assembly in a thickness direction of the separator assembly and which allows a reaction gas or a coolant to flow through the separator assembly. The bead seal section is disposed along an outer periphery of the separator assembly and along a shape of the first communication hole. The elastic body of a predetermined length is disposed in the bead seal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kento Suzuki, Kentaro Ishida, Kazuo Nunokawa, Akihito Giga
  • Patent number: 11414512
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a photocurable resin composition which rapidly cures by irradiation with active energy rays such as ultraviolet rays and is excellent in adhesion to an electrolyte membrane which is a hard-to-bond material. A photocurable resin composition includes the following ingredients (A) to (C): ingredient (A): a polymer having one or more (meth)acryloyl groups and having a polyisobutylene skeleton containing a —[CH2C(CH3)2]— unit, ingredient (B): a photoradical polymerization initiator, and ingredient (C): a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group and a cationic polymerizable functional group in one molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: THREEBOND CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsunori Soga
  • Patent number: 11394041
    Abstract: A computation unit of a residual pressure determination system obtains a corresponding usage limit threshold value corresponding to a measured temperature value of a tank temperature, from a usage limit threshold value line calculated using at least one of a required minimum residual pressure line and an isopycnic line. When having determined that a measured internal pressure value has decreased to the corresponding usage limit threshold value, a determination unit stops release of hydrogen gas from a high pressure tank. A tank internal pressure indicated by the usage limit threshold value line within an allowable temperature range becomes greater than or equal to the tank internal pressure indicated by the isopycnic line or that indicated by a tangent line, and at least a portion of the tank internal pressure indicated by the usage limit threshold value line within the allowable temperature range becomes lower as the tank temperature becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kawase, Kazuyuki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 11302942
    Abstract: A method for detecting leakage of a reducing fluid throughout an electrolyte membrane of an electrochemical cell is provided. The method includes the following consecutive steps: supplying the cell with anode and cathode streams; brisk and controlled variation of at least one of the following parameters: the pressure of the anode stream in the anode channel, the pressure of the cathode stream in the cathode channel, the flow rate of the anode stream into the anode channel, the flow rate of the cathode stream into the cathode channel, and the strength of the current exchanged between the two sides of the membrane; measurement of a first reducing fluid concentration in a first stream, including the cathode stream leaving the cathode channel; and deducing the presence or absence of leakage on the basis of the variation in the first measured concentration of reducing fluid over time. A corresponding fuel cell system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AREVA STOCKAGE D'ENERGIE
    Inventors: Valery Chaudron, André Rakotondrainibe
  • Patent number: 11258085
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to new forms of portable energy generation devices and methods. The devices are designed to covert formic acid into released hydrogen, alleviating the need for a hydrogen tank as a hydrogen source for fuel cell power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kuo-Wei Huang, Junrong Zheng
  • Patent number: 11196058
    Abstract: A frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a frame member having a first frame shaped sheet provided on an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode assembly over the entire periphery. An outer peripheral portion of an electrolyte membrane is provided between a cathode and the first frame shaped sheet, stacked on an outer peripheral portion of the cathode, and joined to an inner peripheral portion of the first frame shaped sheet through an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is filled in an area surrounded by an inner peripheral end of the first frame shaped sheet, an anode, and the electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ebato, Satoru Terada, Takashi Kato, Matthew J. Beutel
  • Patent number: 11185859
    Abstract: A sensor system comprises a permselective medium positionable to contact a fluid in a microchannel, an arrangement of electrodes arranged to generate an electric field across the permselective medium, an ion concentration sensing system having a sensing element configured to provide sensing signals indicative of a local ion concentration pattern, and a signal processor for analyzing a sensing signal received from the ion concentration sensing system to determine at least one flow parameter characterizing the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited
    Inventors: Gilad Yossifon, Matan Zehavi
  • Patent number: 11180048
