Abstract: A method for equalizing the measured voltage of each cluster in a fuel cell stack wherein at least one of the clusters has a different number of cells than the identical number of cells in the remaining clusters by creating a pseudo voltage for the different cell numbered cluster. The average cell voltage of the all of the cells in the fuel cell stack is calculated and multiplied by a constant equal to the difference in the number of cells in the identical cell clusters and the number of cells in the different numbered cell cluster. The resultant product is added to the actual voltage measured across the different numbered cell cluster to create a pseudo voltage which is equivalent in cell number to the number of cells in the other identical numbered cell clusters.

Abstract: A primary alkaline battery has a cathode including manganese dioxide, carbon particles, and binder. The carbon particles include both non-expanded graphite and expanded graphite.

Abstract: The novel ketones having the structure in which R is H or an alkyl group and X is a hydrocarbon group having between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, the ring being saturated or unsaturated, excluding 4-(1-ethylpropylidene)-1-cyclohexanone, 4-cyclohexylidene-1-cyclohexanone, 4-butylidene-1-cyclohex-2-enone, 4-(1-ethylpropylidene)-1-cyclohex-2-enone, 4-(2-methylpropylidene)-1-cyclohexanone, 4-cyclohexyliden-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenylidene)-1-cyclohexanone, 4-[4-(cyclohexyliden)cyclohexyliden]-1-cyclohexanone, 4-[4-(tert-butyl)cyclohexyliden]-1-cyclohexanone, 4-[-(cyclohexyl)cyclohexyliden]-1-cyclohexanone, 4-(2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyliden)-2-cyclohexen-1-one and 4-(3-phenylpropylidene)-1-cyclohex-2-enone exhibit interesting odor characteristics, generally aldehydic in nature, and so find use in perfumes and in perfumed products.

Abstract: Microcell structures and assemblies utilized for electrochemical generation/conversion of energy, in which high voltage, high power density outputs are produced for applications such as fuel cell and battery systems, with high efficiency extraction of heat produced in electrochemical reaction. The superior efficacy of thermal management achieved by the invention permits highly compact, small footprint electrochemical cells to be usefully employed in a variety of vehicular, consumer and industrial applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell which includes a feed line for a fuel and a feed line for an oxidant. To ensure adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell, a fluid reservoir containing a fluid is provided, via which the fuel and/or the oxidant are humidified before entering the fuel cell. Thus adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane is ensured even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell. To prevent the fluid from freezing at low temperatures, mixing of the fluid with an antifreeze is provided for. To ensure that the antifreeze will not pass into the fuel cell, the fluid drawn from the fluid reservoir is heated sufficiently by a heating means for evaporation of the antifreeze and separation from the fluid to take place. The heating means can include a flow conduit designed as a closed system. The flow conduit has a heating medium flowing through it which, prior to giving off heat to the fluid, is heated via a burner.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode is made from aluminum powder or aluminum alloy powder coated with carbon and a conductive polymer. Since aluminum or aluminum alloy has a theoretical maximum capacity as high as 1200 mAh/g, a battery having aluminum or aluminum alloy as the negative electrode material has a high capacity.

Abstract: An electrical battery has a plurality of pairs each including a positive active mass arranged in an impermeable horizontally located cuvette with an open upper surface, and a negative active mass arranged in an impermeable horizontally located cuvette and having an upper lower working surface with the second mentioned cuvette located above the first mentioned cuvette, the pairs being located one above the other, an electrolyte in which the cuvettes with the active masses are located, and means for electrically connecting in series the pairs of the cuvettes located one above the other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a secondary electrochemical cell comprising a body of aprotic, non-aqueous electrolyte, first and second electrodes in effective electrochemical contact with the electrolyte, the first electrode comprising active materials such as a lithiated intercalation compound serving as the positive electrode or cathode and the second electrode comprising a carbon-carbon composite material and serving as the negative electrode or anode; whereby they provide a secondary non-aqueous electrochemical cell having improved cycle life and shelf-life characteristics as compared with similar secondary non-aqueous electrochemical cells having carbon anodes that are not carbon-carbon composite.

Abstract: A battery including a rope handle which engages a handle bracket on a conventional battery container. The rope handle includes a grip and a rope, the proximal end of the rope being molded into, or otherwise secured to, the grip and a cylindrical plug molded on the distal end of the rope. The grip includes a retaining recess comprising a counterbore presenting a bearing surface, and lateral slot between the upper and lower surfaces of the grip and extending radially from the counterbore to present a substantially keyhole-shaped opening. In assembly, the distal end of the rope is advanced laterally through the slot portion of the keyhole-shaped opening until the counterbore is positioned subjacent the plug. The plug is then moved downward into the counterbore. To hide the rope ends in the preferred embodiment, a cover can be snapped in place over the top of the grip.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode containing a quinoxaline resin and an electrolyte which includes at least one of sulfuric acid ions and sulfonic acid ions, or the electrolyte which includes cations having ion radius of not more than 3 angstroms.

