Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution includes a cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate, and contains a glycol sulfate derivative represented by formula (I) below and fluoroethylene carbonate: [wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms].

Abstract: A radiator cap is connected to a circulating circuit at a connecting point located upstream of a water pump in a flow direction of coolant and that regulates a pressure in the circulating circuit to be within a predetermined pressure range that is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure at the connecting point. A rotary valve is disposed in the circulating circuit at upstream of the connecting point of the radiator cap in the flow direction of coolant. Accordingly, a cavitation is restricted from occurring, and the water pump can perform enough efficiency. A communication passage that has an upstream end and a downstream end connected to the circulating circuit may be disposed instead of the radiator cap. In this case, a pressure regulating valve is disposed in the communication passage.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte for a lithium-ion secondary battery containing 0.1 ppm to 20 ppm of vanadium in terms of vanadium ions, and containing cyclic carbonate and chain carbonate is used.

Abstract: A fluid cooled series/parallel battery pack is provided with a fluid flow system. A plurality of prismatic battery cells are arranged in parallel in two or more rows. Fluid flows in a series flow configuration from an upstream row of batteries to a downstream row of batteries. A bypass passageway provides additional fluid flow to an inner plenum located between the rows of batteries to reduce pressure drop and provide more uniform temperatures within the rows of battery cells.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fuel cell component for use with or as part of a fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, the method comprising: providing a fuel cell component, providing a deposition assembly for depositing loading material particles onto the fuel cell component, and actuating the deposition assembly to cause the deposition assembly to deposit said loading material particles onto said fuel cell component.

Abstract: A secondary battery and a secondary battery pack, the secondary battery including a case; an electrode assembly inside the case; a cap plate coupled with the case, the cap plate having an inner side facing an inside of the case and an outer side facing an outside of the case; a flexible collecting tab electrically connected with the electrode assembly and extending through the cap plate from the inner side to the outer side thereof; and, a terminal plate outside of the case and adjacent to the outer side of the cap plate, the flexible collecting tab being electrically connected with the terminal plate.

Abstract: A battery cell assembly having first and second frame members is provided. The first frame member has a first rectangular ring-shaped body and a first coupler portion. The first coupler portion has a first tab member with a first metal trim clip member coupled thereto. The second frame member has a second rectangular ring-shaped body and a second coupler portion. The second coupler portion has first and second substantially flat walls and first and second peripheral wall portions defining an interior region. The second substantially flat wall has an aperture extending therethrough. The first metal trim clip member is disposed through the aperture and into the interior region of the second coupler portion, and engages an inner surface of the second substantially flat wall to couple the second frame member to the first frame member.

Abstract: A bacterial fuel cell including at least one anode and at least two cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be treated, the at least one anode being separated from the at least two cathodes by at least first and second electrically insulating spacers and the at least one anode and the at least two cathodes being electrically connected across an external load and the at least one anode and the at least two cathodes being wound together generally in a spiral configuration together with at least a third electrically insulating spacer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stacked secondary battery that includes a laminated body, the laminated body including: a first electrode (10) in which a first electrode active material (12) is applied to both surfaces of a sheet-shaped collector (11), the first electrode having a first region (11a) to which the first electrode active material has been applied and a second region (11b) to which the first electrode active material has not been applied; a second electrode (20) in which a second electrode active material (22) different in polarity from the first electrode active material is applied to both surfaces (21) of a sheet-shaped collector; and a porous separator (30), the first and second electrodes being stacked via the porous separator, the first and second electrodes being stacked via the porous separator.

Abstract: A vehicle can have a battery unit which includes paired supporting shafts protruding in opposite directions. A battery side connector can be supported coaxially with the supporting shafts in a turnable manner. The direction in which the battery side connector is fitted and connected is the direction orthogonal to the supporting shafts. A battery holding block includes paired engaging recessed portions and a vehicle body side connector. The supporting shafts of the battery unit are inserted into the engaging recessed portions from a direction approximately orthogonal to the shaft. The battery side connector is fitted and connected to the vehicle body side connector. The battery unit is operated to turn around the supporting shaft to a position where the battery unit is fixed with the battery holding block.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of improving the voltage controllability of a converter provided in the system is provided. A controller judges whether or not a passing power of a DC/DC converter falls within a reduced response performance area for the number of active phases as of the present moment. When the controller determines that the passing power of the DC/DC converter falls within the reduced response performance area, the controller determines the number of phases which avoids the driving within the reduced response performance area, and outputs a command for switching to the determined number of phases (phase switching command) to the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: A fuel cell purge apparatus for a fuel cell system has a separator defining a chamber for receiving a recirculated fuel stream including a fluid and impurities. The apparatus has a drain conduit with an outer passage connected to the chamber. The outer passage forms a fluid trap to collect the fluid. The drain conduit also has an inner passage nested within the outer passage through the fluid trap for delivering the impurities to a purge valve. The inner passage has a free end extending into the chamber of the separator.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system with which degradation of fuel cells can be suppressed by avoiding the ill effects caused by bumping of water used for steam reforming during the electrical generation. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel flow regulator unit, a reformer for reforming supplied fuel, a vaporizing section for supplying steam to the reformer, a water flow regulator unit, and a controller for controlling the fuel supply device and water supply device, and for controlling the power extracted from the fuel cell module; whereby the controller is furnished with: a bumping determination circuit for determining the occurrence of excessive vaporization of water in a vaporizing chamber, and an extracted power limiting circuit for limiting the power when the bumping determination circuit has determined excessive bumping of water.

