Abstract: A terminal-cover assembly for a secondary battery comprises a cover and at least two terminal assemblies. The cover is arranged on one side of the battery housing and has several through-holes where two terminal assemblies are installed. Each terminal assembly has an electric-conduction terminal penetrating the through-hole. The electric-conduction terminal has an installation member at one end thereof and at least one fixing element with a female thread. A fastening element with a male thread is inserted through the installation member and engaged with the female thread of the fixing element. The fixing element and fastening element are made of an identical material. Thereby, the fastening element and the fixing element can cooperate with electric-conduction plates to cascade secondary batteries to form a battery assembly, neither damaged by hardness difference nor loosened by different extents of deformations resulting from different thermal expansion coefficients.

Abstract: A primary battery includes a cathode having a non-stoichiometric metal oxide including transition metals Ni, Mn, Co, or a combination of metal atoms, an alkali metal, and hydrogen; an anode; a separator between the cathode and the anode; and an alkaline electrolyte.

Abstract: A fuel cell (FC) system operating as its own hydrogen leak detector. The system including at least one cathode and cathode conduit for passage of oxidant to the cathode and a housing containing one or more FCs and defining a plenum around the FC. A ventilation system forces air from the plenum into the cathode conduit and a control system monitors the FC voltage and detects a drop in voltage attributable to hydrogen in the cathode conduit. A control system may include actual cell voltage monitoring of the FC or of one or more cells in the FC stack and a processor for receiving inputs indicative of the operation of the FC or FC stack and/or to determine an expected voltage of FC(s) being monitored and whether the difference between the actual and expected voltage(s) exceeds a predetermined threshold indicative of a predetermined level of hydrogen in the cathode conduit.

Abstract: A fuel supply (10) is attachable to a fuel cell system (12). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector (14) configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves (24, 26) or filler material (23a-d) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube (114) and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.

Abstract: In a fuel cell having a cell structure in which a gas flow passage is formed by an expanded metal, a bond portion connecting a mesh of the expanded metal stands partially upright in a position where a bond length is shortened so as to form a part of a strand portion. Hence, in an opening formed by the mesh of the expanded metal, a surface area on which front and rear openings overlap in a direction increases when seen from an direction. Thus, a sectional area of gas flow passages constituted by a continuum in the direction of the openings overlapping in the direction increases. As a result, a gas flow flows without making repeated narrow turns, leading to a reduction in gas pressure loss.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte for batteries and a nonaqueous secondary battery using the same which maintains small internal resistance and high electric capacity in high temperature storage. The nonaqueous electrolyte has an electrolyte salt, a compound of general formula (1), and a compound of general formula (2) dissolved in an organic solvent. The ratio of the compound of formula (2) to the sum of the compound of formula (1) and the compound of formula (2) is 0.1 to 8 mass %. In the formulae, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent C1-C8 alkyl.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a first block having a first number of cells, a first fuel supply channel for supplying fuel gas to the first block, a collecting channel for collecting fuel gas which has passed through the first block, a second block having a second number of cells, the second number being smaller than the first number, a second fuel supply channel for supplying the second block with fuel gas which has been collected into the collecting channel, and a discharge channel for discharging fuel gas which has passed through the second block. A throttling section smaller in channel diameter than first and second fuel gas trunk channels, first and second branch channels, the collecting channel, and the discharge channel is provided downstream of the collecting channel and upstream of the second fuel supply channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, including lithium transition metal oxide, where the lithium transition metal oxide is coated with carbon particles and a polymer resin at a surface thereof, and the polymer resin is a substance inactivated by an electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and an organic solvent and has a melting point of at least 80° C. A lithium secondary battery having the disclosed cathode active material has advantages of improving rate properties and high temperature stability, so as to provide excellent cell characteristics.