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of retrieving a first amount of energy, by an originating transport, of a minimum amount of energy on a target transport, based on an expended energy by the originating transport to reach a meeting location, provide a needed service, and an estimated expended energy by the originating transport to return to an original location, and retrieving a second amount of energy, by the originating transport, of the minimum amount of energy on the target transport, based on a factor related to providing the service, wherein the factor is greater than the expended energy and the estimated expended energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Norman Lu
  • Patent number: 11177484
    Abstract: A battery cathode, a composition for a catalyst layer of a battery cathode, and a battery, each achieves excellent performance while using a non-platinum catalyst. The battery cathode includes a catalyst layer, wherein the catalyst layer contains a non-platinum catalyst, has a thickness of 15 ?m or more, and has a conductance per 1 cm2 of an electrode area of more than 100 S and less than 350 S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: NISSHINBO HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Takeaki Kishimoto, Dustin William H Banham, Siyu Ye, Katie Ling Pei, Kyoung Bai
  • Patent number: 11106844
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the dimensions of an electrochemical cell allowing a total area of the electrochemical cell to be minimized while maximizing an electrical signal generated by the electrochemical cell in operation, including: a/ determining a first cost function expressing the variation in a first parameter representative of the total area as a function of an adjustment variable representative of an aspect ratio of the active zone; b/ determining a second cost function expressing the variation in a second parameter representative of the generated electrical signal as a function of the adjustment variable; c/ determining a compound cost function from the first and second cost functions and identifying a value of the adjustment variable that optimizes the compound cost function and that therefore conjointly optimizes the first and second cost functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Mathias Gerard, Jean-Noel Carminati, Laurent Garnier, Ramon Naiff Da Fonseca, Ludovic Rouillon, Remi Vincent
  • Patent number: 11038185
    Abstract: A water detection device is provided for a power generation cell. The power generation cell has a reactant gas flow field (oxygen-containing gas flow field) configured to allow a reactant gas to flow along a membrane electrode assembly. The water detection device includes an electrically conductive member and a support member. The support member is an insulating member. The support member covers, and supports an electrically conductive member, and has an opening which exposes part of the electrically conductive member as an electrode. The opening is provided at a position facing a reactant gas flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Haruki, Hidetoshi Utsumi, Eri Terada
  • Patent number: 10886534
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that contains a silicon material as a negative-electrode active material has improved initial charge/discharge efficiency. A negative-electrode active material particle (10) according to an embodiment contains a base particle (13), which includes a lithium silicate phase (11) represented by Li2zSiO(2+z) {0<z<2} and silicon particles (12) dispersed in the lithium silicate phase (11). The base particle (13) has a porosity of 25% or less, preferably 15% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Minami, Taizou Sunano
  • Patent number: 10559046
    Abstract: A power supply management system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fee setting unit configured to set power fee unit prices (first power fee unit price and second power fee unit price) for each time slot, and a notification unit configured to notify a consumer of information on the set power fee unit prices. The first power fee unit price is a power unit price for a household electrical load, and the second power fee unit price is a power unit price in a case of using a charge/discharge device to charge a vehicle-mounted storage battery. The fee setting unit is configured to set, by predicting a load factor of a transformer, a discount rate of the second power fee unit price to become higher (second power fee unit price to become lower) as the predicted load factor becomes lower. The second power fee unit price is determined on the basis of the first power fee unit price and the discount rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hirata, Masayuki Kawamoto, Jun Koreishi, Tatsuya Morii, Koshi Ito, Kengo Matsunaga, Takahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 10497954
    Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure on the cathode side of a fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell, an air conveying device which is arranged on a common shaft with an expander, and a system bypass which connects the pressure-side outlet of the air delivery device to the pressure-side inlet of the expander via a system bypass line and a system bypass valve. The system bypass valve is opened in order to increase the pressure in the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jonas Hanschke, Sven Schmalzriedt
  • Patent number: 10490831
