Abstract: A battery module is configured so that the first cell string and the second cell string are arranged between the first plate member and the second plate member and the second cell string is arranged closer to the second plate member side than the first cell string is and is arranged closer to the outlet side than the first cell string is. At the inlet side of the housing, the inlet is arranged closer to the first plate member than to the second cell string, at least a part between the inlet side of the second cell string and the second plate member is covered by the inlet-side guide plate, and the cooling air is introduced into the housing through the inlet so as to form a flow of the cooling air along the first plate member and a flow of the cooling air along the inlet-side guide plate.

Abstract: Edge designs, especially for ePTFE-reinforced membranes for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, wherein the designs provide a proton barrier at the electrode edge of the PEM fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to provide, among other things, resistance to membrane chemical degradation. A portion of the ePTFE layer is imbibed with a proton-impermeable polymer at the electrode edge. The polymer can include, without limitation, B-staged epoxides, B-staged phenolics, hot melt thermoplastics, and/or thermosets or thermoplastics cast from liquid dispersions.

Abstract: A process for molding a composite unipolar plate for a fuel cell stack that increases the strength of a header region of the plate. High strength, non-conductive prepeg inserts are positioned within the mold that are shaped to the configuration of the header region, including the openings that define the various inlet and outlet manifolds. A bulk molding compound charge is positioned in the mold and pressed under high heat so that the bulk molding compound disperses in the mold, and covers the prepeg inserts so that the prepeg inserts are cured to the bulk molding compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing structure for polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which comprises a bipolar plate with sealing groove to be filled with rubber using a dispenser, and a gasket interposed between the bipolar plate and a membrane electrode assembly. That is, according to the present invention, the thickness deviation in a gasket can be softened by interposing a gasket between a rubber ands a membrane electrode assembly after filling rubber in a sealing groove formed on a bipolar plate using a dispenser. Also, nonuniform stress distribution can be resolved because a gasket covers with a pressure despite the height deviation of rubber, and a stress is not directly transmitted to a membrane electrode assembly and dispersed by a gasket despite nonuniform stress distribution.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a cell voltage monitoring sub-system that measures the cell voltage of each cell in a fuel cell stack and provides an indication of a low performing or failed cell. The fuel cell system uses the cell voltage monitoring sub-system to determine if one of the wires connected to a bipolar plate in the stack is broken or has otherwise failed. The cell voltage monitoring sub-system uses differential amplifiers to compare the positive side voltage and the negative side voltage of a cell to determine if the cell voltage is low or the cell is failing. By looking at the outputs of two differential amplifiers in the cell voltage monitoring sub-system, it can be determined whether adjacent cells provide an indication of both cells failing, which would indicate that a connection wire has failed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least: a hydrogen generator (4) which is supplied with a raw material to generate a fuel gas containing hydrogen; a humidifier (5) which is supplied with the fuel gas, generated in the hydrogen generator, to humidify the fuel gas by utilizing heat energy and an off gas supplied thereto; and a fuel cell (8) which is supplied with the fuel gas humidified in the humidifier and an oxidizing gas to generate electric power while discharging the heat energy and the off gas, and further includes a condenser (6) which cools down steam of the off gas, discharged from the fuel cell, by heat exchange with a cooling medium to convert the steam into condensed water, and supplies the condensed water to the humidifier to humidify the fuel cell.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system capable of starting below freezing point without increasing the size of the diluter. The fuel cell system 1 comprises an OCV purge execution unit 42 replacing gas retained in a fuel cell 10 by supplying additional anode gas from a supply device 20 to the fuel cell 10 when starting up the fuel cell. In addition, the fuel cell system 1 comprises a low temperature startup determination unit 41 determining whether to perform low temperature startup or normal startup on the fuel cell 10. The OCV purge execution unit 42 decreases the pressure of additional anode gas supplied from the supply device 20 and increases the total replacing amount of gas retained in the fuel cell 10 in a case of performing low temperature startup, as compared with a case of performing normal startup.

Abstract: A battery cover latch mechanism used to releasably latching a battery cover to a housing, the battery cover latch mechanism includes a clasp positioned on the battery cover; and a button. The button includes a resilient member, a main portion positioned on a middle of the resilient member, and two blocks respectively formed on two ends of the resilient member. The main portion and the resilient member are slidably assembled on the housing, the blocks resists the battery cover, the main portion latching to the clasp. When the main portion is pressed, the main portion is detached from the clasp, the resilient member drives the blocks pushing the battery to open the battery cover relative to the housing. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device using the battery cover latch mechanism.

Abstract: The traditional method of pressing CFx, screen and SVO sheet assembly results in an electrode that is cupped and not flat. This results in the reduction of the effective volumetric energy density of the electrode or the addition of a process step of flattening of the cathode if at all possible. The new method of assembly effectively eliminates the cupping behavior and produces a flat electrode. In addition, the physical density of the cathode is also increased.