Abstract: Zinc alloy powder for alkaline batteries containing Bi at a rate of 0.01-0.1% by weight, In at a rate of 0.01-0.1% by weight, Mg at a rate of 0.0005-0.03 % by weight and unavoidable impurities, such as Pb, Cd and Cu, capable of improving high-rate performance and being suitable for using as a cathode active substance for alkaline batteries is provided.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery is disclosed which is capable of improving impact resistance while airtightness of a laminate film is being maintained. When a battery element is accommodated in a casing constituted by a laminate film and the case is welded to enclose the battery element, a resin layer is provided for at least one surface of a battery element. The resin layer may be a resin plate which has previously been molded or the resin layer may be formed by enclosing resin. The resin layer is provided for two sides of all of the sides of the battery element which have smallest areas. In a case of a wound-type battery element, the resin layer is provided for the two end surfaces of the wound battery element. The resin layer has a shock buffering function to protect the battery element from impact.

Abstract: Provided are alternative fabrication methods and compositions for an electrochemical cell. The methods and compositions of the present invention are particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to the manufacture of polymer-cased lithium-ion secondary battery cells. Briefly, the present invention provides an electrochemical cell fabrication process wherein a PVDF-based binder specifically selected for its physical and chemical properties, in particular, its high crystallinity, is coated on a porous separator material to form a porous separator. The high crystallinity PVDF of the binder results in improved cell structure and performance.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a closed battery capable of rapidly releasing the internal pressure thereof and at the same time disconnecting the current to effectively prevent itself from temperature rising and exploding so that in such a completely closed battery it may assure the safety and reliability thereof, when the internal pressure is elevated due to short circuit, overcharge, reverse charge, or the like. A valve element 5 is provided with a slit 3 between the circumference thereof and a metal substrate 1. When the internal pressure of a battery is elevated, the valve element 5 is smoothly raised up together with a metal foil 2 from a bending fulcrum portion 4 to thereby cut a lead wire 6 or permit a braze portion 8 to detach from the lead wire 6, thus disconnecting the current reliably.

Abstract: There is proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode assembly which is impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the battery can be made thin while maintaining improved capacity, large-current characteristics and cycle life. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The production process of the battery comprises steps of preparing an electrode assembly by interposing a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, impregnating the electrode assembly with an organic solvent which can dissolve the binder of the positive- and/or negative electrodes, bonding the positive electrode and the separator together and bonding the negative electrode and the separator together by drying the electrode assembly, and impregnating the electrode assembly with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell and a hydrogen generating arrangement for feeding the fuel cell anode with a hydrogen-containing product gas from a conversion reaction of a hydrocarbon starting substance or hydrocarbon derivative with of water fed supplied by way of a water feeding system. Water recovery devices are provided for condensing water out of the process gas supplied by the hydrogen generating arrangement, and/or out of the cathode waste gas carried away from the fuel cell cathode, and returning the condensed-out water into the water feeding system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium secondary cell and a method of fabricating the same. The lithium secondary cell; a plurality of cathode plates having a desired size and adhered on one surface of the separator film while being uniformly spaced apart from one another; a plurality of anode plates having a desired size and adhered on the other surface of the separator film at spaced positions corresponding to the cathode plates; and the separator film attached with the anode plates and the cathode plates being repeatedly folded such that the anode plates and the cathode plates are arranged in an alternating fashion. Thus, the lithium secondary cell has improved performance and particularly safety by preventing a firing caused by high current and excessive voltage charged, while having various shapes and sizes, and a desired capacity and achieving a simplified fabrication.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode active material offering a long life non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with high energy density that shows excellent cycle life characteristics. The negative electrode active material comprises a compound represented by the formula DSnO3 wherein D represents at least one selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals.

Abstract: A method of sealing an end of a battery container is disclosed. The method includes: (a) providing a plurality of supports in a wall of the container toward the end of the container; (b) scoring the wall of the container at a position between the end of the container and the supports; (c) inserting a top assembly into the container such that the top assembly contacts the supports; and (d) folding an edge of the container over the top assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode plate having a collector 1, an active material layer 2 and a non-coated portion 3 and satisfies at least one of the following conditions. (1) The maximum thickness in an area inside by 20 mm from an edge portion of the active material layer is not more than the sum of an average thickness of the active material layer and 10 &mgr;m. (2) In an inclined portion of the peripheral edge portion of the active material layer, an area in which the thickness of the active material layer is not less than 1 &mgr;m and less than an average thickness of the active material layer has a width of not more than 1 mm. (3) An absolute value of a positional shifting of an actually formed pattern with respect to a true boundary line of a predetermined pattern is not more than 1 mm.