    Abstract: It is possible to suppress errors remaining in the measurement by a pressure sensor. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a tank storing fuel gas, a fuel gas supply flow path feeding the fuel gas from the tank to the fuel cell, a first pressure reduction unit reducing pressure of the fuel gas and feeding the fuel gas, a first pressure sensor measuring pressure in the fuel gas supply flow path, a second pressure sensor measuring pressure in the fuel gas supply flow path, a switching valve switching execution and stop of supply of the fuel gas, a correction unit correcting the first pressure sensor based on a second measurement value measured by the second pressure sensor, and a controller controlling the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Egawa, Masahiro Okuyoshi
  • Patent number: 10458029
    Abstract: A bacterial fuel cell including a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be purified, the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes each including a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled across a load in an electrical circuit and an electrically conductive coating at least between the metal electrical conductor and the liquid to be purified, the electrically conductive coating being operative to mutually seal the liquid and the electrical conductor from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: EMEFCY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ronen Itzhak Shechter, Eytan Baruch Levy, Lior Eshed
  • Patent number: 10377260
    Abstract: Vehicle control systems can include one or more location sensors, an energy storage device, one or more charge sensors and one or more vehicle computing devices. The location sensor(s) can determine a current location of a vehicle, while the charge sensor(s) can determine a current state of charge of an energy storage device that can be located onboard the vehicle to provide operating power for one or more vehicle systems. The vehicle computing device(s) can communicate the current location of the vehicle and current state of charge of the energy storage device to a remote computing device, receive from the remote computing device a charging control signal determined, at least in part, from the current location of the vehicle and the current state of charge of the energy storage device, and control charging of the energy storage device in accordance with the charging control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Sean Jeffrey Kelly, Justin Wayne Ho, James Lee Epifano
  • Patent number: 10218007
    Abstract: Provided are a bipolar plate that can decrease the internal resistance of a flow battery, a redox flow battery, and a method for producing a bipolar plate. A bipolar plate sandwiched between a positive electrode in which a positive electrode electrolyte flows and a negative electrode in which a negative electrode electrolyte flows includes a positive-electrode-side surface in which a flow channel having a plurality of grooves through which the positive electrode electrolyte flows is provided and a negative-electrode-side surface in which a flow channel having a plurality of grooves through which the negative electrode electrolyte flows is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Hanafusa, Kenichi Itou, Souichirou Okumura, Takemi Terao, Hayato Fujita
  • Patent number: 10211478
    Abstract: A fuel cell column includes termination plates, fuel cell stacks disposed between the termination plates, and fuel manifolds disposed between the fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks include fuel cells, interconnects disposed between the fuel cells, and end plates disposed on opposing ends of the fuel cell stacks. At least one of the termination plates and/or the fuel manifold may include first and second separate pieces separated by an expansion zone. The fuel cell stack may also include one or more buffer layers and/or seals configured to reduce CTE differences of components of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tad Armstrong, Michael Lesher, Christopher Lee
  • Patent number: 9954232
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell as a fired body including a porous plate-like support substrate having a gas flow path formed therein, and a power generation element part provided on a principal surface of the support substrate, the power generation element part including at least a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode laminated in this order. The generation of cracks in the support substrate has a strong correlation with a “surface roughness of a wall surface of a gas flow” of the fuel cell in a state of a reductant. When the surface roughness of the wall surface of the gas flow path is 0.16 to 5.2 in terms of an arithmetic average roughness Ra in a state in which the fuel cell is a reductant that has been subjected to heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere, the generation of the cracks can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Okamoto, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 9887426
    Abstract: A fuel cell and a method for manufacturing a fuel cell from a hollow fiber membrane module. The fuel cell has a housing in which a bundle of hollow fiber membranes is arranged. The volume enclosed by the housing is subdivided into an inlet space, an intermediate space and an outlet space by a partition wall which tightly encloses one end-face portion of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes and a partition wall which tightly encloses the other end-face portion of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes. The inlet space is in a fluid connection with one open end of the hollow fiber membranes, while the outlet space is in a fluid connection with the other open end of the hollow fiber membranes. The fuel cell is distinguished by a simplified electrical connection of all of the electrical layers forming the anode and cathode. As a result, the fuel cell can be produced cost-effectively in large numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Heide
