Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell (FC stack), an inflow passage valve provided in a hydrogen inflow passage through which hydrogen is supplied to the FC stack, and a discharge passage valve provided in a hydrogen discharge passage through which hydrogen containing gas is discharged from the FC stack as exhaust gas. In the fuel cell, hydrogen is supplied to the FC stack intermittently in accordance with an amount of hydrogen consumed in the FC stack, by controlling opening and closing of the inflow passage valve and the hydrogen discharge valve.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell constructed by plural stacked cells, a circulation path through which a thermal medium is circulated into each cell, a heater for heating the thermal medium, a bypass path through which the thermal medium is circulated into a part of each cell while bypassing the other part thereof, and a flow control valve for controlling a flow amount of the thermal medium circulated in the bypass path. The thermal medium can be circulated into only the part of each cell in a warm-up operation, so that the part of each cell is collectively heated. An amount of the thermal medium circulated into the other part of each cell is controlled, so that all of each cell is finally warmed up in the warm-up operation.

Abstract: A measuring method first calculates the conductivity of an electrolyte membrane based on measured output voltage and output current of a fuel cell. The water content of an oxidant channel as an index of present water content (PWC) of the fuel cell is calculated based on the calculated conductivity and the other measured physical quantities of the fuel cell. Further the method calculates the water content of the oxidant channel after the inside of the fuel cell reaches a steady state as an index of future water content (FWC) using the measured physical quantities. The PWC index and FWC index are compared, and it is finally determined, based on the result of the comparison and the difference between the previous and present values of the conductivity, whether the water content of the fuel cell is short or excessive at the present time.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a heat-generation amount detection device for detecting a heat generation amount in a fuel cell, and an evaporation amount controller for controlling an evaporation amount of water in the fuel cell based on the detected heat generation amount. The heat generation amount is detected based on an output electric power of the fuel cell, an output current thereof or a temperature thereof. The evaporation amount of water in the fuel cell is controlled by adjusting at least one humidification amount of hydrogen and oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell, or by adjusting at least one flow amount of hydrogen and oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell (FC stack), an inflow passage valve provided in a hydrogen inflow passage through which hydrogen is supplied to the FC stack, and a discharge passage valve provided in a hydrogen discharge passage through which hydrogen containing gas is discharged from the FC stack as exhaust gas. In the fuel cell, hydrogen is supplied to the FC stack intermittently in accordance with an amount of hydrogen consumed in the FC stack, by controlling opening and closing of the inflow passage valve and the hydrogen discharge valve.

Abstract: A self-light-emitting indicating apparatus including an enclosure formed by combining a pair of opposing semi-tubular bodies, each having first and second support members positioned at both ends; first and second panels fixed on the first and second support members respectively, at least one of the first and second panels having a plurality of through-holes and/or having a sign indicating portion; a plurality of optical fibers contained in a container portion defined by the enclosure and the first and second panels, each having one end inserted and fixed in one of the plurality of through-holes provided in at least one of the first and second panels, and a light emitting diode contained in the container portion, arranged adjacent to the other end of the plurality of optical fibers which are bundled and cut, and having an optical leakage preventing means.

Abstract: A fragrance supplying apparatus for a vehicle for supplying an interior of an air-conditioning duct of the vehicle with a fragrance or deodrant so that the fragrance or deodrant is carried by a flow of air from a blower of the air-conditioning system into the cabin of the vehicle, the fragrance supplying apparatus including a fragrance supplying apparatus having control valves for controlling the supply of the fragrance or deodorant into the air-conditioning duct; a random number producing unit for producing random numbers; and a control unit for controlling the control valves of the fragrance supplying unit based on the random numbers to set varying patterns of supply and cessation of the fragrance or deodorant.

Abstract: Disclosed is an active carbon for deodorization, which comprises a deodorizing functional group fixed to a graphitic six-membered ring on the surface of the active carbon, through a silanol bond.

Abstract: A carbon-based adsorbent comprising active carbon provided with electron-donative surface functional groups which are bonded directly and chemically to graphite constructing the surface of the active carbon and are coordinated with metallic ions to form chelate structures, which has adsorbing power similar to that of common active carbon and additionally the ability to remove specific harmful gas molecules and smelling gas molecules from air, thus being especially effective for gas filters.

Abstract: A ventilating device for an automotive vehicle mounted in a rear portion of the vehicle comprises an atmospheric air passageway for introducing atmospheric air from the outside of the vehicle into a vehicle compartment, and an internal air passageway provided in a manner to cross the atmospheric air passageway for leading the air in the rear portion of the vehicle compartment to the outside of the vehicle. The atmospheric air passageway is arranged to cause the atmospheric air to be blown from the rear to the front of the vehicle compartment, so as to improve ventilation performance in the rear portion of the compartment. Further, a total heat exchanger is mounted at the crossing portion of the two passageways for effecting exchange of both sensible heat and latent heat between the atmospheric air flowing through the atmospheric air passageway and the air flowing through the internal air passageway.

