Abstract: A fuel cell system has a compressor delivering compressed gas to a fuel cell stack and a control valve affecting the flow of compressed gas. A load dump condition is determined for the fuel cell stack. The flow through the compressor is increased and the additional flow diverted away from the fuel cell stack by the control valve to provide additional load for the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack may then be operated at a higher output power for the purpose of generating more waste heat to more rapidly warm itself.

Abstract: Provided is a battery pack in which the production of heat due to passage of current in a connector for connecting secondary batteries in parallel is made uniform to increase service life and reduce maintenance costs. A positive terminal connector 14 comprises a connector 14 with through-holes 18. The connector 14 is divided into two regions: a distant region which is distant from the portion connected to an external terminal; and a close region which is close to the connection portion and has the same area as the distant region. The connector 14 is formed so that the open area ratio of the distant region is greater than that of the close region. Thus, the electrical resistance of the close region can be made smaller than that of the distant region. Therefore, the production of heat due to passage of current in the close region can be suppressed.

Abstract: A system for preparing particulate carbon fuel and using the particulate carbon fuel in a fuel cell. Carbon particles are finely divided. The finely dividing carbon particles are introduced into the fuel cell. A gas containing oxygen is introduced into the fuel cell. The finely divided carbon particles are exposed to carbonate salts, or to molten NaOH or KOH or LiOH or mixtures of NaOH or KOH or LiOH, or to mixed hydroxides, or to alkali and alkaline earth nitrates.

Abstract: Cooling air intake port (52), cooling air exhaust port (55), and securing walls (86, 87), which contact and secure the side surfaces of one or more battery cells (72), may be defined within two battery pack housing halves (50, 80). When battery pack (99) is assembled, at least one cooling air passage (91, 92) is defined by the side surfaces of the battery cells, the interior surface of the battery pack housing, and the securing walls. The cooling air passage connects the cooling air intake port to the cooling air exhaust port. Further, the securing walls isolate or physically separate the cooling air passage from battery terminals (72a, 72b). By forcing cooling air through the cooling air passage, the battery cells can be effectively and efficiently cooled.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system that performs a warm-up operation by reducing a supply of oxidant gas to a fuel cell, the system having: a fuel cell; and a control unit that regulates amounts of oxidant gas and fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell and controls a power-generation state of the fuel cell. During the warm-up operation with a reduced supply of oxidant gas to the fuel cell, the control unit varies a voltage of the fuel cell for a short period of time to obtain current-voltage characteristics which indicate a relationship of an output voltage and an output current of the fuel cell, calculates an effective catalyst area of the fuel cell based on the obtained current-voltage characteristics, and determines whether the warm-up operation of the fuel cell can be stopped or not based on the calculated effective catalyst area.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, a rigid covering member, and a protection circuit board. The secondary battery includes a battery element and a flexible covering member formed of a first laminated film composed of a first heat-bonding layer, a first metal layer, and a first outer covering layer laminated successively. The flexible covering member is sealed along around the battery element while leaving electrode terminals of the positive and negative electrodes extended outside the battery element. The rigid covering member is formed of a second laminated film composed of a second heat-bonding layer, a second metal layer, and a second outer covering layer laminated successively. The flexible covering member and the rigid covering member are bonded with an adhesive strength equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure and with a peel strength equal to or lower than a breaking strength of the flexible covering member.

Abstract: A film-packed battery includes a battery element and a packing film which houses the battery element and includes a main heat-sealed portion which is formed around the battery element, and a projecting heat-sealed portion which projects from the main heat-sealed portion toward the battery element, and a gas releasing portion formed in the projecting heat-sealed portion and the main heat-sealed portion adjacent to the projecting heat-sealed portion, wherein a distal end of the gas releasing portion reaches the projecting heat-sealed portion and the gas releasing portion connects external air with a heat-sealed interface of the packing film.

Abstract: A fuel battery system comprises a fuel battery stack, a hydrogen supply system for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen tank, an oxidant gas supply system for supplying air serving as an oxidant by an air compressor, an electrical system including an impedance measuring unit for measuring the impedance of a fuel battery, a DC/DC converter for converting generated electric power, a secondary battery for storing electric power, and so on, and a drive system for driving a vehicle. When the power generation is stopped by turning off an ignition switch in the state in which the power generation is suspended in an intermittent operation, the impedance measuring unit measures the impedance after the supply of air is stabilized to avoid the transient state of the fuel battery cell caused by a delay in air supply.

Abstract: A simplified cell design is provided for a battery utilizing the 18650 form-factor in which the CID and PTC elements are eliminated, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and battery weight. To reduce the risk of shorting between the battery case and the battery terminal, the battery terminal is recessed relative to the top of the cell case and the insulating gasket positioned between the cell case and the cap assembly is designed to cover a large portion of the outer surface of the terminal element.

