Search Patents
  • Electrolyte generation within a fuel cell
    Patent number: 9748592
    Abstract: An exemplary method of providing an electrolyte for a fuel cell comprises including a electrolyte precursor within a fuel cell. An electrolyte is generated within the fuel cell from the precursor. An exemplary fuel cell system includes a cell stack assembly. A manifold is associated with the cell stack assembly. An electrolyte precursor is within at least one of the cell stack assembly or manifold for generating an electrolyte within a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sitaram Ramaswamy, Michael E. Gorman
  • System and method for reducing fuel cell power plant emissions
    Patent number: 9444110
    Abstract: A system and method for operating fuel cell power plant 10 includes enclosing fuel bearing components, such as fuel cell stack 28 and reformer 24, into a fuel compartment 12 separate from motorized components in a motor compartment 14, and consuming leaked fuel in the fuel compartment 12 using a fuel bearing component such as cell stack 28 and/or burner 26, thereby reducing fuel emissions from the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Preston, Peter F. Foley, Paul R. Hanrahan, Joshua D. Isom
  • Fuel cell assembly including varied flow resistance
    Patent number: 11133519
    Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes at least one cooler and a plurality of fuel cells each having an anode and a cathode. Each of the anodes includes an anode flow plate configured to allow fuel to flow through the anode. The anode flow plates have a respective flow resistance that varies among at least some of the anodes based on a distance between the corresponding anode and the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy William Patterson, Jr.
  • Fuel cell electrolyte reservoir
    Patent number: 11139487
    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. An intermediate component is situated between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate. The intermediate component includes a porous material in at least two fluid reservoirs and a barrier between the two fluid reservoirs to prevent fluid communication between the reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ke Gong, Eric Livaich, Donald J. L. Roy
  • FUEL CELL COMPONENT HAVING A FLAP EXTENDING FROM A POLYMER IMPREGNATED REGION
    Publication number: 20150372323
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a method of making a fuel cell component includes permeating at least a portion of a component layer with a polymer. The portion of the component layer is adjacent an edge of the component layer. Some of the polymer is allowed to extend beyond the edge to thereby establish a flap beyond the edge of the component layer. A fuel cell component includes a component layer having a portion adjacent an edge of the layer that is impregnated with a polymer material and a flap of the polymer material extending beyond the edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward OSEPOWICZ, Manish KHANDELWAL, Sridhar V. KANURI
  • Fuel cell spacer and electrolyte reservoir
    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
  • Integrated heat pump and fuel cell power plant
    Patent number: 10658685
    Abstract: An illustrative example system includes at least one fuel cell that is configured to generate electricity based on an electrochemical reaction. The fuel cell includes an exhaust. A heat pump includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion valve. A coolant loop is external to the at least one fuel cell. The coolant loop has a first portion associated with the exhaust such that heat from the exhaust increases a temperature of coolant fluid in the first portion. The coolant loop has a second portion downstream of the first portion. The second portion of the coolant loop is associated with the evaporator such that heat from the coolant fluid in the second portion increases the temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Derek Hildreth
  • Energy dissipation device for controlling flow of a fuel cell fluid
    Patent number: 9425470
    Abstract: An example energy dissipation device for controlling a fuel cell fluid includes a conduit extending in longitudinal direction between a first opening and a second opening. A flow control insert is configured to be received within the conduit. The flow control insert is configured to cause a fuel cell fluid to flow helically relative to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Lake, Yu Guo, Xiangyang Deng, Ying Shi, Lei Yu, George S. Hirko, Vicky Zhang, Robin J. Guthrie, Sushant S. Bhadange, Andrew Joseph Melough
  • Fuel cell component having a flap extending from a polymer impregnated region
    Patent number: 10003090
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a method of making a fuel cell component includes permeating at least a portion of a component layer with a polymer. The portion of the component layer is adjacent an edge of the component layer. Some of the polymer is allowed to extend beyond the edge to thereby establish a flap beyond the edge of the component layer. A fuel cell component includes a component layer having a portion adjacent an edge of the layer that is impregnated with a polymer material and a flap of the polymer material extending beyond the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward Osepowicz, Manish Khandelwal, Sridhar V. Kanuri