Abstract: An electro-catalyst composition for use as an electrode, gas diffusion layer-supported electrode, catalytic electrode-coated solid electrolyte layer, and/or membrane-electrode assembly in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) type fuel cell. The composition comprises: (a) a proton- and electron-conducting polymer having at least one heteroatom per backbone monomer unit thereof and a plurality of neutral transition metal atoms covalently bonded to at least a portion of the heteroatoms; wherein the polymer has an electronic conductivity no less than 10?4 S/cm and a proton conductivity no less than 10?5 S/cm. Preferably, the electro-catalyst composition further comprises (b) a plurality of catalytically active particles of a transition metal, nucleated around the covalently bonded transition metal atoms.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the present invention, a reformed gas generated in a reformer (R1) being activated is supplied to a fuel cell stack (F1), and an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack (F1) is supplied to a heat supply device (B2) provided for a reformer (R2) being deactivated. By activating at least one reformer (Rn), all of a plurality of reformers (Rn) can be warmed-up. Therefore, energy consumption in a standby state can be suppressed, and the fuel cell system can be started-up quickly in emergencies. The reformed gas may be supplied to the heat supply device (B2) instead of the off-gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a titanium fuel cell separator having excellent conductivity and durability. In the disclosed titanium fuel cell separator (10), a carbon layer (2) is formed on the surface of a substrate (1) formed from pure titanium or a titanium alloy. The carbon layer (2) comprises graphite which is orientated so as to be parallel to the (002) plane of the carbon layer (2). The deposition amount of the carbon layer (2) is at least 2 ?g/cm2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery module, which includes a plurality of cylindrical secondary battery cells (hereinafter, also referred to as ‘cells’), an upper frame having a plurality of grooves formed corresponding to an appearance of the cells, the grooves being opened to expose electrodes of the cells outwards, and a lower frame having a plurality of grooves formed corresponding to the appearance of the cells, the grooves being opened to expose electrodes of the cells outwards, wherein cell stoppers are formed at tops of the grooves formed in the upper frame and bottoms of the grooves formed in the lower frame to partially cover the tops and the bottoms of the cells so that the cells are not separated from the grooves. Therefore, it is possible to provide a battery module which may ensure mechanically stable connection when configuring an assembly including a plurality of battery modules.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having an air quality sensor suite includes a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode, a fuel source providing a fuel flow, a fuel flow rate sensor having a fuel flow rate sensor output, a fuel flow control device, a fuel oxidizer flow conduit, a first mixing region coupled to the fuel source and the fuel oxidizer flow conduit, an anode chamber coupled to the anode, a combustion oxidizer flow conduit, a second mixing region coupled to the combustion oxidizer flow conduit, and at least one oxidizer flow rate sensor having an oxidizer flow rate sensor output. The system further includes at least one oxidizer pump, an air quality sensor having an air quality sensor output, and a control system coupled to the fuel flow rate sensor output, the oxidizer flow rate sensor output, and the air quality sensor output.

Abstract: Whether a gas leakage occurs or not is accurately determined in a simple configuration. When receiving a request for activation of a fuel cell, a control unit opens a main shutoff valve to start hydrogen gas supply from a hydrogen tank to the fuel cell. The control unit thereafter performs gas leakage determination processing for a hydrogen piping system. If it is determined in the gas leakage determination processing that a gas leakage occurs, a gas leakage alert is output to stop the activation of the fuel cell. If it is determined in the gas leakage determination processing that a gas leakage does not occur, a compressor is activated to start oxidant gas supply to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell continues being operated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery assembly. The battery assembly includes a battery, a front cover enclosing a front end of the battery, a back cover enclosing a back end of the battery and an antenna assembled with the battery. The battery includes a core, and includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. The antenna includes a first output end and a second output end attached to the side surface of the battery, and a loop extending from the first and second output ends.

Abstract: A battery separator includes a porous membrane A with a thickness of less than 10 ?m including a polypropylene resin, and a porous membrane B laminated thereon including a heat resistant resin and inorganic particles or cross-linked polymer particles, wherein the porous membrane A satisfies a specific range of thickness, average pore size, and porosity, and the entire battery separator satisfies a specific range of thickness, peeling strength at the interface between the porous membrane A and the porous membrane B, and difference in air resistance between the entire battery separator and the porous membrane A.

Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery exhibiting excellent durability. Also disclosed is an electrolyte possessing a porous particle, an ionic liquid and a supporting electrolyte salt, wherein the electrolyte has a dynamic elastic modulus of at least 105 Pa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of manufacturing the negative active material, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the negative active material.

Abstract: A circulation pipe for a coolant is connected to a fuel cell. A pump and a heat exchanger are connected to the circulation pipe. A bypass pipe is connected in parallel with the pump. An ion exchanger is connected to the bypass pipe. An electronic cooling device is connected to the bypass pipe on an upstream side of the ion exchanger. The coolant, which is supplied to the ion exchanger, is cooled by the electronic cooling device to a predetermined temperature, so that the ion-exchange resins are prevented from being abnormally heated by the coolant.

Abstract: A beta alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) and a method of preparing the same are provided. When the method is used, evaporation of sodium is suppressed and thus a beta alumina solid electrolyte having a high density, a low porosity, and a composition that is near a desired (target) composition is produced.