  • Patent number: 9825314
    Abstract: A cathode-side gas flow path of a cell that forms part of a fuel cell is formed by a first expanded metal arranged on a gas inlet side, and a second expanded metal arranged on a downstream side. The first expanded metal is such that mesh is arranged in a straight line, and gas that flows on a gas diffusion layer side is separated from gas that flows on a separator side. The gas flowrate on the gas inlet side is reduced, so the amount of produced water that is carried away is reduced. As a result, the gas inlet side is inhibited from becoming dry at high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Maeda, Kazumi Sugita, Atsushi Ida, Shingo Morikawa, Keiji Hashimoto, Satoshi Futami
  • Patent number: 9803288
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards flow structures in electrochemical cells for use in high differential pressure operations. The flow structure on the low pressure-side of the cell has a larger surface area than the flow structure on the high-pressure side of the cell at the flow structure—MEA interface. The boundary of the high pressure flow structure is entirely within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. A seal around the high pressure flow structure is also contained within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. In such an arrangement, high fluid pressures acting on the electrolyte membrane from the high-pressure side of the cell is fully and continuously balanced by the flow structure on the low pressure-side of the membrane. Use of the low pressure flow structure as a membrane support prevents the rupture or deformation of the membrane under high stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Blanchet, Benjamin Lunt
  • Patent number: 9739835
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for estimating a power of a fuel cell. The method includes estimating a predictive current at a predetermined voltage in a controller, based on a present current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell while the temperature of the fuel cell is being raised, estimating a first power, based on the estimated predictive current and the predetermined voltage, after the step of estimating the predictive current, estimating a second power based on a cell voltage rate while estimating the first power, and calculating an available power of the fuel cell, based on the first power and the second power, after the step of estimating the first power and the step of estimating the second power are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 9637016
    Abstract: The embodiments described and claimed herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for charging an electric vehicle at a stationary service station. In one embodiment, the service station includes a power generation component including at least one fuel cell, a fuel supply component for supplying fuel to the power generation component, a charging component including at least one customer charging station, and a control component for controlling and monitoring the other components and for providing accounting and billing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: Agim Gjinali, Brian Joseph O'Connor, Rron Gjinali
  • Patent number: 9601788
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a primary fuel stream to a fuel cell stack is provided. The apparatus includes an ejector that is configured to receive the primary fuel stream from a fuel supply. The apparatus is further configured to receive the recirculated fuel stream from the fuel cell stack to provide a combined fluid stream for delivery to the fuel cell stack. The ejector includes an elastic conduit for varying a flow of the combined fluid stream based on a power level of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt David Osborne, Mark A. Pellerin, Milos Milacic
  • Patent number: 9368806
    Abstract: An ejector for supplying a fuel, such as hydrogen, to a stack in a fuel cell system can automatically move a position of a nozzle according to an increase or a decrease of a system load. As a result, it is possible to control a necessary supply of hydrogen and a recirculation flow rate by selecting an area of a nozzle throat in the fuel cell system using the ejector, and specifically, of being automatically controlled to supply hydrogen through a small nozzle at a low load, such that a recirculation amount is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Yong Gyu Noh, Se Kwon Jung
  • Patent number: 9362573
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode and a stress suppressing structure. The first electrode is joined to one surface of the electrolyte membrane. The second electrode is joined to an other surface of the electrolyte membrane. The first peripheral section which is at least part of periphery of the first electrode is located on an inner side along a planar direction of the first electrode than respective peripheries of the electrolyte membrane and the second electrode. The stress suppressing structure is configured to suppress concentration of stress on a location along the first peripheral section in the electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rira Hirasawa, Yoshikazu Watanabe, Junji Nakanishi, Shigeki Osuka, Hiroo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9240598
