Abstract: In the event that at least a portion of unit cells in a fuel cell stack have experienced a significant drop in voltage, the fuel cell system will execute a voltage recovery process allowing them to recover generating capability. In the voltage recovery process, a controller measures impedance of the fuel cell stack, and based on these measurements, determines the hydration condition of the electrolyte membrane inside the fuel cell. If, during the determination of hydration condition, the controller has determined that the hydration level is low, a current limiting process for temporarily limiting output of the fuel cell in order to recover generating capability will be triggered under more lenient conditions, as compared to if determined that the hydration level is high.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode assembly including: a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector (NC) and a negative electrode active material layer (NAL) disposed on at least one surface of the NC; a positive electrode including a positive electrode current collector (PC), a positive electrode active material layer (PAL) disposed on at least one surface of the PC, and an undercoat layer being disposed between the PC and the PAL and being higher in resistance value than the PC. The negative electrode and the positive electrode are stacked on each other. In at least one side of the thus stacked negative and positive electrodes, the NAL projects from an edge of the PAL in a direction in which the NC and PC extend, and the undercoat layer projects from an edge of the NAL in the direction.

Abstract: A power supply device in which bars BB extend in one direction and connect the terminals of the battery cells adjacent to each other. The lines (20) are electrically connectable to the bars BB. The tabs TB electrically connect the bars BB to the lines (20). The bar BB is formed of a clad plate formed of a first metal (3A) and a second metal (3B). The bar BB includes first and second holders (3a and 3b), and a tab holder. The first and second holders (3a and 3b) are arranged in the first and second metals, respectively, and hold the terminals at holding positions. The tab holder is arranged in the first metal (3A), and holds the tab TB at a holding position. The impedance between the first holder (3a) and the tab holder is substantially equal to the impedance between the tab holder and the second holder (3b).

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte includes (i) an inhibitor against a reaction between an anode and a linear ester; (ii) a mixed organic solvent containing cyclic carbonate and the linear ester; and (iii) an electrolyte salt, wherein the inhibitor is any one compound or a mixture of at least two compounds selected from the group consisting of cyclic carbonate with a vinyl group, fluorinated ethylene carbonate, vinylene carbonate, cyclic acid anhydride, a compound having a cyclic S?O group and an acrylate-based compound. Also, an electrochemical device includes a cathode, an anode and the above non-aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: To form graphene to a practically even thickness on an object having an uneven surface or a complex surface, in particular, an object having a surface with a three-dimensional structure due to complex unevenness, or an object having a curved surface. The object and an electrode are immersed in a graphene oxide solution, and voltage is applied between the object and the electrode. At this time, the object serves as an anode. Graphene oxide is attracted to the anode because of being negatively charged, and deposited on the surface of the object to have a practically even thickness. A portion where graphene oxide is deposited is unlikely coated with another graphene oxide. Thus, deposited graphene oxide is reduced to graphene, whereby graphene can be formed to have a practically even thickness on an object having surface with complex unevenness.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery module, the rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate closing and sealing an opening of the case; and electrode terminals electrically connected to the electrode assembly and disposed in terminal holes of the cap plate, at least part of the electrode terminals being exposed outside of the cap plate, wherein each of the electrode terminals includes a base portion facing the cap plate; and a coupling portion protruding from at least one part of a top of the base portion, the coupling portion being coupleable to a bus bar by press-fitting.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a fuel cell including an anode that generates a tail gas. The system also includes a hydrocarbon fuel reforming system that mixes a hydrocarbon fuel with the fuel cell tail gas and to convert the hydrocarbon fuel and fuel tail gas into a reformed fuel stream including CO2. The reforming system further splits the reformed fuel stream into a first portion and a second portion. The system further includes a CO2 removal system coupled in flow communication with the reforming system. The system also includes a first reformed fuel path coupled to the reforming system. The first path channels the first portion of the reformed fuel stream to an anode inlet. The system further includes a second reformed fuel path coupled to the reforming system. The second path channels the second portion of the reformed fuel stream to the CO2 removal system.

Abstract: A stack (10) of fuel cells (11) is provided with barriers (32) to prevent migration of a liquid electrolyte (such as phosphoric acid) out of the cells (11). The barrier (32) is secured within a step (34) defined within a land region (28) of a separator plate assembly (18) and extends from an edge (30) of the separator plate assembly (18) all or a portion of a distance between the edge (30) and a flow channel (24) defined within the separator plate assembly (18). The barrier (32) also extends away from the edge (30) a distance of between 0.051 and 2.0 millimeters (2 and 80 mils). The barrier (32) includes a hydrophobic, polymeric film (36), a pressure sensitive adhesive (38), as an assembly aid, and a fluoroelastomer bonding agent (40).

Abstract: A fuel cell cassette for forming a fuel cell stack along a fuel cell axis includes a cell retainer, a plate positioned axially to the cell retainer and defining a space axially with the cell retainer, and a fuel cell having an anode layer and a cathode layer separated by an electrolyte layer. The outer perimeter of the fuel cell is positioned in the space between the plate and the cell retainer, thereby retaining the fuel cell and defining a cavity between the cell retainer, the fuel cell, and the plate. The fuel cell cassette also includes a seal disposed within the cavity for sealing the edge of the fuel cell. The seal is compliant at operational temperatures of the fuel cell, thereby allowing lateral expansion and contraction of the fuel cell within the cavity while maintaining sealing at the edge of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method of increasing secondary power source capacity includes doping a compound into an electrolyte as an additive which binding energy is higher than binding energy of combinations that are formed at a secondary power source discharge, the compound being ZnKr or CdAr. The method can be used in manufacturing secondary power sources such as batteries for electrical machines, transport vehicles, and cars, and for power sources for portable and mobile electronic devices.