Abstract: A cathode foil for a solid electrolytic capacitor is designed to increase capacitance, reduce ESR and leakage current, enhance heat resistance, and reduce production costs, while enhancing a power density, realizing rapid charging-discharging, and improving a life property, in an electric energy storage element such as a secondary battery, an electric double layer capacitor and a hybrid capacitor. A cathode foil or a current collector may include a metal foil, a metal layer, a mixed layer containing carbon and a substance composing the metal layer in a mixed state, and a carbon layer consisting substantially of carbon, each formed on the metal foil. The mixed layer is configured to have a composition changing from a state containing substantially only the substance composing the metal layer to a state containing substantially only carbon, in a direction from the metal layer to the carbon layer.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a fuel cell system which is capable of both providing power to and receiving power from a rechargeable battery in a portable computing device. This eliminates the need for a bulky and heavy battery within the fuel cell system, which can significantly reduce the size, weight and cost of the fuel cell system. This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system additionally includes a power link that transfers electrical power between the fuel cell system and the portable computing device, and a communication link that provides communication between the portable computing device and the controller for the fuel cell system.

Abstract: An annular device includes an annular main body defining a through hole, a battery mounting portion arranged in the through hole, and a battery cover. The battery mounting portion protrudes from an inner surface of the main body in the through hole, includes a first arcuate element with an outwardly curved surface and a second arcuate element with an outwardly curved surface opposite to each other and cooperatively defining a receiving space. The battery cover is operable to clasp the battery mounting portion, includes a first arcuate member and a second arcuate member opposite to each other. At least one first protrusion is formed on an inner surface of the first arcuate member, at least one cutout is defined in an outer surface of the first arcuate element, and the first protrusion can be fit into the cutout. The second arcuate member clasps the second arcuate element.

Abstract: According to the method for preparing an electrolyte for a vanadium redox flow battery, one electrolyte can be used as both the positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte, by preparing an electrolyte having a median oxidation number of electrolytes used for the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the vanadium redox flow battery. Particularly, since the mixed electrolyte having the median oxidation number is separated into the same amounts of positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte at the time of charging and discharging, the maximum charging and discharging effect based on the supplied capacitance can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for fuel cells, wherein the membrane electrode assembly has a porous membrane (a catalyst trapping layer) disposed at the opposite surface of a catalyst layer facing a polymer electrolyte membrane for preventing the loss of a catalyst, and a fuel cell including the same. The membrane electrode assembly has the effect of restraining the loss of the catalyst due to a liquid component, such as methanol, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the fuel cell. Especially, the membrane electrode assembly has the effect of minimizing the reduction in performance of the fuel cell due to the loss of the catalyst during the long-term operation.

Abstract: LiFePO4 flakes for a Li-ion battery and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The LiFePO4 flakes of the present invention have a thickness of 5 nm-200 nm, and the angle between the flat surface normal of the flake and the Li-ion diffusion channel is 0°-80°. In addition, according to the present invention, the LiFePO4 flakes with short Li ion diffusion path can be prepared through a simple process. Hence, not only the charge-discharge efficiency of the Li-ion battery can be improved by use of the LiFePO4 flakes of the present invention, but also the cost of the Li-ion battery can be further reduced.

Abstract: A method includes controlling multiple networked input-parallel/output-parallel inverters of a fuel cell system as a single inverter assembly by a master controller. A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell segments, a plurality of DC/DC converters and at least one DC/AC inverter, where an output of each of the plurality of the fuel cell segments is connected to a pair of DC/DC converters, and each of the pair DC/DC converters is connected to an opposite polarity bus being provided to the inverter.