Abstract: A method of shutting down a fuel cell system includes a first step of supplying hydrogen gas and air to a fuel cell stack to thereby cause the fuel cell stack to generate electricity, and a second step of stopping supply of the hydrogen gas, and then supplying air to the fuel cell stack so as to cause the fuel cell stack to generate electricity upon detection of a command to shut down the fuel cell stack. In the second step, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas is lowered to a preset lower-limit value based on an anode pressure, which actually is measured, the fuel cell stack is caused to stop generating electricity.

Abstract: A FC vehicle includes a long distance hill climbing detector for detecting long distance hill climbing and a controller for, in the case where the long distance hill climbing detector detects the long distance hill climbing, controlling the allocation amount of electric power outputted from an FC such that the allocation amount is larger than the allocation amount before the detection of the long distance hill climbing.

Abstract: A FC vehicle includes a long distance hill climbing detector for detecting long distance hill climbing and a controller for, in the case where the long distance hill climbing detector detects the long distance hill climbing, controlling the allocation amount of electric power outputted from an FC such that the allocation amount is larger than the allocation amount before the detection of the long distance hill climbing.

Abstract: A stop method for a fuel cell system including a fuel cell unit in which hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and air is supplied to a cathode so as to generate electrical power via an electrochemical reaction. The stop method includes the steps of stopping supply of hydrogen to the anode, electrically connecting the anode and the cathode via an electrical load, and supplying air to the anode.

Abstract: A method of shutting down a fuel cell system includes a first step of supplying hydrogen gas and air to a fuel cell stack to thereby cause the fuel cell stack to generate electricity, and a second step of stopping supply of the hydrogen gas, and then supplying air to the fuel cell stack so as to cause the fuel cell stack to generate electricity upon detection of a command to shut down the fuel cell stack. In the second step, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas is lowered to a preset lower-limit value based on an anode pressure, which actually is measured, the fuel cell stack is caused to stop generating electricity.

Abstract: An oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed on a surface of a first metal separator. The oxygen-containing gas flow field is connected between an oxygen-containing gas supply passage and an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage. The oxygen-containing gas flow field comprises oxygen-containing gas flow grooves, and ends of the oxygen-containing gas flow grooves are extended outwardly beyond ends of electrode catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly, and connected to an inlet buffer and an outlet buffer. When the purging process is performed at the time of stopping operation of the fuel cell, the purging air supplied to the oxygen-containing gas flow field discharges water retained in the electrode catalyst layers from the ends to the outlet buffer.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided for improving the starting performance at low temperatures. The fuel cell includes a cell structure in which an anode and a cathode are provided on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell may include a first cooling liquid passage and a second cooling liquid passage independent of the first cooling liquid passage. Cooling liquid is heated by an external heating device and supplied to the second cooling liquid passage.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell stack having a stacked body formed by stacking fuel cell units together and a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body therebetween; electrical heaters disposed near the ends of the stacked body or the end plates, respectively; a water purging device for purging water which is generated during a power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is held in the fuel cell units; and a control unit which controls the power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is operatively connected to the electrical heaters and the water purging device. The control unit is adapted to operate the electrical heaters and the water purging device when the power generation operation is stopped.

Abstract: A stop method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell unit in which hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and air is supplied to a cathode so as to generate electrical power via an electrochemical reaction. The stop method includes the steps of stopping supply of hydrogen to the anode, and supplying air to the anode so as to discharge water remaining at the anode.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell assembly and a fuel cell system use a simple construction to restrain deterioration of power generating performance of a fuel cell assembly at a startup in a subfreezing environment. If an ignition switch is turned off is STEP 1, a control unit determines in STEP 3 whether the temperature of a fuel cell assembly (the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly) is lower than a predetermined temperature, which is higher than the temperature at which the water produced during power generation freezes. If the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly is the predetermined temperature or higher, then the processing proceeds to STEP 4 wherein a power generating condition is adjusted to cause the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly to rise. In STEP 5, an alarm device is actuated.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack 10 includes a stacked structure 14 composed of a plurality of electricity-generating cells stacked successively, and dummy cells arranged at both ends in a stacking direction of the stacked structure 14. Each dummy cell 16 each includes a conductive plate 52 and first and second metallic separators 54, 56 which sandwich the conductive plate 52. The conductive plate 52 is formed of a metallic plate having substantially the same shape as that of the electrolytic membrane electrode assembly 22. The first and second metallic separators 54, 56 are structured in the same manner as the first and second metallic separators 24, 26 of the electricity-generating cell 12.