Abstract: A battery includes positive and negative external terminals having exposed portions exposed from a casing to the outside, positive and negative current collectors connected to the external terminals, and electrode assemblies having positive and negative electrodes and a separator. The positive and negative electrodes are wound with the separator being interposed so as to have positions shifted to opposite sides in a width direction to the separator. Formed in the casing is a narrowly elongated gap extending between the positive current collector side and the negative current collector side. The positive electrode side of the gap is closed by a closure member. A foreign material is prevented from moving without decreasing an electric capacity of the battery and deteriorating injection property of an electrolytic solution.

Abstract: The cooling capacity of a first heat exchanger for cooling a reformed gas introduced into an inlet of a circulation pump is increased as an output of a fuel cell increases. With this configuration, an inlet temperature of the circulation pump is relatively high during low power generation and decreases as the generation power increases, and a volumetric flow rate during high power generation in which a large amount of reformed gas is required can be decreased relatively. As the result, a dynamic range required for the circulation pump can be made small. Furthermore, water condensation in the inlet of the circulation pump can be prevented during low power generation.

Abstract: At least one foil surface of an aluminum foil is roughened; and in arithmetic mean roughnesses Ra, stipulated in JIS B 0601:2001, of the roughened surface(s), A, which is the arithmetic mean roughness Ra measured in a direction at a right angle to a rolling direction during foil rolling, and B, which is the arithmetic mean roughness Ra measured in a direction parallel to the rolling direction during foil rolling, satisfy the following relationships: 0.15 ?m?A?2.0 ?m; 0.15 ?m?B?2.0 ?m; and 0.5?B/A?1.5. Preferably 50-1000 ?g/m2 of oil is adhered to the roughened foil surface. The oil is preferably rolling oil.

Abstract: Each air battery stacked in a battery pack includes a cathode layer, an anode layer, an electrolyte layer and a frame member having electrical insulation properties and surrounding at least outer circumferences of the electrolyte layer and the cathode layer. The cathode layer includes a fluid-tight air-permeable member located at a cathode surface thereof and having, when viewed in plan, an outer circumferential edge portion situated outside of the outer circumference of the electrolyte layer. The frame member includes a holding portion located a cathode side thereof so as to hold the outer circumferential edge portion of the fluid-tight air-permeable member. The outer circumferential edge portion of the fluid-tight air-permeable member is adapted as a compressed region to which a compressive load is applied in a thickness direction thereof. By this structure, it is possible to achieve both of thickness reduction and high electrolyte sealing performance.

Abstract: An example method of connecting an electric vehicle battery includes welding a landing of a terminal to a bus bar, and pressing a landing of the terminal and the bus bar against one another during the welding. The landing is along a first plane and a base of the terminal is along a second plane that is spaced from the first plane.

Abstract: Aqueous Li/Air secondary battery cells are configurable to achieve high energy density and prolonged cycle life. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. The aqueous catholyte comprises an evaporative-loss resistant and/or polyprotic active compound or active agent that partakes in the discharge reaction and effectuates cathode capacity for discharge in the acidic region. This leads to improved performance including one or more of increased specific energy, improved stability on open circuit, and prolonged cycle life, as well as various methods, including a method of operating an aqueous Li/Air cell to simultaneously achieve improved energy density and prolonged cycle life.

Abstract: There is provide an electrode assembly including an electrode laminate having a plurality of electrode units rolled up to be stacked on one another in at least two rectangularly shaped separation films, the electrode assembly being characterized in that at least one of two rectangularly shaped separation films is disposed on upper and lower surfaces of the respective electrode unit, at least one separation film disposed on one surface being different from a separation film disposed on another surface, and the electrode laminate includes at least one step formed by stacking an electrode unit having a difference in area from an electrode unit adjacent thereto, having one of the rectangularly shaped separation films as a boundary therebetween.

Abstract: A method for making lithium ion battery is provided. A cathode material layer and an anode material layer are provided. A cathode current collector is formed on a surface of the cathode material layer to obtain a cathode electrode. The cathode current collector includes a graphene layer and a carbon nanotube layer stacked with the graphene layer. An anode current collector is formed on a surface of the anode material layer to obtain an anode electrode. A separator is applied between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode thereby forming a battery cell. At least one battery cell is encapsulated in an external encapsulating shell. An electrolyte solution is injected into the external encapsulating shell.

Abstract: A power storage device including a battery containing body and a first guide rail for receiving a first end portion on a lower side of the body and a second guide rail for receiving a second end portion on an upper side of the body. The first guide rail includes a higher side plate and a lower side plate and extend in an insertion direction, and a receiving portion including a stopper. A first protrusion portion that, when removing the battery containing body, engages with the stopper, thereby preventing the battery containing body from dropping A second protrusion portion that, when the battery containing body is turned upside down, engages with the higher side plate, thereby blocking the insertion. When an attempt to remove the battery containing body from the receiving portion is made, the second protrusion portion engages with the stopper, thereby preventing it from dropping.

Abstract: A porous polymer battery separator includes variable porosity along its length and can increase the uniformity of the current density within electrochemical battery cells that may normally experience higher current density and higher temperatures near their terminal ends than they do near their opposite ends. By disposing a variable porosity separator between the electrodes of an electrochemical cell such that its terminal end has a lower porosity than its opposite end, the transport of ions through the separator can be more restricted in normally high current regions and less restricted in normally low current regions, thereby increasing the overall uniformity of current density within the cell. The separators may be produced by a dry-stretching process or by a wet process. These processes may include forming a polymer-containing film, producing a uniform distribution of pore sites within the film, and reforming the polymer-containing film to a uniform thickness.