Abstract: A battery lid structure for an electronic device is provided which has a battery lid allowing a battery case to be opened when a battery lid body slides. A long engagement hole L-shaped in plan view is formed on a pressing plate to which the battery lid body is slidably attached. A lock lever section and a lock lever receiving section where an engagement section is formed are attached to the battery lid body so as to slide perpendicularly to the sliding direction. The engagement of the engagement section with a second long hole of the long engagement hole prevents the sliding motion of the battery lid body. During the sliding motion of the battery lid body, the engagement section engages with a first long hole of the long engagement hole. The wall surface of the long engagement hole is covered with a part of a plate spring body.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a flow cell is presented. The electrode includes a metal plate for collecting current in the electrode that is bonded between a first and second plate.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system which can properly control a refresh operation. A controller controls the refresh operation so that an output voltage does not exceed an avoidance voltage even after the refresh operation. Specifically, the controller estimates the output voltage after the refresh operation from the output voltage before the refresh operation and controls execution of the refresh operation so that the estimated output voltage after the refresh operation does not exceed the avoidance voltage. For example, if before the refresh operation, when judging that the estimated output voltage after the refresh operation does not exceed the avoidance voltage, the controller executes the refresh operation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery unit comprises a plurality of cells and a case to contain the cells. The case includes a first part to contain at least one cell, a second part to contain at least one cell, and a third part to connect the first and second parts. At least a portion of the third part is made thinner than the first and second parts.

Abstract: An MEA for a fuel cell that employs multiple catalyst layers to reduce the hydrogen and/or oxygen partial pressure at the membrane so as to reduce the fluoride release rate from the membrane and reduce membrane degradation. An anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration is positioned at the anode side of the MEA membrane. The anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration includes an anode side under layer positioned against the membrane and including a catalyst, an anode side middle layer positioned against the anode side under layer and not including a catalyst and an anode side catalyst layer positioned against the anode side middle layer and opposite to the anode side under layer and including a catalyst, where the amount of catalyst in the anode side catalyst layer is greater than the amount of catalyst in the anode side under layer.

Abstract: A laminate cased battery in which at least one of curvature radiuses RB and RD of the corners (bottom side corners) where the first side surface respectively meets the second main surface, the third side surface and the fourth side surface is set to be larger than at least one of curvature radiuses RA and RC of the corners (top side corners) where the second side surface respectively meets the second main surface, the third side surface and the fourth side surface.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for receiving input fuel, input water and input oxidant comprising a humidifying assembly for combining the input fuel with input water to produce humidified fuel, a fuel cell having an anode for receiving the humidified fuel and a cathode for receiving the input oxidant, and a power load controller for controlling a power load on the fuel cell system based on a power output set point and changes in the detected load.

Abstract: A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and carbon particles. The cell can be in the configuration of a coin cell or the anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent mixture which may include an organic cyclic carbonate such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbon. The cell after assembly is subjected to a two step preconditioning (prediscahrge) protocol involving at least two distinct discharge steps having at lease one cycle of pulsed current drain in each step and at least one rest period (step rest) between said two steps, wherein said step rest period is carried out for a period of time at above ambient temperature. The preconditioning improves cell performance.

Abstract: There is provided a power generation system. A chemical reacting section receives a power generation fuel and reforms the power generation fuel to generate a power generation gas containing hydrogen. A power generating section receives the power generation gas, reacts a part of the power generation gas to generate electrical energy, supplies the electrical energy to a load, and discharges an unreacted component in the power generation gas as an off-gas. A heating section receives the off-gas and generates a thermal energy by using the off-gas to heat the chemical reacting section. An output control section controls the amount of electrical energy output from the power generating section. A control section controls the amount of electrical energy output from the power generating section to change a temperature of the chemical reacting section set based on the thermal energy to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Protected anode architectures for active metal anodes have a polymer adhesive seal that provides an hermetic enclosure for the active metal of the protected anode inside an anode compartment. The compartment is substantially impervious to ambient moisture and battery components such as catholyte (electrolyte about the cathode), and prevents volatile components of the protected anode, such as anolyte (electrolyte about the anode), from escaping. The architecture is formed by joining the protected anode to an anode container. The polymer adhesive seals provide an hermetic seal at the joint between a surface of the protected anode and the container.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell stack including a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the separator plate, MEA, and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded at least in part by the encapsulating material. The fuel cell stack also includes a first opening through the plate body to the first face from the second face, and an open channel in the second face extending from the opening toward a periphery of the plate. The invention also provides a fuel cell stack having a first face including an opening for passage of a reactant therethrough, a first reactant flow field defined thereon, and a first raised surface formed thereon substantially surrounding the opening. The first raised surface is configured and adapted to mate with a second surface on a face of an adjacent plate to create a flow obstruction for encapsulating material.