  • DC voltage brownout protection for parallel-connected fuel-cell power plants in islanded mode
    Patent number: 10923750
    Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell power plant includes a cell stack assembly, a single stage convertor configured to couple the cell stack assembly to a power network, and a controller that is configured to determine whether the fuel cell power plant has a DC voltage brownout condition during an islanded mode of operation. The controller dynamically adjusts the frequency droop gain of the power plant using an offset while satisfying at least three criteria of a set of criteria consisting of (i) avoiding overloading other fuel cell power plants of the power network, (ii) avoiding exceeding a maximum load step-up capability of the power network, (iii) avoiding exceeding a maximum load step-up capability of the fuel cell power plant, (iv) maintaining a system frequency within an acceptable frequency range, and (v) avoiding repeating the DC voltage brownout condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Fatih Cingoz, David Reale
  • Fuel cell cooler plate
    Patent number: 11050069
    Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell cooler plate includes a first side configured to be received adjacent a fuel cell component and a second side facing opposite the first side. The first side defines a first surface area of the plate. An edge is transverse to the first side and the second side. The edge has a surface area that is less than the first surface area. A first coolant passage within the plate is closer to the second side than the first side. A second coolant passage is between the first side and the first coolant passage. The second coolant passage is in a heat exchange relationship with the first coolant passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Donald J. L. Roy
  • Fuel cell power plant cooling network integrated with a thermal hydraulic engine
    Patent number: 9742196
    Abstract: An illustrative example electrical power generating system includes a fuel cell power plant that is configured to generate electrical power. The fuel cell power plant includes a cell stack assembly including a plurality of fuel cells that are configured to generate electrical power based on a chemical reaction. A coolant network is configured to carry fluid toward the cell stack assembly where fluid in the coolant network can become heated by absorbing heat from the fuel cell power plant. The coolant network includes a thermal hydraulic engine that is configured to generate electrical power. The coolant network is configured to carry the heated fluid to the thermal hydraulic engine where the heated fluid can be used for generating electrical power. The coolant network is configured to carry a reduced temperature fluid from the thermal hydraulic engine back toward the cell stack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Margiott
  • Method of making a fuel cell component
    Patent number: 9819029
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of making a fuel cell component includes mixing a catalyst material with a hydrophobic binder in a solvent to establish a liquid mixture having at least some coagulation of the catalyst material and the hydrophobic binder. The liquid mixture is applied to at least one side of a porous gas diffusion layer. At least some of the solvent of the applied liquid mixture is removed from the porous gas diffusion layer. The catalyst material remaining on the porous gas diffusion layer is dried under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Arpin, Nicole Hofstetter
  • Preventing migration of liquid electrolyte out of a fuel cell
    Patent number: 10396382
    Abstract: An illustrative example cell stack assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells that each include a cathode electrode, an anode electrode and a matrix for holding a liquid acid electrolyte. The electrodes have lateral outside edges that are generally coplanar. A plurality of separator plates are respectively between the cathode electrode of one of the fuel cells and the anode electrode of an adjacent one of the fuel cells. The separator plates have lateral outside edges that are generally coplanar with the lateral outside edges of the electrodes. A plurality of barriers along at least one of the lateral outside edges of respective ones of the separator plates extend outwardly beyond the lateral outside edges of the electrodes and separator plates. The barriers inhibit acid migration between one of the electrodes on one side of the barrier and one of the electrodes on an opposite side of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sridhar V. Kanuri, Richard D. Breault, Kishore Kumar Tenneti, Ned E. Cipollini
  • System and method for thermal priority operation of a fuel cell power plant
    Patent number: 9685665
