Abstract: To prevent a reduction in the performance of a unit cell due to a gas shortage in a cathode chamber. An electrochemical reaction unit includes a unit cell, a cathode-side member, and an anode-side member. The electrochemical reaction unit satisfies the following condition on at least one of supply and discharge sides of the cathode chamber. Condition: the distance between the midpoint between opposite end points of a cathode-side opening group including an opening of a cathode-side communication channel and the midpoint (specific point) between opposite end points of an anode-side supply opening group including an opening of an anode-side supply communication channel in a direction parallel to an inner circumferential surface of a cathode chamber hole is shorter than the distance between the centroid of a cathode-side gas channel hole and the specific point in the direction parallel to the inner circumferential surface of the cathode chamber hole.

Abstract: An electrochemical reaction unit including a unit cell, a cathode-side member, and an anode-side member. The sum La of the distance Lai between a virtual straight line representing a center position of the unit cell and the midpoint between opposite end points of a cathode-side supply opening group and the distance Lao between the virtual straight line and the midpoint between opposite end points of a cathode-side discharge opening group is smaller than the sum Lf of the distance Lfi between the virtual straight line and the midpoint between opposite end points of an anode-side supply opening group including an opening of an anode-side supply communication channel and the distance Lfo between the virtual straight line and the midpoint between opposite end points of an anode-side discharge opening group including an opening of an anode-side discharge communication channel.

Abstract: An electrochemical reaction cell stack includes an electrochemical reaction block including three or more electrochemical reaction units arranged in a first direction; a first heat-absorbing member which is disposed on one side of the electrochemical reaction block in the first direction and absorbs heat generated from the electrochemical reaction block; and a second heat-absorbing member which is disposed on the other side of the electrochemical reaction block in the first direction and absorbs heat generated from the electrochemical reaction block. An upstream electrochemical reaction unit is disposed between the first heat-absorbing member and the downstream electrochemical reaction unit disposed closest to the first heat-absorbing member, and an upstream electrochemical reaction unit is disposed between the second heat-absorbing member and the downstream electrochemical reaction unit disposed closest to the second heat-absorbing member.

Abstract: To prevent a reduction in the performance of a unit cell due to a gas shortage in a cathode chamber. An electrochemical reaction unit includes a unit cell, a cathode-side member, and an anode-side member. The electrochemical reaction unit satisfies the following condition on at least one of supply and discharge sides of the cathode chamber. Condition: the distance between the midpoint between opposite end points of a cathode-side opening group including an opening of a cathode-side communication channel and the midpoint (specific point) between opposite end points of an anode-side supply opening group including an opening of an anode-side supply communication channel in a direction parallel to an inner circumferential surface of a cathode chamber hole is shorter than the distance between the centroid of a cathode-side gas channel hole and the specific point in the direction parallel to the inner circumferential surface of the cathode chamber hole.

Abstract: Provided is an exhalation sensor that utilizes heat effectively and can operate with low power consumption. The exhalation sensor has a surface layer on its surface that faces a sensor main body, and the performance of the surface layer to reflect radiant heat is higher than that of a housing. Specifically the radiant heat reflectivity of the surface layer is higher than that of the housing. Therefore, the surface layer can reflect radiant heat emitted from the sensor main body more efficiently than the housing. The radiant heat emitted from the sensor main body is less likely to escape to the outside of the housing, so that the heat generated by a heater of the sensor main body can be efficiently stored within the housing. This can reduce the power consumed by the heater to heat a conversion section and a sensing section to their operating temperatures.

Abstract: An electrochemical reaction unit including a unit cell, a cathode-side member, and an anode-side member. The sum La of the distance Lai between a virtual straight line representing a center position of the unit cell and the midpoint between opposite end points of a cathode-side supply opening group and the distance Lao between the virtual straight line and the midpoint between opposite end points of a cathode-side discharge opening group is smaller than the sum Lf of the distance Lfi between the virtual straight line and the midpoint between opposite end points of an anode-side supply opening group including an opening of an anode-side supply communication channel and the distance Lfo between the virtual straight line and the midpoint between opposite end points of an anode-side discharge opening group including an opening of an anode-side discharge communication channel.

