Abstract: A winding assembly for a battery includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator sheet, and a current collector. The positive and negative plates and the separator sheet are wound in overlying relationship such that the separator sheet is positioned between the positive and negative plates, an exposed top edge of the positive electrode plate is spaced longitudinally from an adjacent unexposed top edge of the negative plate, and an exposed bottom edge of the negative electrode plate is spaced longitudinally from an unexposed bottom edge of said positive electrode plate. The current collector is connected to one of the exposed edges of one of the positive and negative electrode plates, and, accordingly, is spaced apart from the adjacent unexposed bottom edge of the other (i.e., the non-attached) electrode plate. The current collector includes a terminal mounting portion and a radially extending collecting web.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing subassemblies for an electrochemical cell or a stack of electrochemical cells, particularly a stack of fuel cells for the direct generation of electricity. The method includes bonding together two or more electrochemical cell components, such as plates, frames, flow fields, shims, gaskets, membranes and the like, to form subassemblies used to make an electrochemical cell stack. The bonding can be accomplished using either polymeric bonds (i.e., adhesives) where polymer and/or metal components are involved or metallurgical bonds (i.e., solder) where metal components are involved. The bonding provides tightly sealed cells and lower electronic contact resistances between components.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring hydrogen and optionally a non-hydrogen gas including carbon monoxide. The apparatus includes a sensor assembly consisting of a plurality of electrochemical cells sequentially arranged in a path of the hydrogen-containing gas stream. Reaction and consumption of hydrogen at catalytically reactive surface areas of the cells generates a current which is proportional to the amount of hydrogen in the gas stream entering the sensor.

Abstract: A non-aqueous liquid electrolyte cell comprising a positive electrode which has a metal oxide as an active material, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, in which the metal oxide has an average particle size of 40 to 150 &mgr;m, and the volume of the liquid electrolyte is 0.9 to 1.25 times as large as the volume of the metal oxide, which has good characteristics even at low temperature.

Abstract: The invention is a fuel cell with an electrolyte dry-out barrier to restrict loss of water from the electrolyte. The fuel cell includes: an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst secured to opposed sides of an electrolyte; an anode flow field disposed adjacent the anode catalyst for directing the reducing fluid to pass adjacent the anode catalyst, and a cathode flow field disposed adjacent the cathode catalyst for directing the process oxidant stream to pass adjacent the cathode catalyst; and, an anode electrolyte dry-out barrier secured between the electrolyte and the anode flow field for restricting transfer of water from the electrolyte into the anode flow field. The anode electrolyte dry-out barrier extends from adjacent an entire reducing fluid inlet and along an entire reducing fluid flow path a distance that is adequate for the reducing fluid stream flowing through the anode flow field to become saturated with water.

Abstract: An elastic sheet structure for the contact of a battery set used in a portable computer is provided. It comprises a positive-end elastic sheet and a negative-end elastic sheet having a central hole thereon. The size of the positive-end elastic sheet is smaller than that of the central hole of the negative-end elastic sheet. This invention may assemble several electric cells into a complete battery set for a portable computer. The special design avoids damaging the portable computer due to the misplacement of the positive end and the negative end of the electric cells of the battery set. It also provides a simple and convenient way to assemble the battery set.

Abstract: The present invention provides a separator for non-aqueous electrolyte batteries which neither breaks nor slips off at the time of fabrication of battery, gives excellent battery fabricability, causes no internal short-circuit caused by contact between electrodes even if the electrodes are externally short-circuited, can inhibit ignition of battery and produces high energy density and excellent cycle life, and further provides a non-aqueous electrolyte battery using the separator and a method for manufacturing the separator.

Abstract: A method of producing a layer of lithiated material is provided wherein a mixture of Li(acac) and Co (acac)3 is dissolved in an aqueous solvent to produce a solution. The solution is deposited upon a substrate by atomizing the solution, passing the atomized solution into a heated gas stream so as to vaporize the solution, and directing the vaporized solution onto a substrate.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus includes a stack of a plurality of fuel cell units each having a cathode and an anode disposed on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane. A fuel gas supply system supplies fuel gas to the anode, an air supply system supplies air to the cathode and a water supply system supplies liquid water to the cathode. A control unit ensures that, when the apparatus starts up, the cathode is first supplied with air, followed by supply of the liquid water. In a preferred embodiment, the water supply system intermittently sprays the liquid water onto the cathode when the temperature of the fuel cell stack monitored by a temperature sensor falls below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by an electrode fluid distributor. The electrode fluid distributor comprises a fluid passageway having a first end with an inlet and a second end with an outlet. A baffle is included that diagonally traverses the fluid passageway from the first end to the second end, and from a base of the fluid passageway toward an at least partially open side of the fluid passageway. The baffle defines at least a portion of a first reservoir and at least a portion of a second reservoir, with the inlet defining at least a portion of one end of the first reservoir and the outlet defining at least a portion of one end of the second reservoir. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet over the baffle. The first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

Abstract: A negative electrode of a nonaqueous secondary battery is formed of a carbonaceous material. The ratio RG=Gs/Gb of the degree of graphitization Gs of the carbonaceous material, determined by a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum, to the degree of graphitization Gb, determined by a Raman spectrum measured using argon laser light, is at least 4.5. Alternatively, the carbonaceous material has a peak in a wavelength range above 1,360 cm−1 in a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum which is measured by the same surface-enhanced Raman spectrum. The deterioration of the nonaqueous secondary battery is suppressed during use in high-temperature environments and high capacity is maintained for long periods.

