Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention includes: a negative-electrode current collector 16; a negative-electrode active material layer 15 provided on the negative-electrode current collector 16; a positive-electrode current collector 11; a positive-electrode active material layer 12 provided on a face of the positive-electrode current collector 11 opposing the negative-electrode active material layer 15; and at least one inorganic insulating layer 13 provided between the positive-electrode active material layer 12 and the negative-electrode active material layer 15, the at least one inorganic insulating layer 13 being composed of inorganic particles. The inorganic insulating layer 13 contains no binder.

Abstract: A battery module including a row of batteries; and end plates coupled to ends of the row of batteries, wherein the end plates include a reinforcing portion for increasing strength of the end plates.

Abstract: A battery apparatus including a case, a battery cell, a battery-side terminal, and an engaging piece. The case has a width, a thickness, and a length. The battery cell is housed in an inside of the case. The battery-side terminal is disposed on a side surface at one end of the case in a length direction and electrically connected to the battery cell. The engaging piece is disposed at the one end of the case at which the battery-side terminal is positioned such that the engaging piece extends in a length direction a same distance as the case at the one end portion. The engaging piece is at an edge of the case in a width direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a secondary battery including two or more stacking-folding type cells (‘unit cells’) manufactured by winding small-sized electrode assemblies (‘bicells’) constructed in a stacking type structure in which electrodes having the same polarity are located at opposite sides of each electrode assembly and small-sized electrode assemblies (‘full cells’) constructed in a stacking type structure in which electrodes having different polarities are located at opposite sides of each electrode assembly using a long separator sheet, wherein the unit cells are mounted in a battery case, each unit cell has one or more electrode terminals protruding from each end of each unit cell, and the unit cells are mounted in a receiving part of the battery case such that the unit cells are arranged in a stacking arrangement structure or a plane arrangement structure while the electrode terminals of the unit cells are connected with each other.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system including stopping power generation of a fuel cell which generates electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, filling and keeping a combustible gas in a cathode of the fuel cell after said step, supplying the oxidizing gas to the cathode, supplying the combustible gas discharged from the cathode in response to the previous step to a combustor capable of heating a fuel generator for generating the fuel gas or an exhaust pipe connected to the combustor via a branch passage branching from an oxidizing gas passage located downstream of the cathode, diluting the combustible gas supplied to the combustor or the exhaust pipe with air supplied to the combustor or exhaust gas supplied to the exhaust pipe such that the combustible gas has a concentration lower than a combustion lower limit, and discharging the diluted combustible gas to atmosphere.

Abstract: An output characteristic of a fuel cell is estimated by detecting an output current of the fuel cell and a voltage between terminals of the fuel cell, and then estimating the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected output current and the detected voltage between the terminals, and a basic output characteristic of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A proton-conducting structure that exhibits favorable proton conductivity in the temperature range of not lower than 100° C., and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. After a pyrophosphate salt containing Sn, Zr, Ti or Si is mixed with phosphoric acid, the mixture is maintained at a temperature of not less than 80° C. and not more than 150° C., and thereafter maintained at a temperature of not less than 200° C. and not more than 400° C. to manufacture a proton-conducting structure. The proton-conducting structure of the present invention has a core made of tin pyrophosphate, and a coating layer formed on the surface of the core, the coating layer containing Sn and O, and having a coordination number of O with respect to Sn of grater than 6.

Abstract: Embodiments related to recycling alkaline batteries are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a method for recycling a battery having a basic electrolyte comprises rupturing the battery under anaerobic conditions and flooding the interior of the battery with carbon dioxide in an anaerobic chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes cell blocks (101, 102) each formed by stacking cells (51, 52) and a cooling medium connecting channel (103) connecting a cell block internal cooling medium channel (153A) of the cell block (101) and a cell block internal cooling medium channel (153B) of the cell block (102) in series. A catalyst layer includes a catalyst support and polymer electrolyte adhered to the catalyst support, the catalyst support containing an electrode catalyst and carbon powder supporting the electrode catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly (20) has an extended operational life, in part, because of unique startup and shutdown procedures used for operating the fuel cell assembly. In disclosed examples, a purge gas mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen includes less than 2% hydrogen for selectively purging portions of the assembly during a startup or shutdown procedure. In a disclosed example, the hydrogen-nitrogen mixture contains less than 0.1% hydrogen.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel gas generating means for generating a hydrogen-rich fuel gas from a source material having, as a main ingredient, a compound containing carbon and hydrogen; a source material supply source for supplying a source material to the fuel gas generating means; a fuel gas supply means for supplying the fuel gas from the fuel gas generating means to a fuel gas flow channel of a fuel cell at which channel a fuel electrode is placed; and a bypass means for supplying the source material from the source material supply source to the fuel gas flow channel, bypassing the fuel gas generating means. At least at one of time periods before start of and after end of power generation, the source material, as a displacement gas, is injected into the fuel gas flow channel of the fuel cell via the bypass means.

