Abstract: Even if reaction gas flows into a substantially rectangular anode-side and cathode-side gaps formed between an annular main body portion and a membrane electrode assembly in an anode side and a cathode side of a fuel cell, the reaction gas is prevented from flowing out from an outlet without passing through an electrode to cause degradation of power generation efficiency. At least one of anode-side gasket and cathode-side gasket in the fuel cell is provided with an extra sealing portion connected to an annular main body portion in such a manner that, among two pairs of gap portions opposing to each other in the anode-side gap and the cathode-side gap, the extra sealing portion intersects with one pair of gap portions having a larger pressure gradient of fuel gas and oxidant gas in a direction from an upstream side to a downstream side of a fuel gas flow channel and an oxidant gas flow channel.

Abstract: A battery pack includes plural battery cells (1), and insulating separators (10) disposed between adjacent battery cells (1), where the plurality of battery cells are disposed in a stacked configuration with a prescribed gap between the adjacent battery cells. A separator (10) has plural gas channels that enable the flow of cooling gas. The gas channels have cooling gas entranceways and exit ways, which open at the sides of the battery block formed by the stacked battery cells. The separator 10 has cut sections formed to position the entranceways and exit ways of the gas channels inward from the sides of the battery block. This allows cooling gas near entranceways and exit ways to be smoothly introduced to, and exhausted from the gas channels, and reduces cooling gas pressure losses in those regions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns an energy production unit, of electric energy in particular, comprising a fuel cell (1) and a heat source (2) thermally coupled to the fuel cell (1) at least to allow the rise in temperature of this fuel cell (1). According to the invention, it is provided that the heat source (2) comprises a radiating burner (20), that the fuel cell (1) is confined within a thermal insulation enclosure itself heated by the combustion gases (F) derived from the burner (20), and that this unit also comprises temperature regulation means (4) capable of controlling, from around 200° C. to at least 800° C., the temperature of the combustion gases (F) heating the enclosure 3.

Abstract: A battery cell has a plurality of first and second electrodes of opposite polarities that are interleaved. Each of the first and second electrodes is a sheet of non-woven fabric having a first edge from which a tab projects, and a second edge transverse to and substantially longer than the first edge. The non-woven fabric is coated with a metal in a manner that forms a strip along the second edge which has a greater electrical conductivity than areas more remote from the second edge. The strip extends along the tab. A first terminal is electrically connected to the strip along the tabs of the first electrodes, and a second terminal is electrically connected to the strip along the tabs of the second electrodes.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an anode exhaust gas bleed in a fuel cell system. The system provides a normal anode side bleed using first and second bleed valves if the first and second bleed valves are not blocked and the temperature of first and second split sub-stacks is greater than a predetermined temperature, provides a continuous anode side bleed using the bleed valves if the bleed valves are not blocked and the temperature of the sub-stacks is less than the predetermined temperature, provides a normal center anode bleed through the drain valve if the first or second bleed valve is blocked and the temperature of the sub-stacks is above the predetermined temperature and provides a continuous center anode side bleed through the drain valve if the first or second bleed valve is blocked and the temperature of the sub-stacks is below the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions rapidly in a large amount is provided. In addition, an electrode structure for an energy storage device which can provide a high energy density and a high power density and has a long life, and an energy storage device using the electrode structure are provided. In a powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions, the surface of particles of one of silicon metal and tin metal and an alloy of any thereof is coated by an oxide including a transition metal element selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, and V as a main component. The electrode structure includes the powder material. The battery device includes a negative electrode having the electrode structure, a lithium ion conductor, and a positive electrode, and utilizes an oxidation reaction of lithium and a reduction reaction of lithium ion.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating an electric power, a fuel gas passage and an oxidizing gas passage are closed, and an inert gas supply device (54, 58) supplies an inert gas to an anode space (111) which is substantially isolated from outside, the anode space including the closed fuel gas passage and a space connected to the closed fuel gas passage, while an air supply device (67, 70) supplies air to a cathode space (112) which is substantially isolated from outside, the cathode space including the closed oxidizing gas passage and a space connected to the closed oxidizing gas passage. With this, the fuel cell system is capable of achieving high energy efficiency and of surely preventing degradation of electrodes during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating the electric power, irrespective of repeated start-up and stop.

Abstract: A fuel gas channel is divided into first and second fuel gas channel units by a partition. The first fuel gas channel unit has a fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas before consumption from a fuel gas supply passage to a fuel gas flow field, and the second fuel gas channel unit has an exhaust fuel gas diverging holes for diverging at least some of an exhaust fuel gas used at an anode from the fuel gas flow field. The second fuel gas channel unit is connected to the fuel gas supply passage through an exhaust fuel gas diverging passage.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator for separating the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The separator includes a porous film formed of a mixture of a ceramic material and a binder, and the binder is formed of acrylic rubber having a three-dimensional crosslink structure. The separator provides excellent safety characteristics such as resistance to a short circuit and thermal resistance. Also, the separator improves a high-rate discharge characteristics and increases the life span.

