Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly including: an electrolyte membrane; anode and cathode catalyst layers respectively disposed on the electrolyte membrane; and anode and cathode gas diffusion layers respectively disposed on the anode and cathode catalyst layers; a cathode porous body including a front face portion and a rear face portion and being disposed on the cathode gas diffusion layer at the front face portion, the front face portion having an electric conductivity higher than that of air and having a hydrophilicity higher than that of the rear face portion; an anode passage plate disposed on the anode gas diffusion layer; and an air supply apparatus that supplies air toward an end of the cathode porous body.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a membrane electrode composite including an anode, cathode and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the anode and the cathode. A lyophobic porous member is located adjacent to the anode, and an anode channel plate is also located adjacent to the porous member. A gas recovery channel and a fuel supply channel are formed in the anode channel plate, gas generated at the anode side is recovered in the gas recovery channel and a liquid fuel is supplied to the anode through the fuel supply channel. The generating system also includes a circulating system along which the fuel circulates, and a fuel supply section that supplies fuel to the circulating system.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly containing an anode and a cathode which are disposed opposite to one another via an electrolytic membrane; a fuel tank for reserving a fuel to be supplied to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly; a fuel supplying path for connecting the anode and the fuel tank; and a pressurized fuel supplier which is disposed at the fuel supplying path and configured so as to supply the fuel to the anode from the fuel tank by pressurizing the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly containing an anode and a cathode which are disposed opposite to one another via an electrolytic membrane; an anode channel plate adjacent to the anode and supplying a prescribed fuel to the anode; and a cathode channel plate adjacent to the cathode, supplying air to the cathode and containing a platy member which is elongated in a direction different from a supplying direction of the air to the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell having power-generating cells. The power-generating cells face each other, each having an anode-path plate provided on that surface that faces away from a proton conducting membrane. Heat-radiating fins are provided on the power-generating cells, respectively. Each heat-radiating fin has an exposed portion that contacts the anode-path plate of the associated power-generating cell and extends from the associated power-generating cell. The fuel cell can therefore keep generating electric power in a good condition.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a direct oxidation fuel cell, comprising, in the following order, a catalyst layer; an optional microporous layer; an optional backing layer; and an electrically conductive porous transport structure, comprising, in the following order, a porous body, and an impermeable layer in contact with the porous body. Another embodiment provides a direct oxidation fuel cell, comprising an electrically conductive porous transport structure, comprising a porous body, and an impermeable layer in contact with the porous body; wherein the direct oxidation fuel cell achieves a net water transport coefficient, ?, of less than about 0.6 at an operation temperature ranging from about 60 to about 80° C.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack composed of one or more fuel cells, a discharging flow path for conducting an exhaust from the fuel cells connected to the fuel cells and a radiator for cooling the exhaust to a controlled temperature.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, mixture fuel having a certain fuel concentration is supplied to an anode, electric power is output from between the anode and the cathode due to electrochemical reaction when the cathode makes contact with air, and unreacted fuel containing unreacted fuel is discharged from the anode. A fuel circulating path for circulating the unreacted fuel to the anode is connected to the power generating unit and fuel is supplied from the fuel supplying unit to the fuel circulating path depending on a reduction in pressure of the mixture fuel. The temperature of the power generating unit is controlled according to the concentration of the mixture fuel supplied to the anode. Consequently, a fuel cell system, which can achieve reduction of the size thereof without dropping fuel usage efficiency, can be provided.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith is provided with a casing, a partition member movably fitted in the casing, which partitions the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber, an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device and a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, which presses the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane, and anode and cathode electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte membrane therebetween; a gas/liquid separation layer provided at an opposite side of the anode electrode with the electrolyte membrane; an auxiliary porous layer provided on the gas/liquid separation layer; and an anode passage plate provided on the auxiliary porous layer, including a fuel passage, wherein the auxiliary porous layer is softer than the gas/liquid separation layer and the anode passage plate, and including lyophobic, electric conductive and gas permeability properties.