Abstract: This invention provides metal-foam electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. In some variations, an electrode includes a first metal layer disposed on a second metal layer, wherein the first metal layer comprises an electrically conductive, open-cell metal foam with an average cell diameter of about 25 ?m or less. The structure also includes smaller pores between the cells. The electrode forms a one piece monolithic structure and allows thicker electrodes than are possible with current electrode-fabrication techniques. These electrodes are formed from an all-fluidic plating solution. The disclosed structures increase energy density in batteries and power density in fuel cells.

Abstract: Provided is a stock oil composition for a carbonaceous material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery which composition is useful for achieving excellent high-speed charge and discharge characteristics. The stock oil composition for a carbonaceous material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery uses a bottom oil of residue fluid catalytic cracking apparatus as a raw material. The stock oil composition comprises, of a saturated component, an aromatic component, a resin component and an asphaltene component detectable by development of the stock oil composition using thin-layer chromatography, the saturated component ranging from 30 to 50% by weight and the aromatic component ranging from 50 to 70% by weight; and has an average molecular weight of from 400 to 600.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel-cell system and a method of operating the fuel-cell system, wherein functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F) of electrical output P and fuel flow-rate F required to output P are beforehand obtained, and a reformable fuel flow-rate FR is calculated from the temperature of reforming catalyst layer. When FR?Fmin, if the output demand PD?maximum output PM, and when f(PD)?FR, F is set to f(PD); and when f(PD)>FR, the P is set to the maximum value within a range of less than PD amongst P calculated from P=f1(FR), and F is set to FR. When PD>PM, and when f(PM)?FR, the cell output is set to PM, and F is set to f(PM). When f(PM)>FR, the cell output is set to the maximum value amongst P calculated from P=f1(FR), and F is set to FR.

Abstract: An electric storage device including a case, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a current collector, a gasket, and a conductive member. The current collector has a first end connected to the positive electrode or the negative electrode and a second end electrically connected to an inner surface of the case. The conductive member includes a body and an inside large-diameter portion having a larger diameter than that of the body. The body is arranged in a mounting hole of the case. The inside large-diameter portion is disposed at one end of the body inside the case, and electrically connected to a second end of the current collector. The inside large-diameter portion is arranged so as to be in contact with an inner gasket such that the inner gasket and the second end of the current collector are sandwiched between the inside large-diameter portion and the case.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure includes an insulating unit, a heat insulation unit, a conductive unit, a securing unit, and a filling unit. The insulating unit includes an insulating body having a receiving groove and a first securing hole. The heat insulation unit includes a heat insulation body received in the receiving groove. The heat insulation body has a heat insulation groove and a second securing hole. The conductive unit includes a conductive body disposed on the insulating body. The conductive body has a securing piece extended into the heat insulation groove. The securing piece has a third securing hole. The securing unit includes a securing element sequentially passing through the third, the second, and the first securing holes for fixing the securing piece in the heat insulation groove. The filling unit includes a filling material received in the heat insulation groove to cover and fix the securing element.

Abstract: An electric storage device includes: a battery block including a chassis with a plurality of storage cells installed therein; a control unit placed on the chassis for monitoring states of the plurality of storage cells based on signals concerning their physical quantities; a plurality of wires arranged on the chassis for directing the signals to the control unit; a confining member fixed on one surface of the chassis, where the control unit is placed, for defining a route along which the plurality of wires are arranged. The confining member includes a first direction restrainer defining the route for bending the wires, withstanding a reaction force accompanying bending of the plurality of wires, and a second direction restrainer withstanding a force exerted by the plurality of wires which are inserted into the route and tend to be lifted up toward a leaving direction from the one surface of the chassis.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which can extend the time during which a high-potential avoidance control is performed as much as possible, thereby reducing deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power upon a supply of a reaction gas; a power storage device that is charged with at least a part of power generated by the fuel cell; and a controller that controls an output voltage of the fuel cell with, as an upper limit, a high-potential avoidance voltage lower than an open end voltage thereof. The controller variably sets the high-potential avoidance voltage in accordance with the amount of charge SOC of the power storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of locating a plurality of full cells constructed in a cathode/separator/anode structure, as basic units, on a separator sheet having a continuous length, further locating a unit electrode or a bi-cell on the separator sheet, and winding the full cells and unit electrode or the bi-cell to continuously manufacture a stacking/folding type electrode assembly constructed in a structure in which anodes are located at the outermost electrodes forming the outside of the electrode assembly, respectively, wherein the method including a step of continuously supplying a cathode sheet, an anode sheet, a first separator sheet, and a second separator sheet, to manufacture the unit cells, successively arranging the unit cells on the second separator sheet from a first stage to an nth stage, and winding the unit cells, a step of arranging cathode tabs and anode tabs at the respective stages, while the cathode tabs and the anode tabs are opposite to each other, and arranging electrode tabs having

Abstract: With the object of providing a positive electrode active material for lithium battery that can increase the filling density, can increase the output characteristics, and furthermore, with a small voltage decrease during conservation at high temperature in a charged state, a positive electrode active material for lithium battery is proposed, containing a spinel type (Fd3-m) lithium transition metal oxide represented by general formula Li1+xM2?xO4?? (where M represents a transition metal including Mn, Al and Mg, x represents 0.01 to 0.08 and 0??) and a boron compound, the inter-the atomic distance Li—O of the spinel type lithium transition metal oxide being 1.971 ? to 2.006 ?, and the amount of magnetic substance measured for the positive electrode active material for lithium battery being 600 ppb or less.

