Abstract: A combination fuel cell and hydrogen or oxygen pump includes an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant, and first and second electrical connectors. A controller is operable for applying an electrical load to the electrochemical cell for generating electricity, and for applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell for purifying hydrogen or purifying oxygen. Methods and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An unactivated, poorly activatable hydrogen storage component and an activated hydrogen storage component are mixed to prepare a hydrogen storage material. When the hydrogen storage material is activated, the poorly activatable hydrogen storage component is converted to a hydrogen storable state in a remarkably short time. The poorly activatable hydrogen storage component may be a V—Cr—Ti hydrogen storage alloy having a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure. The activated hydrogen storage component preferably is MgHx (0.1?x?2) doped with a nanoparticle of at least one atom selected from the group of Ni, Fe, Ti, Mn, and V.

Abstract: A hydrogen supply method using an inexpensive and compact hydrogen supply means to reduce a pressure of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen supply means and to supply efficiently hydrogen to a high pressure hydrogen storage means. Hydrogen is supplied under high pressure from first hydrogen supply means and from second hydrogen supply means containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy to a hydrogen storage means for storing hydrogen under high pressure. Hydrogen is supplied from the first hydrogen supply means to the hydrogen storage means until the pressure in the hydrogen storage means reaches a predetermined pressure. Thereafter, hydrogen is supplied from the second hydrogen supply means to the hydrogen storage means until the pressure in the hydrogen storage means reaches a maximum filling pressure. A plurality of the first hydrogen supply means or a plurality of the second hydrogen supply means may be used.

Abstract: A combination fuel cell and hydrogen or oxygen pump includes an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant, and first and second electrical connectors. A controller is operable for applying an electrical load to the electrochemical cell for generating electricity, and for applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell for purifying hydrogen or purifying oxygen. Methods and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A combination fuel cell and hydrogen or oxygen pump includes an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant, and first and second electrical connectors. A controller is operable for applying an electrical load to the electrochemical cell for generating electricity, and for applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell for purifying hydrogen or purifying oxygen. Methods and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A combination fuel cell and hydrogen or oxygen pump includes an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant, and first and second electrical connectors. A controller is operable for applying an electrical load to the electrochemical cell for generating electricity, and for applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell for purifying hydrogen or purifying oxygen. Methods and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas liquid centrifugal separator includes a cylindrical vessel having an axis extending in a vertical direction, an exhaust port in a top wall of the vessel which discharges gas separated from a liquid-gas mixture, a drainage port provided in a bottom wall of the vessel which discharges liquid separated from the liquid-gas mixture, and an introducing port in a peripheral wall of the vessel which introduces the mixture into the vessel. Gas-liquid separation is conducted by an inverted conical liquid surface formed in an upper separating chamber of the vessel as a result of the mixture traveling circumferentially along an inner peripheral surface of the vessel.

Abstract: A hydrogen supply unit is provided that can efficiently supply hydrogen gas both to a fuel cell used as a stationary electric power supply and to a fuel cell used as a mobile electric power supply. The hydrogen supply unit includes a reformer 5 that reforms a source gas to generate hydrogen gas, a first storage device 7 that stores hydrogen gas and supplies the hydrogen gas to a first fuel cell 2, and a second storage device 8 that stores hydrogen gas and supplies the hydrogen gas to a second fuel cell 3. For the storage device 8, there is arranged a compressor 13 that pressurizes hydrogen gas. For both storage devices 7 and 8, there is arranged a purifier 6 between the reformer 5 and both storage devices so that both storage devices store purified hydrogen gas. The storage device 7 utilizes a hydrogen absorbing alloy, and releases hydrogen gas by taking advantage of the waste heat of the reformer 5 or the waste heat of the fuel cell 2.

Abstract: A hydrogen supply method is provided which, by use of an inexpensive and compact hydrogen supply means, can reduce the pressure of the hydrogen stored in said hydrogen supply means, and moreover can efficiently supply hydrogen to a high pressure hydrogen storage means. Hydrogen is supplied from first hydrogen supply means 1, 2, 3 for supplying hydrogen stored under high pressure and second hydrogen supply means 4, 5, 6 for supplying hydrogen stored in a hydrogen absorbing alloy to a hydrogen storage means 9 for storing hydrogen under high pressure. Hydrogen is supplied from the first hydrogen supply means 1, 2, 3 to the hydrogen storage means 9 until the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen storage means 9 reaches a predetermined pressure. After this step, hydrogen is supplied from the second hydrogen supply means 4, 5, 6 to the hydrogen storage means 9 until the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen storage means 9 reaches a maximum filling pressure.

Abstract: There is provided a water electro system which permits easy recycling of recovered pure water. The water electrolysis system includes: an electrolyte membrane 11 sandwiched by catalyst layers 12 and 13; a water electrolysis means 1 that brings out hydrogen from one catalyst layer and brings out a gas/liquid mixture of oxygen and pure water from the other catalyst layer by electrolyzing pure water; a gas/liquid separating means 2 that separates pure water 7 from the gas/liquid mixture; and a backflow means 8 that makes the separated pure water 7 flow back to the water electrolysis means 1. The gas/liquid separating means 2 is arranged to be directly connected to a discharge opening 3 through which the gas/liquid mixture is brought out from the water electrolysis means 1, and the gas/liquid mixture flows back directly to the gas/liquid separating means 2 through the discharge opening 3.