    Abstract: In solid polymer fuel cells employing framed membrane electrode assemblies, a conventional anode compliant seal is employed in combination with a cathode non-compliant seal to provide for a thinner fuel cell design, particularly in the context of a fuel cell stack. This approach is particularly suitable for fuel cells operating at low pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Keith M. Martin, Samira Barakat, Emerson R. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 9169140
    Abstract: Catalyst comprising graphitic carbon and methods of making thereof; said graphitic carbon comprising a metal species, a nitrogen-containing species and a sulfur containing species. A catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction for an alkaline fuel cell was prepared by heating a mixture of cyanamide, carbon black, and a salt selected from an iron sulfate salt and an iron acetate salt at a temperature of from about 700° C. to about 1100° C. under an inert atmosphere. Afterward, the mixture was treated with sulfuric acid at elevated temperature to remove acid soluble components, and the resultant mixture was heated again under an inert atmosphere at the same temperature as the first heat treatment step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Hoon Taek Chung, Piotr Zelenay
  • Patent number: 9166243
    Abstract: A flow battery includes a first liquid-porous electrode, a second liquid-porous electrode spaced apart from the first liquid-porous electrode, and an ion-exchange membrane arranged between the first liquid-porous electrode and the second liquid-porous electrode. First and second flow fields are adjacent to the respective first liquid-porous electrode and second liquid-porous electrode. Each of the flow fields includes first channels having at least partially blocked outlets and second channels having at least partially blocked inlets. The second channels are interdigitated with the first channels. The flow fields provide a configuration and method of operation for relatively thin electrodes with moderate pressure drops and forced convective flow through the liquid-porous electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Perry
  • Patent number: 9166244
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators. A second plate of the separator includes a second circular disk section, a second elongated plate section, and a second rectangular section. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the second circular disk section. The second rectangular section has a fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, an outer ridge, and a fuel gas outlet for discharging the fuel gas, and a detour path forming wall bent in a V-shape toward the fuel gas inlet. A fuel gas inlet is formed in the V-shaped inner area of the detour path forming wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishioka, Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 9099701
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating an amount of carbon support loss in fuel cells of a fuel cell stack in a vehicle, for example, during vehicle off-times. The system and method include estimating an amount of time that a hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero and calculating an amount of carbon loss based on the amount of time that the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Maslyn, Paul Taichiang Yu, Rohit Makharia
  • Patent number: 9089922
    Abstract: Welding system and method permit exchange of data with Smart Grid monitors and/or controllers. The welding systems include a welding power supply configured to convert power between the power grid and the welding power supply. A grid interface cooperates with control circuitry to transmit data to and/or from the grid monitors and/or controllers on the grid side. The control circuitry may control operation of the welding power supply based upon data from the grid. The system may include power generation devices (e.g., engine-drive generators) and energy storage devices (e.g., batteries). The control circuitry may control operation of such devices, the exchange of power between them, and the draw of power from the grid or the application of power to the grid based upon the data exchanged with the grid monitors and/or controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bunker, Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 9034537
    Abstract: Provided is fuel cell system capable of eliminating any failure caused by freezing of a discharge valve during a low temperature while preventing an increase in size of the system. A fuel cell system is provided, the system including: a fuel cell; a diluter that dilutes a fuel-off gas discharged from the fuel cell with an oxidant-off gas discharged from the fuel cell to discharge the resulting gas to the outside; a fuel-off gas flow path that connects the fuel cell and the diluter; and a discharge valve that is provided to the fuel-off gas flow path to discharge a fuel-off gas flowing through the fuel-off gas flow path to the outside during a valve opening operation. In the fuel cell system, the discharge valve is integrally attached to the diluter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Katano