Abstract: The embodiment provides a battery assembly or pack that can fix a coupling tap to an exact position by closely adhering a plurality of bare cells without flowing when the plurality of bare cells are welded with the coupling tap. The battery assembly according to the embodiment includes: a plurality of bare cells that have electrode terminals formed on upper surfaces thereof; an internal frame that receives the plurality of bare cells and has an internal terminal exposing part that exposes the electrode terminals; and a coupling tap that is seated on the internal terminal exposing part of the internal frame to couple the plurality of electrode terminals, wherein a rib hanger that fixes the coupling tap is further formed on the upper of the internal frame. With the constitution as described above, defects of a product are reduced, making it possible to improve productivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to single chamber fuel cells and systems and methods associated with the same. Architectures and materials that allow for high performance, enhanced fuel utilization, mechanical robustness, and mechanical flexibility are described. In some embodiments, multiple fuel cell units are arranged in a single chamber and may be, in some cases, connected to each other (e.g., connected in series, connected in parallel, etc.). Each fuel cell unit can be defined as one or more anode(s), one or more cathode(s), and an electrolyte able to maintain electrical separation between the anode(s) and cathode(s). The multiple fuel cell units are arranged in stacks in some cases. In one set of embodiments, the stacks of fuel cell units can be shaped and/or arranged to enhance the mixing of fuel and oxidant, thus improving distribution of reactants in the reaction zone. For example, the stacks of fuel cells may be arranged as fins within the fuel cell chamber.

Abstract: A fluid distribution insert adapted to be received within an inlet header of a fuel cell assembly is disclosed. The fluid distribution insert includes a hollow insert with a first end and a second end. An inlet is formed at the first end of the hollow insert in fluid communication with a source of a reactant gas and adapted to receive the reactant gas therein. A plurality of outlets is formed intermediate the first end and the second end. A plurality of flow channels is formed in the hollow insert providing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlets to deliver the fluid to a plurality of fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly, wherein a total flow volume and flow resistance of each of the flow channels is substantially the same to provide for a substantially simultaneous delivery of the reactant gas to the fuel cells.

Abstract: A cylindrical secondary battery including a center pin having an improved structure is disclosed. The center pin is disposed into a central opening of an electrode assembly of the cylindrical secondary battery. One end portion of the center pin has a larger diameter than a central opening of an electrode assembly, and the center pin is tapered from the one end portion to another end portion of the center pin. The center pin is forcibly pushed into the central opening of the electrode assembly. Because the center pin is coupled by forced insertion with the central opening of the electrode assembly, movement of the center pin is suppressed and noise generation is prevented.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which prevents the deterioration of the fuel cell stack when feeding of the oxidant gas is paused under a load to perform a fuel conservation operation. Controller shuts down oxidant gas compressor and cooling water circulating pump to execute fuel conservation operation at a low fuel cell system load. The controller gives a current draw instruction to electric power controller. In the fuel conservation operation, electric power controller draws a current larger than zero from fuel cell stack, and keeps the total charge drawn per unit time constant or substantially constant.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case in which the electrode assembly is installed, a cap plate coupled with the case, a short-circuit member provided in a short-circuit hole formed in the cap plate and deformed to electrically connect the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a valve member provided under the short-circuit hole and controlling connection between an internal space of the case and the short-circuit hole.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium ion secondary cell excellent in charging and discharging cycle characteristics. A lithium ion secondary cell includes an electrode body including a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, and a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt as a supporting salt in an organic solvent, the electrode body and the non-aqueous electrolyte being accommodated in a case. The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide having a spinel type structure. The electrolyte contains a compound represented by a chemical formula (I) in an amount of ? mol relative to the total content ? mol of moisture to be mixed in the cell. ? satisfies ?0.8?log(?/?)?1.5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to one or more electrode plates, which are installed with current collecting terminals at two or more sides thereof, and joined to an auxiliary conductor made of a material having a conductivity that is higher than that of the electrode plates. Current collecting terminals are installed at two or more sides of the auxiliary conductor, for linking with current collecting terminals installed at two or more sides of the electrode plates, and at least one of linked terminals is used as a general current collecting terminal to output current to an external part or to receive input current from the external part. Finally, insulators installed between the auxiliary conductor and the electrode plates to constitute an electrode unit.

Abstract: A fluid distribution insert adapted to be received within an inlet header of a fuel cell assembly is disclosed. The fluid distribution insert includes a wedge section having a first end and a second end. The wedge section forms a fluid flow path between a surface forming the inlet header and the wedge section, wherein the fluid flow path receives a fluid therein and delivers the fluid to a plurality of fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly. The wedge section minimizes a cross-sectional area of the fluid flow path adjacent the second end of the wedge section to maintain a substantially constant fluid velocity along a length of the inlet header.