Abstract: A low-temperature startup method for a fuel cell, includes detecting a temperature of the fuel cell. It is determined whether the temperature is lower than a threshold temperature. A drying operation to dry the fuel cell is increased when the temperature is determined to be lower than the threshold temperature upon starting the fuel cell to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between fuel gas and oxidant gas.

Abstract: An air blowing fan device includes an electric motor including a rotation shaft, and an air blowing fan including an attachment portion, a boss portion, and an outer circumferential side air blowing blades. The attachment portion is attached to the rotation shaft. The boss portion includes a tubular portion that is positioned radially outward of the attachment portion and of which the outer diameter dimension is larger than the outer diameter dimension of the electric motor, and a linkage portion. The electric motor is disposed in the tubular portion, the outer circumferential side air blowing blade extends radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion, the linkage portion includes a ventilation hole, and an area occupied by the electric motor and an area occupied by the outer circumferential side air blowing blade partially overlap each other in the direction in which the rotation shaft extends.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum-diamond composite which combines high thermal conductivity and a coefficient of thermal expansion close to a semiconductor clement, and in which the difference between the thicknesses of both surfaces is reduced so as to be suitable for use as a heat sink etc. for a semiconductor element.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a first insulator, and a first shim. The stacked body includes electrolyte-electrode assemblies and separators. The electrolyte-electrode assemblies are stacked in a stacking direction and have a first end electrolyte-electrode assembly disposed at a first end of the stacked body. The separators includes a first end separator disposed at the first end of the stacked body between the first end electrolyte-electrode assembly and a first contact end plate having a first contact surface which the first end separator contacts. The first shim is provided in a first recess between the first contact end plate and the first insulator and has a thickness such that an outer peripheral surface of the first end separator is positioned between the first contact surface of the first contact end plate and an outer peripheral surface of the first insulator in the stacking direction.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell including a plurality of stacked unit cells, each including a membrane-electrode assembly and a separator stacked on the membrane-electrode assembly. The separator includes a separator plate that overlaps the membrane-electrode assembly when seen from a stacking direction, a first terminal portion configured to protrude from the separator plate toward an outer side in a plane direction, a plate covering portion configured to cover an outer peripheral edge of the separator plate, and a terminal covering portion configured to be formed integrally with the plate covering portion and covers the first terminal portion. A plurality of the first terminal portions, which are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction, include offset portions which shift from each other when seen from the stacking direction, and are covered with the terminal covering portion.

Abstract: A power generation stopping method for a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, includes continuing generating electric power by the fuel cell via electrochemical reaction between fuel gas and oxidant gas during a post running period after the fuel cell system is ordered to stop. A coolant is supplied at a first flow rate to the fuel cell during the post running period until temperature of the fuel cell reaches a threshold temperature. A coolant is supplied to the fuel cell at a second flow rate larger than the first flow rate during the post running period after the temperature of the fuel cell has reached the threshold temperature.

Abstract: A low-temperature startup method for a fuel cell, includes detecting a temperature of the fuel cell. It is determined whether the temperature is lower than a threshold temperature. A drying operation to dry the fuel cell is increased when the temperature is determined to be lower than the threshold temperature upon starting the fuel cell to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between fuel gas and oxidant gas.

Abstract: A switch includes: a case including a bottom portion and a side wall; a fixed terminal provided on the bottom portion of the case; a supporting member provided in the case; a movable contact strip supported by the supporting member so as to be pivotable in a vertical direction above the fixed terminal; a resilient member provided between the side wall of the case and the movable contact strip, and configured to urge one end portion of the movable contact strip obliquely upward; and a pressing member provided above the resilient member. The movable contact strip pivots and an opened-closed state between the movable contact strip and the fixed terminal is switched by pressing a center portion of the resilient member downward by the pressing member.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a first insulator, and a first shim. The stacked body includes electrolyte-electrode assemblies and separators. The electrolyte-electrode assemblies are stacked in a stacking direction and have a first end electrolyte-electrode assembly disposed at a first end of the stacked body. The separators includes a first end separator disposed at the first end of the stacked body between the first end electrolyte-electrode assembly and a first contact end plate having a first contact surface which the first end separator contacts. The first shim is provided in a first recess between the first contact end plate and the first insulator and has a thickness such that an outer peripheral surface of the first end separator is positioned between the first contact surface of the first contact end plate and an outer peripheral surface of the first insulator in the stacking direction.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell including a plurality of stacked unit cells, each including a membrane-electrode assembly and a separator stacked on the membrane-electrode assembly. The separator includes a separator plate that overlaps the membrane-electrode assembly when seen from a stacking direction, a first terminal portion configured to protrude from the separator plate toward an outer side in a plane direction, a plate covering portion configured to cover an outer peripheral edge of the separator plate, and a terminal covering portion configured to be formed integrally with the plate covering portion and covers the first terminal portion. A plurality of the first terminal portions, which are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction, include offset portions which shift from each other when seen from the stacking direction, and are covered with the terminal covering portion.