Abstract: An electrochemical reaction cell stack includes an electrochemical reaction block including three or more electrochemical reaction units arranged in a first direction. The electrochemical reaction block includes a gas introduction flow passage, a gas discharge flow passage, and a gas transfer flow passage. An upstream electrochemical reaction unit includes an upstream introduction communication passage for connecting an upstream anode chamber to the gas introduction flow passage, and an upstream discharge communication passage for connecting the upstream anode chamber to the gas transfer flow passage. Similarly, a downstream electrochemical reaction unit includes a downstream introduction communication passage and a downstream discharge communication passage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor including: a wiring board; a sensor element mounted on the wiring board and electrically connected to the wiring board by conductive members; a casing installing the sensor element and formed with inlet and outlet ports; and a pretreatment unit configured to perform pretreatment on a measurement gas and feed the measurement gas to the inlet port. The inlet and outlet ports are located outward and upward of the sensor element. A protrusion is provided protruding toward the inside of the casing so as to narrow a flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port. A height from the sensor element to a distal end of the protrusion is lower than heights from the sensor element to the inlet and outlet ports. The protrusion is disposed more inside than respective top portions of the conductive members without being in contact with the conductive members.

Abstract: An electrochemical reaction cell stack includes an electrochemical reaction block including three or more electrochemical reaction units arranged in a first direction; a first heat-absorbing member which is disposed on one side of the electrochemical reaction block in the first direction and absorbs heat generated from the electrochemical reaction block; and a second heat-absorbing member which is disposed on the other side of the electrochemical reaction block in the first direction and absorbs heat generated from the electrochemical reaction block. An upstream electrochemical reaction unit is disposed between the first heat-absorbing member and the downstream electrochemical reaction unit disposed closest to the first heat-absorbing member, and an upstream electrochemical reaction unit is disposed between the second heat-absorbing member and the downstream electrochemical reaction unit disposed closest to the second heat-absorbing member.

Abstract: A fuel gas supply path in a fuel cell stack includes in series a first path, a second path, and a third path. In the second path, two inlets of the fuel gas in each of power generating cells included in the second path are located at a first position PA and a second position PB, and the position of one outlet of the fuel gas in each power generating cell is located at a third position PC. In the third path, an inlet of the fuel gas in each of power generating cells included in the third path is located at a position coinciding with the third position PC when the power generating cells are viewed in the stacking direction, and an outlet of the fuel gas in each power generating cell is located at a position between the first position PA and the second position PB.

Abstract: The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of planar power generation cells are stacked in a thickness direction thereof. The fuel cell also includes a heat exchanger provided between the two adjacent power generation cells in the stacking direction and in contact with the power generation cells, and including an internal first flow path that passes the oxidant gas or fuel gas supplied from outside. The fuel cell also includes a second flow path connected to an outlet side of the first flow path of the heat exchanger and to the cathode side or the anode side of each of the power generation cells, and supplying the oxidant gas or fuel gas that has passed through the first flow path to the cathode side or anode side of each of the power generation cells on both sides in the stacking direction of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A planar fuel cell apparatus (1), as viewed in a stacking direction, includes a first rectilinear line which connects a centroid Cfi of fuel gas inlets and a centroid Cfo of fuel gas outlets, and a second rectilinear line which connects a centroid Cai of oxidizer gas inlets and a centroid Cao of oxidizer gas outlets cross each other. The planar fuel cell apparatus employs cross-flow design in which a fuel gas flow channel and an oxidizer gas flow channel cross each other. In the planar fuel cell apparatus of the cross-flow design, as viewed in the stacking direction, the centroid Cao of the oxidizer gas outlets is located closer to the centroid Cfi of the fuel gas inlets than to the centroid Cfo of the fuel gas outlets.

Abstract: A planar fuel cell apparatus (1) characterized in that, as viewed in a stacking direction, a first rectilinear line which connects a centroid Cfi of fuel gas inlets and a centroid Cfo of fuel gas outlets, and a second rectilinear line which connects a centroid Cai of oxidizer gas inlets and a centroid Cao of oxidizer gas outlets cross each other. That is, the planar fuel cell apparatus employs cross-flow design in which a fuel gas flow channel and an oxidizer gas flow channel cross each other. In the planar fuel cell apparatus of the cross-flow design, as viewed in the stacking direction, the centroid Cfo of the fuel gas outlets is located closer to the centroid Cai of the oxidizer gas inlets than to the centroid Cao of the oxidizer gas outlets.