Abstract: A gas liquid centrifugal separator conducts a gas-liquid separating treatment of a mixture comprising a liquid and a gas contained in the liquid to separate the gas and the liquid from each other. The separator includes a cylindrical vessel having an axis extending in a vertical direction, an exhaust port provided in a top wall of the cylindrical vessel for discharging the separated gas, a drainage port provided in a bottom wall of the cylindrical vessel for discharging the separated liquid, and an introducing port provided in a peripheral wall of the cylindrical vessel for introducing the mixture into the cylindrical vessel in order to conduct the gas-liquid separation treatment utilizing an inverted conical liquid surface formed by causing the mixture to travel circumferentially travel along an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical vessel. Thus, the separation of the mixture into the gas and the liquid can be conducted reliably, and the internal structure of the cylindrical vessel can be simplified.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing and patterning a first metal layer comprising aluminum on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing an insulator layer of inorganic material on the first metal layer, by etching and patterning the insulator layer in such a way that the insulator layer has opened windows at, at least one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, and by depositing a second three-layer metal stack comprising materials other than aluminum, on the insulator layer of polyimide in such a way that the second three-layer metal stack comes into contact with the one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing and patterning a first metal layer on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing an insulator layer of polyimide on the first metal layer, by etching and patterning the insulator layer of polyimide in such a way that the insulator layer has opened windows at, at least one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by curing the insulator layer of polyimide by heating at temperature for a period, by additionally curing the insulator layer of polyimide by heating at a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, and by depositing a second metal layer made of metal stack on the insulator layer of polyimide in such a way

Abstract: A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, b depositing and patterning a first metal layer on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing a first insulator layer of polyimide on the first metal layer, by etching and patterning the first insulator layer of polyimide in such a way that the insulator layer has opened windows at, at least one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing a second insulator layer of polyimide on the first insulator layer of polyimide, by etching and patterning the second insulator layer of polyimide in such a way that the insulator layer has opened windows at, at least one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by curing the first insulator laye

Abstract: A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing and patterning a first metal layer on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing a first insulator layer of inorganic material on the first metal layer, by etching and patterning the first insulator layer in such a way that the insulator layer has opened windows at, at least one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing a second insulator layer of organic material on the first insulator layer, by etching and patterning the second insulator layer in such a way that the insulator layer has opened windows at the one of the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by curing the second insulator layer by heating at a predeterm

Abstract: Energy supplying system in which effective use of waste heat from a solar power generator and an engine power generator. Electric power generated by an SLCS (sunlight cogeneration system) 1 and an EGCS (engine cogeneration system) 2 is supplied to a power consuming apparatus while its relevant waste or exhausted heat is transferred to a heat consuming apparatus 3. The power generated by the SLCS 1 varies depending on the local climate and is monitored with a power meter 6 or a power monitor apparatus 7. When the power from the SLCS 1 is declined, it is compensated by increasing the power output of the EGCS 2. Since the total power generated by the SLCS 1 and the EGCS 2 is maintained constant and the total waste heat released from the SLCS1 and the EGCS 2 is relatively stable, the heat consuming apparatus 3 as well as an power consuming apparatus 5 are steadily energized.

Abstract: A drive device for a power working vehicle has a transmission case for a hydrostatic pressure type continuously variable transmission which includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, the case having a narrow portion and a wide portion with a step being formed on one side of the transmission case. The hydrostatic pressure type continuously variable transmission is mounted to the narrow portion, so that it is accommodated within the height of the step. A differential is provided at the wide portion for differentially operating left and right axles, and a reducing gear mechanism extends from the narrow portion to the wide portion for transmitting an output from the continuously variable transmission to the differential through a multi-stage reduction. Thus, the output from the continuously variable transmission can be transmitted to the left and right axles through a reduction at a plurality of stages, and the structure of the drive device for the power working vehicle may be made simpler and more compact.

Abstract: A ball and piston valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to a motive means have the ball and piston spring biased in opposing directions and with both initially subject to a first hydraulic fluid pressure that allows the springs to cause the ball to be unseated from its seat whereby fluid is directed to a fluid tank and wherein the ball is of sufficiently larger diameter than the piston that upon an increase in fluid pressure the ball is seated and remains seated when the pressure drops to the first hydraulic fluid pressure whereby the motive means to which the fluid is directed when the ball is seated does not have a sudden lurch upon a subsequent increase in pressure.

Abstract: A hydrostatic continuously variable transmission includes a closed hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, and an oil supply passage connected between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic pump selectively generates a first oil pressure lower than a first predetermined pressure level, a second slowly-changing oil pressure higher than the first predetermined pressure level when the transmission is in normal operation, and a third rapidly-changing oil pressure higher than a second predetermined pressure level higher than the first predetermined pressure level when the transmission starts to operate.

Abstract: A transmission includes a transmission casing, a speed reducer mechanism housed in the transmission casing, a hydrostatic power unit mounted on the transmission casing, the hydrostatic power unit comprising a pump having a pump shaft and a motor having a motor shaft, the pump shaft and the motor shaft extending parallel to each other, and an input shaft operatively coupled to the pump shaft. The transmission casing has an interior space divided into a first chamber in which the input shaft is disposed and a second chamber in which the speed reducer mechanism is accommodated.