Abstract: A switch includes: a case including a bottom portion and a side wall; a fixed terminal provided on the bottom portion of the case; a supporting member provided in the case; a movable contact strip supported by the supporting member so as to be pivotable in a vertical direction above the fixed terminal; a resilient member provided between the side wall of the case and the movable contact strip, and configured to urge one end portion of the movable contact strip obliquely upward; and a pressing member provided above the resilient member. The movable contact strip pivots and an opened-closed state between the movable contact strip and the fixed terminal is switched by pressing a center portion of the resilient member downward by the pressing member.

Abstract: In a magnetic levitation transportation system ground coil unit in which inside an annular coil conductor that is annularly wound, a mounting bush 3 including such a mounting hole 3a as to be parallel to a central axis of the coil conductor is disposed, and the coil conductor and the bush 3 are integrally molded using a thermoplastic resin to form a casing 4 of the coil conductor, thickness of the thermoplastic resin of a connection part that provides a connection between the bush 3 and the coil conductor is made smaller than thickness of the coil conductor, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 4b to 4i that are formed using the thermoplastic resin are provided radially from the bush 3 side toward the coil conductor side to be integral with the connection part and the casing 4.

Abstract: In a magnetic levitation transportation system ground coil unit in which inside an annular coil conductor that is annularly wound, a mounting bush 3 including such a mounting hole 3a as to be parallel to a central axis of the coil conductor is disposed, and the coil conductor and the bush 3 are integrally molded using a thermoplastic resin to form a casing 4 of the coil conductor, thickness of the thermoplastic resin of a connection part that provides a connection between the bush 3 and the coil conductor is made smaller than thickness of the coil conductor, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 4b to 4i that are formed using the thermoplastic resin are provided radially from the bush 3 side toward the coil conductor side to be integral with the connection part and the casing 4.

Abstract: The gas reactor 10 has a first gas inlet 32, a second gas inlet 34, a gas outlet 36, a rotatable plate 22 and stationary plate 20 opposed to this rotatable plate, wherein a gap 24 is formed between these plates. Catalysts 26, 28 are carried by these rotatable and stationary plates. The rotatable and stationary plates are connected to a power supply so that plasma 30 can be generated in the gap 24. In the gap 24, a chemical reaction is promoted by the catalyst and plasma, and further a turbulent gas flow is made by the action of the rotatable plate, so that the chemical reaction can be facilitated. In this way, the first gas passes through the first gas inlet 32 and flows into the gap 24, and the first gas is activated in the gap. The second gas is fed from the second inlet 34 onto the downstream side of the gap 24 and mixed and reacted with the activated first gas. In the gas reactor, it is possible to use a fan instead of the rotatable plate, that is, it is possible to adopt a fan type gas reactor.

Abstract: Gas-cleaning equipment is disclosed, which comprises a housing having an intake vent and an exhaust vent and having disposed between the two vents a fan having at least one rotating blade. Air pollutant-removing system using the gas-cleaning equipment is also disclosed. This gas-cleaning equipment can effectively clean a gas through the action of plasma produced by glow discharge caused by rotation of said fan. When a metal layer having a catalytic activity is fixed onto the surface of said rotating blade, this metal layer also functions to effectively clean the gas. In the case where both the plasma and the metal layer function to clean the gas, there car be obtained synergistic effects. Cleaning of the gas can be conducted with more efficiency by bringing the intake gas into contact with the fan in an oxygen-free state. A magnet provided as an outer wall of the housing serves to generate plasma with higher density, leading to more effective cleaning of the gas.

Abstract: Gas-cleaning equipment is disclosed, which comprises a housing having an intake vent and an exhaust vent and having disposed between the two vents a fan having at least one rotating blade. Air pollutant-removing system using the gas-cleaning equipment is also disclosed. This gas-cleaning equipment can effectively clean a gas through the action of plasma produced by glow discharge caused by rotation of said fan. When a metal layer having a catalytic activity is fixed onto the surface of said rotating blade, this metal layer also functions to effectively clean the gas. In the case where both the plasma and the metal layer function to clean the gas, there can be obtained synergistic effects. Cleaning of the gas can be conducted with more efficiency by bringing the intake gas into contact with the fan in an oxygen-free state. A magnet provided as an outer wall of the housing serves to generate plasma with higher density, leading to more effective cleaning of the gas.