Abstract: A gas sensor including an adjustment unit having a conversion element for converting a gas component contained in exhaled breath introduced into a first chamber to a particular component, a sensor unit having a second chamber and including a detection element, a ceramic wiring board electrically connected to the detection element, and a single heater for heating the conversion element and the detection element. The ceramic wiring board has an opening, and a ceramic thin plate is stacked on the ceramic wiring board to cover the opening. The ceramic thin plate partially constitutes the adjustment unit and the sensor unit and separates the first chamber and the second chamber from each other. The adjustment unit, the sensor unit, and the heater are integrated in such a manner that the adjustment unit and the sensor unit are thermally coupled through the ceramic thin plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell according to one mode includes a plate-like interconnector having a front surface and a back surface; a single cell having a power generation function; a gas chamber provided between the interconnector and the single cell; and one or more gas inlet ports for causing a fuel gas to flow into the gas chamber, the fuel cell further including a buffer chamber provided between the gas inlet ports and the gas chamber; a flow direction changing portion provided between the buffer chamber and the gas chamber so as to be located corresponding to the gas inlet ports, the flow direction changing portion having at least one of a front surface and a back surface, and a side surface; and a fuel gas path provided on at least one of the front surface side and the back surface side of the flow direction changing portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (1) includes a plurality of stacked power generation cells (3), a heat exchange unit (7) provided between adjacent two of the power generation cells, a fuel gas supply path arranged to supply the power generation cells with a fuel gas, and an oxidant gas supply path (3, 7, 33, 34, 38) arranged to supply the power generation cells with an oxidant gas, wherein the fuel gas supply path includes in series a first path (7, 31) passing through the heat exchange unit (7), a second path (3, 32, 35, 37) passing through some of the plurality of power generation cells (3) in parallel, and a third path (3, 32, 36) passing through the other power generation cells in parallel.

Abstract: A fuel gas supply path in a fuel cell stack includes in series a first path, a second path, and a third path. In the second path, two inlets of the fuel gas in each of power generating cells included in the second path are located at a first position PA and a second position PB, and the position of one outlet of the fuel gas in each power generating cell is located at a third position PC. In the third path, an inlet of the fuel gas in each of power generating cells included in the third path is located at a position coinciding with the third position PC when the power generating cells are viewed in the stacking direction, and an outlet of the fuel gas in each power generating cell is located at a position between the first position PA and the second position PB.

Abstract: A fuel cell according to one mode includes a plate-like interconnector having a front surface and a back surface; a single cell having a power generation function; a gas chamber provided between the interconnector and the single cell; and one or more gas inlet ports for causing a fuel gas to flow into the gas chamber, the fuel cell further including a buffer chamber provided between the gas inlet ports and the gas chamber; a flow direction changing portion provided between the buffer chamber and the gas chamber so as to be located corresponding to the gas inlet ports, the flow direction changing portion having at least one of a front surface and a back surface, and a side surface; and a fuel gas path provided on at least one of the front surface side and the back surface side of the flow direction changing portion.

Abstract: The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of planar power generation cells are stacked in a thickness direction thereof. The fuel cell also includes a heat exchanger provided between the two adjacent power generation cells in the stacking direction and in contact with the power generation cells, and including an internal first flow path that passes the oxidant gas or fuel gas supplied from outside. The fuel cell also includes a second flow path connected to an outlet side of the first flow path of the heat exchanger and to the cathode side or the anode side of each of the power generation cells, and supplying the oxidant gas or fuel gas that has passed through the first flow path to the cathode side or anode side of each of the power generation cells on both sides in the stacking direction of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (1) includes a plurality of stacked power generation cells (3), a heat exchange unit (7) provided between adjacent two of the power generation cells, a fuel gas supply path arranged to supply the power generation cells with a fuel gas, and an oxidant gas supply path (3, 7, 33, 34, 38) arranged to supply the power generation cells with an oxidant gas, wherein the fuel gas supply path includes in series a first path (7, 31) passing through the heat exchange unit (7), a second path (3, 32, 35, 37) passing through some of the plurality of power generation cells (3) in parallel, and a third path (3, 32, 36) passing through the other power generation cells in parallel.