How to Prepare a Fuel Cell for Faster, Cheaper Startup
This patent describes a method for 'pre-activating' a fuel cell stack by injecting humidified hydrogen, sealing it, and storing it, which helps reduce the time and hydrogen needed for its first full operation.
Original patent title: “Pre-activation method for fuel cell stack”
This patent describes a method for 'pre-activating' a fuel cell stack by injecting humidified hydrogen, sealing it, and storing it, which helps reduce the time and hydrogen needed for its first full operation. Owned by Hyundai Motor with 11 claims and 3 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2032.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a method to prepare a fuel cell stack before its first full use. It involves injecting humidified hydrogen into an inlet manifold of an assembled fuel cell stack (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This humidified hydrogen can go into either the cathode or anode inlet manifold (Claim 2). After injection, the fuel cell stack is sealed and then stored for a period of time, such as a day (Claim 3), often at room temperature (Claim 4). This storage step 'pre-activates' the fuel cell, meaning it gets it ready for a quicker and more efficient full activation later (Claim 5). For example, a manufacturer could inject humidified hydrogen into a newly built fuel cell stack, seal it, and let it sit for a day before shipping, making it easier for the end-user to start up.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover activating a fuel cell stack without an initial sealing and storage period after humidified hydrogen injection.
- Does not cover pre-activation methods that do not involve injecting humidified hydrogen into an inlet manifold.
- Does not cover pre-activation methods that do not include a sealing step for the fuel cell stack.
- Does not cover fuel cell activation processes that achieve 100% activation without a prior pre-activation step.
- Does not cover methods where the fuel cell stack is stored at temperatures significantly different from room temperature.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is realizing that a simple, passive step of sealing and storing a fuel cell with humidified hydrogen can significantly reduce the resources needed for its later, more intensive full activation. This 'pre-activation' allows the internal components to condition themselves over time, rather than requiring immediate, active processing.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Manufacturing processes for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
Assembly lines for stationary fuel cell power generators
Quality control steps for new fuel cell stacks
Preparation of fuel cells for long-term storage or shipping
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Fuel cells need to be 'activated' before they can work efficiently, which often uses a lot of hydrogen and takes time. This method aims to make that initial activation process much faster and use less hydrogen. By pre-activating the fuel cell during manufacturing or assembly, it can save resources and streamline the production process. This could lead to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly fuel cell systems.
Filed
November 30, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Hyundai Motor Co., the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a major player in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle development, with models like the NEXO. Other automotive companies like Toyota (Mirai) and Honda, along with fuel cell manufacturers like Ballard Power Systems and Plug Power, are constantly optimizing their manufacturing and activation processes for fuel cell stacks. These companies would be interested in methods that reduce production costs and improve efficiency.
Market impact
This patent addresses a practical challenge in fuel cell manufacturing: the resource-intensive initial activation. By offering a method to reduce hydrogen consumption and processing time, it could contribute to lowering the overall cost of producing fuel cell stacks. This efficiency gain helps make fuel cell technology more competitive against traditional power sources and could accelerate its adoption in various sectors, from transportation to stationary power generation.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a method to prepare a fuel cell stack before its first full use. It involves injecting humidified hydrogen into an inlet manifold of an assembled fuel cell stack (Claim 1). This humidified hydrogen can go into either the cathode or anode inlet manifold (Claim 2). After injection, the fuel cell stack is sealed and then stored for a period of time, such as a day (Claim 3), often at room temperature (Claim 4). This storage step 'pre-activates' the fuel cell, meaning it gets it ready for a quicker and more efficient full activation later (Claim 5). For example, a manufacturer could inject humidified hydrogen into a newly built fuel cell stack, seal it, and let it sit for a day before shipping, making it easier for the end-user to start up.
The clever bit
The clever part is realizing that a simple, passive step of sealing and storing a fuel cell with humidified hydrogen can significantly reduce the resources needed for its later, more intensive full activation. This 'pre-activation' allows the internal components to condition themselves over time, rather than requiring immediate, active processing.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover activating a fuel cell stack without an initial sealing and storage period after humidified hydrogen injection.
- Does not cover pre-activation methods that do not involve injecting humidified hydrogen into an inlet manifold.
- Does not cover pre-activation methods that do not include a sealing step for the fuel cell stack.
- Does not cover fuel cell activation processes that achieve 100% activation without a prior pre-activation step.
- Does not cover methods where the fuel cell stack is stored at temperatures significantly different from room temperature.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$25K – $78K
Midpoint $49K · 6.1 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
11 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Shin, H. S., Lee, J. H., Choo, H. S., & Lee, S. K. How to Prepare a Fuel Cell for Faster, Cheaper Startup (U.S. Patent No. 20,140,045,086). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20140045086/pre-activation-method-for-fuel-cell-stack
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Prepare a Fuel Cell for Faster, Cheaper Startup cover?
This patent describes a method for 'pre-activating' a fuel cell stack by injecting humidified hydrogen, sealing it, and storing it, which helps reduce the time and hydrogen needed for its first full operation.
Who owns patent US 20140045086?
This patent is owned by Hyundai Motor.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 30, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20140045086 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Fuel cells need to be 'activated' before they can work efficiently, which often uses a lot of hydrogen and takes time. This method aims to make that initial activation process much faster and use less hydrogen. By pre-activating the fuel cell during manufacturing or assembly, it can save resources and streamline the production process. This could lead to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly fuel cell systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover activating a fuel cell stack without an initial sealing and storage period after humidified hydrogen injection.
Same assignee
More from Hyundai Motor
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