Abstract: A stop method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell unit in which hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and air is supplied to a cathode so as to generate electrical power via an electrochemical reaction. The stop method includes the steps of stopping supply of hydrogen to the anode, and supplying air to the anode so as to discharge water remaining at the anode.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack which comprises a plurality of unit fuel cells laminated via separators, and is connected to external resistors each allowing a feeble current to flow to each unit fuel cell, whereby such problems as an open-circuit voltage generation and corrosion that may be caused by fuel gas remaining after operation shutdown can be resolved. A switch is preferably attached in series with an external resistor.

Abstract: A stop method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell unit in which hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and air is supplied to a cathode so as to generate electrical power via an electrochemical reaction. The stop method includes the steps of stopping supply of hydrogen to the anode, and supplying air to the anode so as to discharge water remaining at the anode.

Abstract: When it is detected that the temperature of the fuel cell stack is at the freezing temperature of water or less (step S1), an operation mode using a freezing temperature starting up operation control map is selected (step S2). Freezing temperature starting up operation of the fuel cell stack is performed according to the freezing temperature starting up operation control map (step S3). Then, when it is detected that the temperature of the fuel cell stack exceeds the freezing temperature (step S4), the operation mode using the freezing temperature starting up operation control map is switched to an operation mode using a normal starting up operation control map (step S5). Thus, normal starting up operation is performed according to the normal starting up control map (step S6).

Abstract: A method of starting up at a subzero temperature a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack that is formed by stacking a plurality of layers of separators and membrane electrode assemblies having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and electrodes. The method includes a step of using a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack in which the separators are made from metal and have a cross-sectional waveform structure, and a space that is formed between at least a portion of the separators and separators that are placed adjacent to this portion of the separators is used as a coolant flow passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an oxidant gas passage, a cathode off-gas passage, a fuel gas passage, a circulation passage, an anode off-gas passage, a fuel shutoff valve, a supply device, a humidifier and a control device. The supply device supplies a scavenging gas, which is for scavenging the fuel cell, to the anode and the cathode. The humidifier humidifies the scavenging gas. The control device controls the supply device when the fuel cell is turned off so that supply of the fuel gas to the anode is shut off and the scavenging gas is supplied to the anode and the cathode, wherein supply of the scavenging gas to the cathode is conducted through the humidifier.

Abstract: An analysis chip comprises a thin film layer, which is formed on a dielectric material block and has two different regions. A flow path unit comprising a supply path for supplying a sample onto the thin film layer and a discharging path for discharging the sample is releasably loaded into the analysis chip. A light beam is irradiated to a first interface between one region of the thin film layer and the dielectric material block, and a second interface between the other region of the thin film layer and the dielectric material block, in a parallel manner. Refractive index information with regard to a substance to be analyzed, which is located on the thin film layer, is acquired from intensities of the light beam totally reflected from the first interface and the light beam totally reflected from the second interface.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for simultaneously carrying out the detection or measurement of a substance interacting with a physiologically active substance immobilized on a biosensor and the analysis of the effects of the above substance on the biological activity of the physiologically active substance. The present invention provides a method using a biosensor formed by immobilizing a physiologically active substance on a substrate, wherein the detection and measurement of a substance interacting with said physiologically active substance and the measurement of the biological activity of said physiologically active substance are carried out on said single biosensor.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells in a stacking direction. Terminal plates are provided outside opposite ends of the cell assembly in the stacking direction. An electrically conductive first heat insulation plate is interposed between one end of the cell assembly and the terminal plate, and an electrically conductive second heat insulation plate is interposed between the other end of the cell assembly and the terminal plate. The first and second heat insulation plates are metal corrugated plates. Heat insulation air chambers are defined between the first and second heat insulation plates and the cell assembly.