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided with an assembly including an electrolytic membrane and anode and cathode electrodes on both sides of the membrane, a unit providing a path for supplying liquid fuel to the anode side of the membrane, a unit providing a path for supplying air to the cathode electrode side of the membrane, a unit providing a path for discharging gas from the anode electrode side of the membrane, and stacking members stacked in a state of sealing each other on an outer surface of the anode electrode. In this cell, the anode electrode and the stacking members configure a stacking structure, the liquid fuel supply path includes at least one through-hole passing through the stacking structure, and the gas discharge path includes at least one through-hole passing through the stacking structure independently of the at least one through-hole of the liquid fuel supply path.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a gas discharge passage structure which includes one end portion connected to a liquid fuel supply passage structure in an anode electrode side of an electrolytic membrane and the other end portion opened to an outer space, the one end portion configured to separate gas and liquid from each other, and a gas-liquid separation accelerating structure increasing a pressure of a liquid fuel in the liquid fuel supply passage structure in the anode side of the membrane higher than a pressure of a gas at the one end portion of the gas discharge passage structure, and discharging a gas which is produced from the fuel in the anode side of the membrane and which is not passed through the membrane, from the liquid fuel supply passage structure in the anode side of the membrane to the one end portion of the gas discharge passage structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell include a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode opposed to the anode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; a lyophobic porous body in contact with the anode; and an anode passage plate in contact with the lyophobic porous body, the anode passage plate including a gas collection passage and a fuel supplying passage, the gas collection passage collects a gas generated in the anode via the lyophobic porous body, the fuel supplying passage supplies a fuel to the anode via the lyophobic porous body.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a mixing tank storing a fuel solution; a power generator comprising a membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, generating power by reaction of the fuel solution with air; a fuel circulation unit circulating the fuel solution to the anode electrode; an air supply unit supplying air to the cathode electrode; and an air supply mechanism supply air to the anode electrode so as to discharge the fuel solution from the inside of the anode electrode to the mixing tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly having: an electrolyte membrane, anode and cathode catalyst layers, and anode and cathode gas diffusion layers; a cathode porous body provided at an outer side of the cathode gas diffusion layer; and a cathode member provided at an outer side of the cathode porous body, an inner side of the cathode member having a protruded portion facing to the outer side of the cathode porous body, wherein a pressure is applied to the cathode porous body through the protruded portion of the cathode member so as to compress the cathode porous body.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer provided on one side of the electrolyte membrane, the anode catalyst layer accelerating the reaction of methanol with water to produce proton, electron and carbon dioxide; a cathode catalyst layer provided on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, the cathode catalyst layer accelerating the reaction between the proton, the electron and oxygen to produce water; a dense water-repelling layer having water-repelling property provided on the opposite side of the anode catalyst layer to the electrolyte membrane, the dense water-repelling layer being formed by calcining a slurry containing carbon powder and water-repelling polymer and having a thickness of 100 ?m or more after calcination; and a porous gas-diffusing layer provided on the opposite side of the dense water-repelling layer to the anode catalyst layer.

Abstract: In a housing of a fuel cell are arranged an electromotive unit, a fuel tank, an anode passage through which the fuel is circulated between the electromotive unit and the fuel tank, an air supply section which supplies air to the electromotive unit, and a cathode passage through which products from the electromotive unit are discharged. The cathode passage has a first passage extending from the electromotive unit, branch passages which diverge from the first passage, a reservoir portion which communicates with the first passage and lower ends of the branch passages and is stored with water discharged from the first passage and water condensed in the branch passages, and a recovery passage which guides the water stored in the reservoir portion into the fuel tank. A radiator section is provided on the branch passages.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks; a mixing tank in which a liquid fuel mixture is stored; a plurality of liquid feed pumps configured to feed the liquid fuel mixture to the fuel cell stacks; a switch unit configured to switch on and off of a load connected with the fuel cell stacks: and a controller configured to control a feed of the fuel mixture to the fuel cell stacks, according to an ambient temperature of the fuel cell stacks.