    Abstract: A thermal priority fuel cell power plant includes a cell stack assembly for generating an electrical power output. The cell stack assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a waste heat recovery loop. The waste heat recovery loop is configured to remove waste heat generated from the electrochemical reaction and is thermally coupled to the cell stack assembly for managing the waste heat of the cell stack assembly and for supplying thermal power to a thermal load demand. The waste heat recovery loop includes a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the coolant outlet conduit and the thermal load demand. A controller is operatively associated with the cell stack assembly and the waste heat recovery loop. The controller controls the operation of the cell stack assembly by adjusting a fuel cell power plant parameter responsive to the thermal load demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sitaram Ramaswamy, Paul R. Margiott, Paul R. Hanrahan, Mithun Kamat
  • Phosphoric acid fuel cell component having a polymer impregnated region
    Patent number: 10003091
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a method of making a phosphoric acid fuel cell component includes situating at least one polymer film layer against a permeable component layer. The polymer film layer comprises a polymer that is chemically resistant to phosphoric acid. The polymer film layer is melted. The permeable component layer is impregnated with the melted polymer to thereby establish a region on the component layer that is impermeable to phosphoric acid. The impregnated region also provides a seal against reactant leakage from the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward Osepowicz, Manish Khandelwal
  • Fuel cell having multiple duplicate anode substrate layers
    Patent number: 9742017
    Abstract: The fuel cell (100) includes an oxidant flow plate (212), an adjacent cathode substrate layer (216) having a cathode catalyst (222), a matrix (224) for retaining a liquid electrolyte (230), wherein the matrix (224) is secured adjacent and between the cathode catalyst (222) and an anode catalyst (232). A first anode substrate (102) is secured adjacent the anode catalyst (232), and at least a second duplicate anode substrate layer (108) is secured adjacent the first anode substrate layer (102) for providing greater pore volume for storage of the liquid electrolyte (230) and to limit obstruction of the pore volume of the anode substrates (102, 108). The duplicate anode substrate layer (108) may be partially filled with the liquid electrolyte (230) at the beginning of life of the fuel cell (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Manish Khandelwal, Nicholas Edward Osepowicz
  • Fluidized bed contaminant separator and water-control loop for a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell
    Patent number: 9553323
    Abstract: A fluidized contaminant separator and water-control loop (10) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving media (61) within a fluidized bed (62) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. A fuel-control heat exchanger (57) upstream from the scrubber (58) removes heat from the fuel stream. A water-control loop (78) directs flow of the separated contaminants and water stream from an accumulator (68) through an ion exchange bed (88) which removes contaminants from the stream. Decontaminated water is directed back into the scrubber (58) to flow through the fluidized bed (62). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material (88) minimizes costs and maintenance requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Leslie L. VanDine, Derek W. Hildreth, John L. Preston, Paul R. Hanrahan, Lynn Reni
  • Tailored heat transfer characteristic of fuel cell coolers
    Patent number: 10161692
    Abstract: The thermal profile of one or more fuel cells (10) cooled by coolant flowing in coolant flow passageways (30, 31, 33, 34, 37-41, 45-50) is tailored by providing selected material (65, 68) adjacent a portion (33b) of the coolant passageway; the selected material has a different thermal transfer characteristic than material surrounding other portions of the coolant passageway. The material may be more insulative or more conductive. The material may be wrapping (65), such as shrink wrap, about a coolant tube, or it may be altered material (68) in a molding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: David D. Jayne
  • Fuel cell assembly including multiple flow capacities in a condensation zone
    Patent number: 10991957
    Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of cells respectively including at least an electrolyte layer, an anode flow plate on one side of the electrolyte layer, and a cathode flow plate on an opposite side of the electrolyte layer. At least one cooler is situated adjacent a first one of the cells. The cooler is closer to that first one of the cells than it is to a second one of the cells. The cathode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels and the anode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels. The anode flow plates respectively include some of the flow channels in a condensation zone of the fuel cell assembly. The flow channels of the anode flow plate in the condensation zone of the first one of the cells have a first flow capacity. The flow channels of the anode flow plate of the second one of the cells that are in the condensation zone have a second flow capacity. The second flow capacity is greater than the first flow capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ke Gong, Nicholas Edward Osepowicz, Eric Livaich, Anish Desouza, Pat Brown
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