Abstract: The energy density of the entire cell may be improved while retaining high power density by use of an alkali metal transition metal polyanion compound as the cathode and a thin film metal or metalloid anode. The thin film anode may be initially unalloyed or partially unalloyed. During use, the thin film anode may be only partially unalloyed relative to the theoretical maximum. The high volumetric capacity of the metal anode makes it possible to use a dense or porous thin film anode in conjunction with a relatively thin particle-based cathode to thereby improve the energy density of the cell.

Abstract: An SOFC fuel cell stack system in accordance with the invention including a recycle flow leg for recycling a portion of the anode tail gas into the inlet of an associated hydrocarbon reformer supplying reformate to the stack. The recycle leg includes a controllable pump for varying the flow rate of tail gas. Preferably, a heat exchanger is provided in the leg ahead of the pump for cooling the tail gas via heat exchange with incoming cathode air. A low-wattage electrical reheater is also preferably included between the heat exchanger and the pump to maintain the temperature of tail gas entering the pump, during conditions of low tail gas flow, at a drybulb temperature above the dewpoint of the tail gas.

Abstract: In a pre-replacement process, a replacement battery module is provided with a memory effect before being dispatched, by performing at least one of the process of performing a cyclic charge/discharge operation on the replacement battery module while limiting the width of SOC change to an intermediate range, and the process of setting an initial SOC and then letting the replacement battery module stand for a predetermined time in an environment of temperature above normal temperature. This pre-replacement process substantially eliminates the difference between the voltage characteristic of the replacement battery module yet to be used and the voltage characteristic of a battery module having a history of use, thereby achieving a uniform voltage characteristic of a battery pack as a whole.

Abstract: Described herein is a means to incorporate catalytic materials into the fuel flow field structures of MEMS-based fuel cells, which enable catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbon based fuel, such as methane, methanol, or butane. Methods of fabrication are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. A fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layers and the oxidant electrode layers, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collectors and the air electrode current collectors, respectively. Alternatively, indents are provided on the surface of each of the separators, which surface is in contact with one of the current collectors, to increase the dwell volume and hence the retaining time of the gas in the interior of the current collectors.

Abstract: Fuel compositions, methods of making the compositions, and fuel cell systems including a fuel composition are disclosed. In some embodiments, a fuel composition includes a polymer, and a fuel such as methanol, wherein the composition has a hardness of at least about 2 grams peak force, as determined by penetration test using a texture analyzer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiant gas burner device comprising a first cylindrical chamber (1) and a first injector (2) for feeding the first chamber with a combustible gas mixture, the first chamber (1) comprising an external peripheral heating surface (10). The device of the invention further comprises a second cylindrical and hollow second chamber, and a second injector (4) for feeding the second chamber with a combustible gas mixture, the second chamber being positioned inside the first chamber (1), separated from the first chamber by a sealed wall, and having an internal heating surface (30), and the first and second injectors (2, 4) being designed for separately feeding the first and second chambers, independently of each other.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery including a positive electrode including a lithium composite oxide represented by the general formula (1): LixM1-yLyO2 (0.85?x?1.25 and 0?y?0.50; M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co; and L is at least one selected from the group of alkaline earth elements, transition elements other than Ni and Co, rare earth elements, and elements of Group IIIb and Group IVb). The lithium composite oxide is treated with a coupling agent having a plurality of hydrolyzable groups, and the remaining hydrolyzable group is inactivated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fuel cell system including a fuel cell for generating electric power by a reaction of a fuel gas an oxidation gas, and a power storage device, and being configured to perform a scavenging operation when an operation of the fuel cell is stopped for discharging a moisture from the fuel cell by supplying a gas into the fuel cell by using the power supplied from the power storage device. The fuel cell system further includes control means for setting an operating condition of the fuel cell so that a moisture content of the fuel cell when it is in operation is less than a target moisture content set in accordance with a state of the power storage device.

Abstract: A method of the present invention is used for the high-rate deposition of materials, such as carbon, silicon, metals, metal oxides, and the like, onto a metal substrate defined by a metal current collector. The particles of the material are mixed with fluid and are injected against the metal tape at high pressure and high velocity. The particles of the material form an active layer of the metal current collector. The metal current collector is used as a cathode or anode combined with a separator to form a cell of a secondary battery, metal-ceramic membranes, film composite metal-ceramic materials for electronic devices.

