Abstract: A fuel cell having a single cell 20 comprises a hydrogen permeable metal layer 22 and a cathode 24 as layers equipped with catalytic metal for promoting a reaction of a labile substance supplied to the fuel cell during production of electricity in the fuel cell. Also, the fuel cell has an electrolyte layer 21 formed with a solid oxide. The electrolyte layer 21 has a high grain boundary density electrolyte layer 27, and low grain boundary density electrolyte layers 25 and 26 as decomposition reaction suppress parts to suppress a decomposition reaction of the solid oxide due to the catalyst metal.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a hydrogen-permeable metal layer 22 that contains a hydrogen-permeable metal, an electrolyte layer 21 that comprises a solid oxide material exhibiting proton conductivity, and an intermediate layer 23 comprising one or more metal layers that are laminated together with and between the hydrogen-permeable metal layer 22 and the electrolyte layer 21. Here, the metal layer in contact with the electrolyte layer 21 includes a common metal element in common with the electrolyte layer 21.

Abstract: This invention prevents reduction of hydrogen permeability and deterioration in hydrogen separation members that use an oxygen-containing gas as a cathode off gas and a purge gas. Described is a hydrogen separation device that includes a reformed gas passage, a purge gas passage, and a hydrogen separation membrane. A supply of reformed gas flows through the reformed gas passage. A cathode off gas discharged from a fuel cell cathode flows through the purge gas passage to carry hydrogen transmitted through the hydrogen separation membrane to a fuel cell anode. A portion of the hydrogen separation membrane near the supply of the cathode off gas has enhanced heat resistance that prevents deterioration of the hydrogen separation membrane even when hydrogen transmitted through the membrane reacts with oxygen remaining in the cathode off gas to raise the temperature in the vicinity of the portion close to the supply of the cathode off gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the invention has a hydrogen permeable metal layer, which is formed on a plane of an electrolyte layer that has proton conductivity and includes a hydrogen permeable metal. The fuel cell includes a higher temperature zone and a lower temperature zone that has a lower temperature than the higher temperature zone. The hydrogen permeable metal layer includes a lower temperature area A corresponding to the lower temperature zone and a higher temperature area B corresponding to the higher temperature zone. The lower temperature area A and the higher temperature area B have different settings of composition and/or layout of components. This arrangement effectively prevents potential deterioration of cell performance due to an uneven distribution of internal temperature of the fuel cell including the hydrogen permeable metal layer.

Abstract: The fuel cell system 1 has a reformer 2 and a fuel cell 3. The reformer 2 has a reforming reaction channel 21 that generates a hydrogen-containing reformed gas Ga and a heat exchange channel 22 for heating. The fuel cell 3 has an anode channel 32 to which the hydrogen-containing reformed gas Ga is supplied, a cathode channel 33 to which an oxygen-containing gas Gc is supplied, and an electrolyte 31 formed between them. The electrolyte 31 is a laminate of a hydrogen-separating metal layer 311 and a proton conductor layer 312. The fuel cell system 1 has a cathode offgas line 46 for feeding the cathode offgas Oc discharged from the cathode channel 33 to the reforming reaction channel 21.

Abstract: The fuel cell 60 comprises a proton-conductive, solid electrolyte layer and a hydrogen-permeable metal layer joined to the electrolyte layer. When the fuel cell 60 generates power, reformed gas produced in a reformer 62 is supplied as fuel gas to the anode of the fuel cell 60. When power generation by the fuel cell 60 is stop, air supplied by a blower 67 is fed to the anode of the fuel cell 60, so that the fuel gas within the fuel cell 60 is replaced by air.

Abstract: Fuel cells 100 of the invention are operable at a temperature of about 500° C. The unit cell has a solid oxide electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen separable metal layer. An anode has a catalyst supported thereon to accelerate a reforming reaction of methane. A fuel gas is produced by reforming a hydrocarbon-containing material in a reformer 20. Setting a lower reaction temperature enables production of the fuel gas containing both methane and hydrogen. In the fuel cells 100 receiving a supply of the fuel gas, the reforming reaction of methane contained in the fuel gas proceeds simultaneously with consumption of hydrogen contained in the fuel gas. This methane reforming reaction is endothermic to absorb heat produced in the process of power generation and thereby equalizes the operation temperature of the fuel cells 100.

Abstract: The present invention has as an object to produce a thinner electrolyte layer in a solid oxide type fuel cell. In a solid oxide type fuel cell, a solid oxide electrolyte layer 110 is grown on the surface of a hydrogen-permeable metal layer 120. A structure is provided for preventing interlayer separation of the hydrogen-permeable metal layer 120 and the electrolyte layer 110 due to expansion of the hydrogen-permeable metal layer 120 during permeation of hydrogen. As the separation preventing mechanism, there can be employed a structure that prevents expansion of the hydrogen-permeable metal layer 120, or a structure wherein the electrolyte layer is divided to ameliorate stress during expansion. By so doing, the electrolyte layer can be thinned sufficiently.

