USPTO Patent Granted for Compressor Using Electrolyte Membrane

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Batteries (H01M)

Published March 24th, 2026

Detected March 26th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted a patent to Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. for a compressor utilizing an electrolyte membrane to generate compressed hydrogen. The patent, effective March 24, 2026, details a control method designed to prevent corrosion of metallic components.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent US12586801B2 to Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. for a novel compressor design. This compressor incorporates an electrolyte membrane, anode, and cathode, and uses a voltage application unit to extract protons and generate compressed hydrogen. A key feature is the controller that ensures the applied voltage per unit cell remains below the corrosion potential of the metallic anode separator, thereby enhancing durability.

This patent grant is primarily an informational event for manufacturers in the energy and technology sectors. While it does not impose new compliance obligations, it signifies a technological advancement in hydrogen compression and fuel cell technology. Companies involved in developing or manufacturing fuel cells, hydrogen production equipment, or related energy storage solutions should be aware of this patented technology, particularly if their designs involve similar electrolyte membrane configurations or voltage control mechanisms.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Compressor and compressor control method

Grant US12586801B2 Kind: B2 Mar 24, 2026

Assignee

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.

Inventors

Tomoya Kamata, Shigenori Onuma, Yukimune Kani

Abstract

A compressor includes at least one cell that includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode located on one main surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode located on the other main surface of the electrolyte membrane; a metallic anode separator located on the anode; a cathode separator located on the cathode; and a voltage application unit for applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, wherein the compressor causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, a proton extracted from an anode fluid supplied to the anode to move to the cathode and generates compressed hydrogen, and the compressor includes a controller for causing the voltage application unit to apply the voltage such that a voltage applied per unit cell is lower than a corrosion potential of the metallic anode separator.