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Ballantine, US
Ame Ballantine, Palo Alto, CA US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20120098336 | Fuel Cell Control Device and Method - A method includes controlling multiple networked input-parallel/output-parallel inverters of a fuel cell system as a single inverter assembly by a master controller. A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell segments, a plurality of DC/DC converters and at least one DC/AC inverter, where an output of each of the plurality of the fuel cell segments is connected to a pair of DC/DC converters, and each of the pair DC/DC converters is connected to an opposite polarity bus being provided to the inverter. | 04-26-2012 |
Ame Watson Ballantine, Palo Alto, CA US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20090273240 | Uninterruptible fuel cell system - An exemplary method of providing electrical power is provided. A first alternating current is received from a grid. The first alternating current is converted to a first direct current using a first inverter in electrical communication with the grid. The first inverter is also in electrical communication with a fuel cell system. The first direct current is converted to a second alternating current using a second inverter, and the second alternating current is provided to a load. | 11-05-2009 |
Arne Ballantine, Menlo Park, CA US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20100273082 | Structure and method for optimizing system efficiency when operating an SOFC system with alcohol fuels - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, a water inlet conduit, and a hydrometer, such as an alcoholometer. The hydrometer is adapted to provide a measurement of a water-to-fuel ratio of a fuel inlet stream within the fuel inlet conduit. The water inlet conduit is adapted to provide a quantity of water to the fuel inlet conduit in order to achieve a desired water-to-ratio being provided to the fuel cell stack. | 10-28-2010 |
Arne W. Ballantine, Round Lake, NY US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20080314754 | INCREASING AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF A RESISTOR BY NITRIDIZATION - A method for increasing an electrical resistance of a resistor. A fraction F of an exterior surface of a surface layer of a resistor of a semiconductor structure is exposed to the nitrogen-comprising molecules. An anodization electrical circuit is formed and includes: a DC power supply, an electrolytic solution including nitrogen, and the resistor partially immersed in the electrolytic solution. The DC power supply is activated and generates a voltage output, that causes an electrolytic reaction in the electrolytic solution near the resistor. The electrolytic reaction generates nitrogen ions from the nitrogen in the electrolytic solution. The fraction F is exposed to the nitrogen ions. A portion of the surface layer is nitridized by being reacted with the nitrogen ions at a temperature above ambient room temperature such that an electrical resistance of the resistor is increased. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090011526 | INCREASING AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF A RESISTOR BY NITRIDIZATION - A method for increasing an electrical resistance of a resistor. A semiconductor structure that includes the resistor is placed in a chamber that includes a gas including nitrogen-containing molecules at an nitrogen concentration. A fraction F of an exterior surface of a surface layer of the resistor is exposed to the nitrogen-comprising molecules. A portion of the surface layer is heated at a heating temperature. A combination of the nitrogen concentration and the heating temperature is sufficient to nitridize the portion of the surface layer by reacting the portion with the nitrogen-containing molecules. Heating the portion of the surface layer includes directing a beam of radiation or particles into the portion of the surface layer heat the portion of the surface layer. The portion of the surface layer is nitridized by being reacted with the nitrogen-containing molecules such that an electrical resistance of the resistor is increased. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100176003 | SEPARATOR PLATES, ION PUMPS, AND HYDROGEN FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN - Anode and cathode separator plates are suitable for use in ion pumps for converting an input stream such as reformate into a pressurized and purified hydrogen-rich gas stream. The plates may include a single cathode outlet opening forming a portion of cathode output gas manifold, an anode inlet opening forming a portion of an inlet gas stream manifold and being sized larger than inlet cathode outlet opening, the distance of the anode inlet opening to an edge of the plate being less than the distance of the cathode outlet opening from an edge of the plate, and the size of the fluid flow channel of the anode separator plate being smaller than the size of the fluid flow channel of the cathode separator plate. Methods for forming the plates and infrastructure systems are also disclosed. | 07-15-2010 |
Arne Watson Ballantine, Palo Alto, CA US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20100013317 | Integrated fuel cell system with auxiliary power delivery - A method of providing electrical power using a split bus configuration includes receiving a first direct current at a positive bus of a split bus, where the first direct current originates from a first fuel cell segment. A second direct current is received at a negative bus of the split bus, where the second direct current originates from a second fuel cell segment. A third direct current is also received at the split bus such that a combined direct current is formed including the first direct current, the second direct current, and the third direct current. The third direct current originates from an alternative direct current (DC) source. The combined direct current is provided to an inverter such that an alternating current is generated for a load. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100035109 | Fuel cell systems with increased floor density - A method of operating a fuel cell-based power generation system includes providing a plurality of fuel cell systems, each system including a plurality of fuel cell modules, and moving at least one fuel cell module of a fuel cell system with respect to a fuel cell module of another system. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20110008696 | Grid frequency-responsive solid oxide fuel cell system - A method for operating a fuel cell system connected to a power grid includes determining a frequency of the power grid, and adjusting the operation of the fuel cell system based on the determined frequency. | 01-13-2011 |
Arne Watson Ballantine, Menlo Park, CA US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20080241612 | Fuel cell system with one hundred percent fuel utilization - A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream, separating at least a portion of hydrogen contained in the fuel exhaust stream using a cascaded electrochemical hydrogen pump, such as a high temperature, low hydration ion exchange membrane cell stack having at least two membrane cells arranged in process fluid flow series, and providing the hydrogen separated from the fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080241638 | SOFC system producing reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide using a molten carbonated carbon dioxide pump - A solid oxide fuel cell power generation system's entire output is made up of three streams: water, sequestered carbon dioxide provided into a storage tank, and carbon dioxide depleted air. Thus, the system generates electricity from a hydrocarbon fuel, while outputting substantially no pollutants into the atmosphere and cleaning the air by removing carbon dioxide from the air exhaust stream. Thus, the system outputs cleaner air than it takes in without releasing pollutants into the atmosphere, while generating electricity from a readily available hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20110281185 | Modular fuel cell system - A fuel cell stack module includes a base, a cover dome removably positioned on the base, and a plurality of fuel cell stacks removably positioned on the base below the cover dome. A modular fuel cell system includes a plurality of the fuel cell stack modules, where each fuel cell stack module may be electrically disconnected, removed from the fuel cell system, repaired or serviced without stopping an operation of the other fuel cell stack modules in the fuel cell system. | 11-17-2011 |
Patrick James Ballantine, Wilmington, NC US
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20110218690 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL ENERGY DEMAND MANAGEMENT - A system and method for providing energy demand management. The system and method may comprise at least one network element communicatively coupled to at least one equipment, wherein the at least one equipment consumes energy or generates energy. The system and method may also comprise a master control unit communicatively coupled to the at least one network element, wherein the master control unit is configured to monitor and manage energy use at the at least one equipment via the at least one network element. The system and method may also comprise a server communicatively coupled to the master control unit over a network, wherein the server is configured to process a variety of information useful for the master control unit. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110218691 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REDUCED CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY USING AUTOMATED HUMAN THERMAL COMFORT CONTROLS - A system and method for reducing energy consumption at a site. The system and method may comprise a master control unit with a processor configured to receive data associated with a plurality of equipment at a site via a plurality of network elements communicatively coupled to the plurality of equipment. The master control unit may also be configured to determine control values based on the data and standard human thermal comfort values to ensure minimal energy consumption and optimized human thermal comfort level at the site. The master control unit may also transmitting the control values to the plurality of equipment via the plurality of network elements. | 09-08-2011 |