Abstract: An integrated charge air heat exchanger for use in a vehicle fuel cell system is provided. The integrated charge air heat exchanger includes a plurality of coolant conduits adapted for a coolant fluid to flow therethrough. The integrated charge air heat exchanger further includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of fin elements. One heating element is disposed on a first surface of each of the coolant conduits, and one of the fin elements is disposed on a second surface of each of the coolant conduits. A method for heating the coolant fluid in a first operational mode and cooling a charge air stream in a second operational mode is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium-ion secondary battery which can suppress internal resistance to a small value. The lithium-ion secondary battery includes a winding group obtained by winding a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate via a separator. An end portion of a positive electrode mixture non-application portion 1 projects at an upper portion of the winding group, while an end portion of a negative electrode mixture non-application portion projects at a lower portion of the winding group. Current collecting disks 7 are disposed on both end faces of the winding group so as to face them, respectively, and materials for the current collecting disks are the same materials as those for a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector.

Abstract: A battery using the anode, and methods of manufacturing the anode and the battery are provided. The battery is capable of relaxing stress while securing the contact characteristics between an anode current collector and an anode active material layer, and capable of improving the characteristics. The anode active material layer containing Si as an element is provided on the anode current collector. The anode active material layer includes a first anode active material layer having a first particle formed by being grown on the anode current collector by vapor-phase deposition method and a second anode active material layer having a second particle with an average particle diameter ranging from 0.2 ?m to 20 ?m which is deposited on the first anode active material layer by coating the first anode active material layer with the second particles.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator having a circular disk. On one surface of the circular disk, a fuel gas channel is provided for supplying a fuel gas to an anode, and on the other surface of the circular disk, an oxygen-containing gas channel is provided for supplying air to a cathode. The fuel gas channel has an end point at an outer circumferential end of the anode. A fuel gas discharge channel is connected to an end point of the fuel gas channel, such that the consumed fuel gas is emitted to an oxygen-containing gas supply unit, from a position spaced outwardly from the outer circumference of an electrolyte electrode assembly.

Abstract: An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes a current collector formed of aluminum foil or aluminum alloy foil, and an active material-containing layer formed on a surface of the current collector and containing an active material, a conductive agent and a binder. The conductive agent comprises a carbon particle group containing first carbon particles each exhibiting an aspect ratio of more than one. A portion of each of the first carbon particles is embedded into the current collector to the depth corresponding to 20 to 50% of the thickness of the current collector. A major axis of each of the first carbon particles has a length of 1.05 to 1.50 times as large as the thickness of the active material-containing layer.

Abstract: A battery structure includes a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer disposed in that order, wherein the solid electrolyte layer has a chemical composition, excluding incidental impurities, represented by the formula aLi·bX·cS·dY, where X is at least one element of phosphorus (P) and boron (B), Y is at least one element of oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N), the sum of a, b, c, and d is 1, a is 0.20 to 0.52, b is 0.10 to 0.20, c is 0.30 to 0.55, and d is 0 to 0.30. The solid electrolyte layer includes a portion A in contact with the negative electrode layer and a portion B in contact with the positive electrode layer, and d in the portion A is larger than d in the portion B. A lithium secondary battery includes the battery structure.

Abstract: A secondary battery in which temperature rise (heat generation) can be measured accurately at the time of quick charge/discharge, and a battery which can be configured readily using the secondary batteries while realizing low resistance. Separately from the positive and negative electrode terminals of a flat laminate film secondary battery, a third terminal is fixed perpendicularly thereto. The third terminal is connected with the electrode current collecting parts of a power generating element body constituting the secondary battery (1) and imparted with a potential equal to that of any one of the positive and negative electrode terminals. Inner temperature of the secondary battery is determined by measuring the temperature of the third terminal and a cell balancer circuit, or the like, is connected with the third terminal. The battery is configured by connecting the positive and negative electrode terminals directly in series.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided including a fuel cell stack having a first end and second end. The fuel cell stack includes at least one fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between adjacent gas diffusion layers. The fuel cell system further includes a compression retention system having a plurality of compliant straps adapted to apply a compressive force to the fuel cell stack. The plurality of compliant straps are further adapted to accommodate an expansion of the fuel cell stack during an operation thereof and maintain the compressive force within a desired range.

Abstract: The invention relates to fuel cell non-humidification operation, specifically to—a method on dry operation condition selection, wherein under condition of inputting dry gas, applying predetermined temperature, pressure and the input flow of the dry gas and detecting the temporary current-voltage curve of the cell. The selection method of this invention can realize steady operation of the cell under non-humidification condition and avoid the dehydration problem of the membrane under the dry gas as well as the “flood” phenomena. The present invention can be applied to not only normal temperature work condition, but also the start and run of the fuel cell under zero degree temperature condition especially. It can simplify the system of the fuel cell and therefore improve the development of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A vehicle power storage unit, has: a power storage assembly; a coolant for cooling the power storage assembly; a casing having a coolant inlet through which the coolant is filled into the casing and containing the coolant and the power storage assembly; a gas-discharge pipe through which gas produced by the power storage assembly is discharged from the casing to the outside of a passenger compartment or a trunk of the vehicle; and a first pressure-release valve which is provided at the coolant inlet and through which the pressure in the casing is released to the outside when gas is produced by the power storage assembly.