Abstract: A heat insulation sheet (16) covers a temperature fuse (10) arranged on a sealing plate (23) of a rechargeable battery (2) so as to provide a shield from heat of resin that is filled in a gap between the rechargeable battery (2) and a circuit substrate (3) to form a primary mold (11) and to prevent destruction of the temperature fuse (10) caused by the heat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, of the type that comprises anode and cathode bipolar half plates (1, 1?) which are placed next to one another. The central part of each bipolar half plate comprises an active zone (2), while the periphery thereof comprises a plurality of cut-outs (4, 4?, 5, 5?, 6) which are intended to form at least two oxidant tanks, two fuel tanks and two coolant tanks. Moreover, at least one bipolar half plate comprises at least one connecting rib (8, 8?, 10, 12) between a peripheral cut-out and the active zone. Projecting out from the outer face, each coolant tank cut-out is surrounded by a sealing rib (7, 7?) and the periphery of each bipolar half plate comprises a rib (15, 15?) for sealing the active zone, which connects the coolant tank sealing ribs and which surrounds the oxidant and fuel tanks. Furthermore, each channel formed by a rib segment (15, 15?) between two coolant tanks is blocked by a blocking means (17, 17?).

Abstract: There is provided a coolant manifold that is installed to a fuel cell stack so as to distribute coolant through the fuel cell stack, which is constituted by stacking a plurality of unit cells and has more than one communication holes for coolant supply and at least one communication hole for coolant discharge, in which the coolant flows in an order from the communication holes for coolant supply through a plurality of the unit cells to the communication hole for coolant discharge. The coolant manifold includes a manifold body having a manifold chamber that extends along an alignment direction of the communication holes for coolant supply, and an external communication part having an external communication hole for communicating the manifold chamber with external. A center axis of the external communication hole is placed unparallel and non-vertical relative to a center axis of each communication hole for coolant supply.

Abstract: The membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention includes an anode and a cathode facing each other, and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode includes an electrode substrate and a metal catalyst layer disposed thereon. The metal catalyst layer includes a metal catalyst and a liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly comprising a cathode catalyst layer for reducing an oxidant gas, a polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode catalyst layer, the polymer electrolyte membrane being sandwiched between the catalyst layers, wherein the cathode catalyst layer exhibits super-water-repellency. The disclosure is also concerned with a method of manufacturing the membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell using the membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell is formed by stacking a membrane electrode assembly and separators alternately. Each of the separators includes first and second metal plates. A coolant flow field is formed between the first and second metal plates. The coolant flow field is connected to inlet buffers and outlet buffers. Protrusions for limiting the flow of a coolant are provided at the inlet buffers and the outlet buffers on upper and lower opposite end positions of the coolant flow field.

Abstract: In an ECU, a coolant fan performs cooling operation such that a control DUTY value is limited by a control DUTY value according to tolerable noise level of the cooling fan based on a vehicle speed in a case in which the temperature in the high-voltage battery is lower than a predetermined limitation for highest temperature. In a case in which the temperature in the high-voltage battery is higher than the predetermined limitation for highest temperature, the cooling fan performs the cooling operation by using an energy storage device cooling operation requirement value and an IPU cooling operation requirement value such that performance in the high-voltage battery is not affected. By doing this, a temperature controlling apparatus for batteries in which it is possible to cool the battery and solve temperature difference among a plurality of batteries can be provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical conversion system (40) for energy management which includes multi-electrochemical cells. The system 40 includes a conduit system (41), an electrical system (42), first electrochemical cell (43), a second electrochemical cell (44), a third electrochemical cell (45), a first recuperative heat exchanger (RHX) (46), and a second recuperative heat exchanger (47). The conduit system, electrical system (42), heat exchangers, and electrochemical cells are all constructed and function in the same manner as previously described. The system (40) also includes an additional, second recuperative heat exchanger (47) (RHX) to thermally isolate the third electrochemical cell from the other two. As shown, the electrochemical cells are electrically and pneumatically connected in series so that the electrical current flow and the proton flow through the electrochemical cells are balanced.

Abstract: A can type secondary battery. The can type secondary battery has a fixing unit for fixing an end portion of a terminal plate to an end portion of an insulation plate of a cap assembly in order to prevent a short circuit between the terminal plate and an electrode assembly by preventing the terminal plate from being deformed due to external force or external pressure applied to the can type secondary battery, thereby improving safety of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a negative electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a porous film interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte: the porous film being adhered to a surface of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; the porous film including a filler and a resin binder; the resin binder content in the porous film being 1.5 to 8 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the filler; and the resin binder including an acrylonitrile unit, an acrylate unit, or a methacrylate unit.