Abstract: A device having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an ion-conducting electrolyte in contact with both electrodes. Each electrode has a metal, a metal oxide, a hydrous metal oxide, alloy thereof, or mixture thereof, however, the electrodes are different such materials. The positive electrode is capable of storing and donating ions and electrons and reducing oxygen. The negative electrode is capable of storing and donating ions and electrons and oxidizing hydrogen. The electrolyte permits transport of oxygen and hydrogen. The device can charge using ambient hydrogen and oxygen. It can be discharged as an electrochemical capacitor or be operated in a fuel cell mode.

Abstract: In order to enhance charge and discharge efficiency and to improve cycle characteristics by increasing a facing area between a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, in a negative electrode for lithium secondary battery having a current collector and an active material layer carried on the current collector, the active material layer includes a plurality of columnar particles. The columnar particles include an element of silicon, and are tilted toward the normal direction of the current collector. Angle ? formed between the columnar particles and the normal direction of the current collector is preferably 10°??<90°.

Abstract: A high capacity micro fuel cell system for supplying power to a portable device. A fuel supply includes a fuel inlet formed at one side of a substrate and a gas outlet formed at the other side of the substrate. A pair of cell units are disposed at opposed sides of the substrate of the fuel supply, and each of the cell units includes catalyst layers and an electrolyte layer between the catalyst layers to generate current with fuel. Outer substrates are disposed at outer sides of the cell units, each of the substrates having through holes formed therein to define at least one oxygen supply for supplying oxygen to the electrolyte layers of the cell units. A holder integrally assembles the fuel supply, the cell units and the oxygen supply. The fuel cell system supplies high-capacity power to power supplies of portable electronic devices and can be mass-produced at low costs.

Abstract: An energy storage module for current supply of an electrical apparatus, in particular for an electrical hand-held machining tool, has a plurality of cells for storage of electrical energy, at least one cell support mounting the cells, being in contact with the cells, enclosing the plurality of cells and made from a heat-conductive material, and at least one cooling body formed on the cell support.

Abstract: Disclosed are a heat-generating device for a battery and a battery assembly enabling a battery to stably produce electricity even under low-temperature conditions. The heat-generating device for a battery includes a heating element positioned on one side of the battery and generates heat through a reaction with the air. The heating element comprises a main body generating heat through the reaction with the air, and a supporting body wrapping the main body to adhere to the battery. Accordingly, the internal temperature of the battery can be maintained within possible activation temperature ranges to allow the battery to produce electricity, thereby making the battery performance sustainable under low-temperature conditions.

Abstract: A conductance at an oxidizer flow path forming member is defined as C1, a conductance at an opening portion of the oxidizer flow path forming member at which an oxidizer flow rate regulating portion is arranged is defined as C2, the conductances have a relationship of C1>C2. Further, the fuel cell stack has at least one inner fuel cell unit having a value of C1/C2 which is larger than values of C1/C2 of fuel cell units located at both ends of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack, are provided. Gas channels 2 and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate 1, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels 2 in the plate 1. A gas inlet header 3 is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel 2 in the plate 1 and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole 7 to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same. The water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels 2 by heating up the gas inlet header by the heat conduction.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid oxide electrolyte located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The cathode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with a cathode catalyst material, and the anode electrode is a porous ceramic layer infiltrated with an anode catalyst material, and the electrolyte is a ceramic layer having a lower porosity than the anode and the cathode electrodes. A ceramic reinforcing region may be located adjacent to the riser opening in the electrolyte.

Abstract: A reactive polymer-supporting porous film is provided as a battery separator which comprises a porous substrate film and a partially crosslinked reactive polymer supported on the porous substrate film. The partially crosslinked reactive polymer is obtained by the reaction of a crosslinkable polymer having at least one group selected from the 3-oxetanyl group and epoxy group reactive with a polycarboxylic acid. The reactive polymer-supporting porous film has a separator and electrodes sufficiently bonded to each other and with low inner resistance suitably used for production of battery excellent in high rate performance. Further, provided is a method of producing a battery which comprises placing the electrode/reactive polymer-supporting porous film layered body in a battery container; introducing an electrolytic solution containing a cationic polymerization catalyst into the battery container thereby bonding the porous film and electrodes together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrochemical generator (100) characterised by improved electrical insulation and reduced volume. The membrane electrochemical generator (100) is fed with gaseous reactants and comprises a multiplicity of reaction cells (101) assembled in a filter-press configuration. Each of said reaction cells (101) is delimited by a pair of bipolar sheets (102), formed by a metallic central body (110) integrated in a frame (111) made of polymeric material. The polymeric material may be of the thermoplastic or thermosetting type and the frame (111) is laid on the metallic central body (110) by moulding.