Abstract: A fuel cell is manufactured using a polymer electrolyte membrane (1). A catalyst layer (12) is formed at fixed intervals on the surface of the strip-form polymer electrolyte membrane (1) in the lengthwise direction thereof, and conveyance holes (10) are formed in series at fixed intervals on the two side portions thereof. By rotating a conveyance roller (32) comprising on its outer periphery projections which engage with the holes (10), the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) is fed from a reel (9). A GDL (6) and a separator (7) are adhered to the fed polymer electrolyte membrane (1) at a predetermined processing timing based on the rotation speed of the conveyance roller (32), and thus the fuel cell is manufactured efficiently while the GDL (6) and separator (7) are laminated onto the catalyst layer (12) accurately.

Abstract: A large-capacity battery module may be formed by integrating a plurality of unit cells. The present invention provides a secondary battery module having a plurality of unit cells and connectors for electrically connecting the unit cells, which includes: a spacer set up between the unit cells and the connectors. The secondary battery module can insulate a cap from a connector and maintain a uniform space between the unit cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a fuel delivery system distributing fuel to an anode side of the MEA, and a flow distributor delivering an oxidizer to a cathode side of the MEA. The flow distributor includes at least one serpentine channel through which the oxidizer is delivered to the cathode side of the MEA. Each portion of the serpentine channel delivers oxidizer to a portion of the cathode side of the MEA in contact, directly or through a porous diffuser, with the channel portion. The channel portion transfers water with the portion of the MEA in contact with the channel portion and also transfers water between adjacent channel portions via a water-permeable, gas impermeable material that defines at least a portion of the channel.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack using measured cell voltages. The method includes determining that the fuel cell stack is running, the stack coolant temperature is above a certain temperature and the stack current density is within a relatively low power range. The method further includes calculating the average cell voltage, and determining whether the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. If the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than another predetermined threshold, then the method increments a low performing cell timer. A ratio of the low performing cell timer and a system run timer is calculated to identify a low performing cell.

Abstract: A battery and an electronic apparatus are disclosed by which it can be discriminated with a simple configuration whether or not the battery is of a thin type. The battery is configured such that a wall portion for discrimination of a battery characteristic which is swollen in a lengthwise direction and connects to a connector section is formed at a location of one of end faces positioned rather near to an end portion in a widthwise direction of a case of the battery.

Abstract: A battery unit comprises a battery case, and a plurality of battery modules stored and held in the battery case. The battery case includes a bottom wall and a partition. The plurality of battery modules are mounted on the bottom wall. The partition is provided and erected on the bottom wall. The partition separates the battery modules adjacent in a second direction traversing a first direction. The first direction is oriented from a first end of the battery case at which an inlet is formed to a second end at which an outlet is formed. The partition extends along a plane where the battery modules face each other in the second direction along the battery modules. The partition is inclined in the extending direction.

Abstract: An active material for a battery includes an electrochemically reversibly oxidizable and reducible base material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a lithium-containing alloy, a sulfur-based compound, and a compound that can reversibly form a lithium-containing compound by a reaction with lithium ions and a surface-treatment layer formed on the base material and comprising a compound of the formula MXOk, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a group 13 element, a group 14 element, a transition metal, and a rare-earth element, X is an element that is capable of forming a double bond with oxygen, k is a numerical value in the range of 2 to 4.

Abstract: Provided are a composite polymer electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery in which a composite polymer matrix multi-layer structure composed of a plurality of polymer matrices with different pore sizes is impregnated with an electrolyte solution, and a method of manufacturing the same. Among the polymer matrices, a microporous polymer matrix with a smaller pore size contains a lithium cationic single-ion conducting inorganic filler, thereby enhancing ionic conductivity, the distribution uniformity of the impregnated electrolyte solution, and maintenance characteristics. The microporous polymer matrix containing the lithium cationic single-ion conducting inorganic filler is coated on a surface of a porous polymer matrix to form the composite polymer matrix multi-layer structure, which is then impregnated with the electrolyte solution, to manufacture the composite polymer electrolyte. The composite polymer electrolyte is used in a unit battery.

Abstract: A secondary battery having a cap assembly, including an electrode assembly; a case in which the electrode assembly is located; a cap assembly having a cap plate coupled to and hermetically sealing the case. A terminal member has a head with a stepped protrusion penetrating the cap plate and insulated from the cap plate by an insulating member. The stepped protrusion presses the insulating member in multiple steps. The terminal member is connected to a positive or negative electrode terminal of the electrode assembly.