Abstract: A composition for forming polymer electrolyte and a lithium secondary battery employing the polymer electrolyte prepared using the composition are provided. The composition for forming polymer solid electrolyte having a polymer resin, a plasticizer, a filler and a solvent, wherein the filler is synthetic zeolite having an affinity for an organic solvent or moisture. Therefore, the mechanical strength and ionic conductivity can be improved by adding synthetic zeolite as a filler when forming polymer electrolyte. Also, use of such polymer electrolyte makes it possible to prepare lithium secondary batteries having good high-current discharge characteristics and excellent discharge capacity characteristics even under repeated charge/discharge conditions.

Abstract: Fuel concentrations are determinable in a solid oxide fuel cell through voltage measurement of one or more fuel cell units, which voltage is a function of hydrogen gas present in the fuel feed stream to the one or more fuel cell units. The voltage in the one or more fuel cell units is proportionally related to the fuel concentration in the fuel feed stream to the entire fuel cell. A sensor determines concentrations of the fuel flowing in the fuel cell. The sensor comprises a fuel cell unit, and an indicator electrically coupled to the fuel cell unit, the indicator being capable of displaying a voltage or being adapted to convert a voltage to a fuel concentration display. The voltage measured is correlated to the fuel concentration flowing in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A metal-air battery includes (a) an anode; (b) a cathode including a metal that reduces oxygen; (c) a housing for the anode and cathode having an air access that allows oxygen to contact the cathode; (d) a separator between the anode and the cathode; and (e) a hydrogen recombination catalyst within the housing. The hydrogen recombination catalyst can include a Pd, Pt, Ru metal or a salt thereof, and CuO.

Abstract: A fluid flow plate for a fuel cell includes a first face and a fluid manifold opening for receiving a fluid and at least one flow channel defined within the first face for distributing a reactant in the fuel cell. A dive through hole is defined in and extends through the fluid flow plate. The dive through hole is fluidly connected to the fluid manifold opening by an inlet channel, defined within an opposite face of the plate. The dive through hole and the inlet channel facilitate transmission of a portion of the fluid to the flow channel. A groove, adapted to receive a sealing member, is also defined within the first face and/or the opposite face. The sealing member may comprise a gasket which seals the respective fluid manifolds, thereby preventing leaking of fluid.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an explosion-proof safety valve assemblage having a lead cap which allows some of the manufacturing man-hour in the process such as precision working and positioning to be deleted, since the lead cap is integrally formed with an explosion-proof safety valve and serves to provide a current circuit in a battery in place of a conventional one composed of lead plate or lead wire which requires such precision working and positioning operations, and to provide a closed secondary battery using the above mentioned safety valve assemblage.

Abstract: In a lithium secondary battery of this invention, the negative electrode uses, as an active material, an alloy including an A phase of a first intermetallic compound (A), and a B phase of a second intermetallic compound (B) having the same constituent elements as and a different composition from the first intermetallic compound (A) and/or a C phase consisting of one of the constituent elements of the first intermetallic compound (A), and at least one of the A phase, the B phase and the C phase is capable of electrochemically absorbing and discharging lithium ions. Thus, the lithium secondary battery can exhibit good charge-discharge cycle performance.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus for generating electrical power has, according to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells contained in a reaction chamber. The fuel cells are secured at one end thereof in a manifold block, the other ends thereof passing freely through apertures in a baffle plate to reside in a combustion chamber. Reaction gases are supplied to the insides of the tubular fuel cells from a plenum chamber below the manifold block and to the reaction chamber surrounding the outsides of the fuel cells through an annular inlet path, which may include a reformation catalyst. The gases inlet path to the plenum chamber, and the annular inlet path surround the reaction chamber, are both in heat conductive relation with the reaction chamber and the combustion chamber, and raise the gases to formation and reaction temperatures as appropriate.

Abstract: A PEM fuel cell oxidant flow field plate (12) having a substantial portion (77A) of the flow field formed of interdigitated reactant flow channels (86, 87) includes a humidification zone coextensive with an electrolyte dry-out barrier (38). Within the humidification zone, the reactant flow channels are flow-through channels (89), which permits the inlet reactant flow to be sufficiently slow to permit adequate humidification of the inlet reactant gas from adjacent water, such as coolant water flow channels and/or the anode, to avoid electrolyte dry-out.

Abstract: A battery package including laminate sheets adhered each other along their peripheral to form a container portion for receiving an electrode assembly and a seal portion. The seal portion surrounds the container portion and protrudes outwardly from side faces of the container portion. The seal portion has enough width to maintain the container portion free from moisture for long periods of time. The laminate sheets include a heat-adhesive polymer layer and a metal layer which stops moisture and provides a shape-maintaining ability to the laminar sheets. The seal portion is folded or curled to reduce a projection area of the battery package.