Abstract: A hydrogen-permeable membrane includes a permeable layer which has a function of making hydrogen permeate therethrough, and a catalyst layer which acts as a catalyst for promoting permeation of the hydrogen in the permeable layer. An area of the catalyst layer which contacts gas is larger than an area of the permeable layer.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to prevent reduction of hydrogen permeability and deterioration of a hydrogen separation member in a hydrogen separation device that uses an oxygen-containing as like a cathode off gas as a purge gas. A hydrogen separation device 50 includes a reformed gas passage 51, a purge gas passage 52, and a hydrogen separation membrane 53. A supply of a reformed gas flows through the reformed gas passage 51. A cathode off gas discharged from cathodes of fuel cells 60 flows through the purge gas passage 52 to carry hydrogen transmitted through the hydrogen separation membrane 53 to anodes of the fuel cells 60. A specific section of the hydrogen separation membrane 53 close to the supply of the cathode off gas has enhanced heat resistance.

Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus includes a premixed fuel tank. In the premixed fuel tank, premixed fuel which is formed by emulsifying gasoline and water that are mixed with each other at a predetermined ratio, using a emulsifier. The premixed fuel is sprayed into a vaporizing portion through a nozzle. Heat can be supplied to the vaporizing portion by the reformer in which oxidation reaction proceeds, a first heating portion, and air supplied to the vaporizing portion through a heat exchanger. The premixed fuel sprayed into the vaporizing portion is vaporized immediately by the thus supplied heat, and is supplied to the reformer. In addition, air which has been humidified in a humidifying module cam be supplied to the vaporizing portion.

Abstract: A hydrogen-permeable membrane includes a metal base layer containing a Group VA element, two metal middle layers which are formed on both of the two sides of the metal base layer and containg an element selected from Ni and Co, and two metal coating layers formed on the side of the two metal middle layers, on which the metal base layer is not formed, and containing Pd.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrolyte membrane that allows an operating temperature of a solid polymer membrane fuel cell to be raised and an operating temperature of a solid oxide fuel cell to be lowered. This electrolyte membrane can be used in a fuel cell that is operable in an intermediate temperature range. The invention also provides a fuel cell using such an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane has a hydrated electrolyte layer, and dense layers made of a hydrogen permeable material that are formed on both sides of this electrolyte layer. Both sides of the electrolyte membrane are coated with dense layers. Consequently, evaporation of moisture contained in the electrolyte layer is suppressed, and increase in the resistance of the membrane is inhibited. As a result, the range of the operating temperature of the fuel cell can be enlarged.

Abstract: A hydrogen-permeable membrane includes a permeable layer which has a function of making hydrogen permeate therethrough, and a catalyst layer which acts as a catalyst for promoting permeation of the hydrogen in the permeable layer. An area of the catalyst layer which contacts gas is larger than an area of the permeable layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrotreating catalyst which relates to the production of a solid catalyst composed of a carrier impregnated with an active component, to give a catalyst for hydrotreating hydrocarbon oils, which contains a large quantity of a hydrogenation-active component and uniform, crystalline composite metal compound, and shows high catalytic activity.

Abstract: A hydrogen-permeable membrane includes a metal base layer containing a Group VA element, two metal middle layers which are formed on both of the two sides of the metal base layer and contains an element selected from Ni and CO, and two metal coating layers formed on the side of the two metal middle layers, on which the metal base layer is not formed, and containing Pd.

Abstract: A high-activity hydrotreating catalyst containing a uniformly dispersed active component at a high concentration, and particularly useful for deep desulfurization of a hydrocarbon oil for its high hydrodesulfurization activity. The present invention also provides a hydrotreating process using the same catalyst.

Abstract: A high-activity hydrotreating catalyst containing a uniformly dispersed active component at a high concentration, and particularly useful for deep desulfurization of a hydrocarbon oil for its high hydrodesulfurization activity. The present invention also provides a hydrotreating process using the same catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrotreating catalyst composed of a carrier having a Brønsted acid content of at least 50 &mgr;mol/g such as a silica-alumina carrier or a silica-alumina-third component carrier, in which the silica is dispersed to high degree and a Brønsted acid content is at least 50 &mgr;mol/g, and at least one active component (A) selected from the elements of Group 8 of the Periodic Table and at least one active component (B) selected from the elements of Group 6 of the Periodic Table, supported on said carrier. The present invention also relates to a method for hydrotreating hydrocarbon oils using the same. The hydrotreating catalyst of the present invention provides excellent tolerance to the inhibiting effect of hydrogen sulfide, high desulfurization activity, and exhibits notable effects for deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon oils containing high contents of sulfur, in particular gas oil fractions containing difficult-to-remove sulfur compounds.

Abstract: A jitter measuring method and apparatus is provided which is capable of measuring jitters in serial digital signals transmitted at a high bit rate. The method and apparatus detects from a serial digital signal frequency deviations of a predetermined frequency corresponding to a predetermined period. The detected frequency deviations are converted to period deviations of the predetermined period.