Abstract: A moisture sensitive element including a sheet made from a mixture of electrically insulating fibers having the property to expand upon adsorbing the moisture (e.g., cellulose fiber) and electroconductive fibers (e.g., activated carbon fiber). The moisture sensitive element is capable of sensing the humidity of the air by determining the electric resistance which varies according to the change of the humidity of the air, and can also be applied as a condensation sensor which can sense, for example, dew condensation on windowpanes.

Abstract: A total heat exchanger for exchanging both heat and humidity is made, using partition plates of a laminate of a carbon-fiber-based paperlike material and a hydrophilic material, resulting in improving the humidity exchange ability while both the permeability and the heat conductivity are high.

Abstract: A method for producing a cordierite body having no anisotropic property in coefficient of thermal expansion comprises the steps of preparing a raw material containing kaolin mineral and talc as main ingredients, and preformed cordierite particles formed from the raw material, mixing and kneading the raw material together with the preformed cordierite particles into a slurry, forming the slurry into a formed body and firing the formed body.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises an elongated plate folded in corrugated fashion and defining a stack of a number of laminated air passages defined by spacer parallel plane heat transfer faces or plates connected alternately along opposite side edges by narrow partition plates. In alternate air passages, spacer plates are disposed having such a wavy or corrugated configuration as to conduct a first current of air flowing into such alternate passages from one open end thereof to flow out from an open side portion thereof opposite the corresponding partition plate. In the remainder of the air passages are disposed spacer plates having such a wavy or corrugated configuration as to conduct a second current of air flowing into such passages from the open ends thereof, opposite those into which the first air current flows, to flow out from open side portions thereof opposite those out from which the first current flows.

Abstract: A canister to be used in the fuel supplying system of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, is disclosed. The canister is provided with a fuel vapors guiding pipe for guiding the fuel vapors from a fuel vapors inlet port into a bed of adsorbent material accomodated within a housing, and a deflector for deflecting the flow of fuel vapors guided by the guiding pipe so as to be dispersed throughout the bed. The deflector is formed of air-permeable material having a flowing resistance slightly larger than that of the bed into a frusto-conical plate. According to the present invention, one part of the fuel vapors flowing into the bed through the guiding pipe in the fuel vapors adsorbing process flows along the upper surface of the deflector in the direction of the upper portion of the bed and another part of the fuel vapors flows through the deflector in the direction of the lower portion of the bed.

Abstract: A catalyst support provided with an activated alumina layer which is formed on the surface of the ceramic honeycomb structure is disclosed. The catalyst support of the present invention is formed of ceramic such as cordierite, of which coefficient of thermal expansion is lower than alumina and is provided with microcracks which occur when the honeycomb structure is formed. The activated alumina layer is formed on the surface of the catalyst support without filling the microcracks occurred therein. For example, the activated alumina layer is formed by adhering the activated alumina particulates to the surface of the honeycomb structure and firing the structure together with the activated alumina particulates after the microcracks occurred in the honeycomb structure are filled with such a material as to be burnt away at a temperature lower than the sintering temperature of activated alumina.

Abstract: An air conditioning and ventilation system for a motorcar has an outdoor air passage for introducing fresh outdoor air into the passenger room and another passage for guiding room air to the atmosphere. The two passages intersect at a point where a heat exchanger is provided for exchanging both of the actual heat and the latent heat of the airs flowing through the two passages. Air heating and cooling units are provided in the outdoor air passage downstream of the heat exchanger. The outdoor air flows first through the heat exchanger in heat exchanging relationship with the room air flowing therethrough outwardly and thus is heated or cooled by the room air, whereby the thermal load on the air heating and cooling units is greatly reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for adsorbing fuel vapor having a fuel vapor inlet communicating to a fuel tank, a mixed gas outlet communicating to the intake passage of an internal combustion engine, a desorbent air inlet communicating to the atmospheric air and an adsorbent for adsorbing the fuel vapor introduced from the fuel tank. The adsorbent includes an integrally formed activated carbon having a monolithic honeycomb structure having many through passages.

Abstract: A method for producing a cordierite body having isotropic coefficient of thermal expansion comprises the steps of preparing a batch by mixing and kneading particles of fired talc, alumina supplying substance such as alumina and aluminum hydroxide, and silica supplying substance such as silica and kaoline, anisostatically forming the batch and drying and firing the obtained formed body.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in a ventilation system to exchange both of actual heat and latent heat between outgoing room air and incoming fresh air has a laminated structure formed by flat partition plates and corrugated spacer plates each sandwiched between an adjacent pair of the partition plates. The two kinds of plates are arranged such that a first series of passages for the outgoing room air and a second series of passages for the incoming fresh air are defined between respective adjacent pairs of the partition plates and the spacer plates. The first and second series of passages are at an angle with respect to each other. At least the partition plates are made of a paper-like material formed, by a process similar to ordinary paper making process, from a mixture of carbon fibers and binding fibers.