Abstract: A fuel supply control system and method for a fuel cell are disclosed. The system includes: a fuel cell configured to receive a fuel gas and an oxidation gas and generate electric power; a recirculation line configured to circulate gas containing the fuel gas and connected to a fuel electrode of the fuel cell; a discharge valve provided in the recirculation line and configured to allow the gas to be discharged to the outside when open; a discharge amount estimator configured to estimate a discharge amount of the discharged gas based on a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the recirculation line, a consumption amount of the fuel gas consumed in the fuel cell, and a change in the amount of the gas in the recirculation line; an offset calculator configured to calculate the discharge amount of the gas estimated by the discharge amount estimator with the discharge valve closed, as a discharge offset; and a controller configured to control opening/closing of the discharge valve.

Abstract: Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device.

Abstract: A method for forming a current collector is provided. At least two carbon nanostructure reinforced copper composite substrates are provided. The at least two carbon nanostructure reinforced copper composite substrates are stacked to form a composite substrate. An active metal layer is disposed on a surface of the composite substrate to form a first a composite structure. The first composite structure is pressed to form a second composite structure. The second composite structure is annealed to form a third composite structure. The third composite structure is de-alloyed to form a porous copper composite.

Abstract: Electrodes, production methods and mono-cell batteries are provided, which comprise active material particles embedded in electrically conductive metallic porous structure, dry-etched anode structures and battery structures with thick anodes and cathodes that have spatially uniform resistance. The metallic porous structure provides electric conductivity, a large volume that supports good ionic conductivity, that in turn reduces directional elongation of the particles during operation, and may enable reduction or removal of binders, conductive additives and/or current collectors to yield electrodes with higher structural stability, lower resistance, possibly higher energy density and longer cycling lifetime. Dry etching treatments may be used to reduce oxidized surfaces of the active material particles, thereby simplifying production methods and enhancing porosity and ionic conductivity of the electrodes.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes a battery cell assembly including at least a battery cell, a heat dissipation member, and a plate member; and an exterior case. The heat dissipation member and the plate member are disposed in this order on one or both of an electrode of the battery cell and a side surface of the battery cell along a direction in which the battery cell assembly is assembled in the exterior case.

Abstract: A fuel cell hot box for improving the system efficiency of a fuel cell. Fuel cell stack parts, an after burner, a reformer, an air pre-heating zone, and a fuel-heat exchanger are provided in a housing allowing heat of the fuel cell stack parts and heat of combustion gas generated in the after burner to be used for reforming, preheating fuel and preheating air at the same time to avoid wasting energy. The fuel cell stack parts under thermal stress can be cooled to improve durability of the stack parts to increase a lifetime of a total system, and the stack parts can share the central chamber part to simplify a structure of the fuel cell hot box. In addition, the reformer includes an opening and closing unit to properly distribute the high-temperature combustion gas so that a reforming ratio is adjustable according to an operating condition of the fuel.

Abstract: A gas liquid separator of a fuel cell system includes a first channel forming section forming a first channel for allowing an oxygen-containing exhaust gas to flow in a horizontal direction, and a second channel forming section forming a second channel connected to the first channel. The first channel forming section is provided with an inlet for guiding the oxygen-containing exhaust gas into the first channel. The second channel forming section is provided with an outlet for discharging the oxygen-containing exhaust gas flowing through the second channel. The second channel includes a bent channel for guiding upward the oxygen-containing exhaust gas guided from the first channel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of storing varying or intermittent electrical energy and one or more of hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) with an energy apparatus, the method comprising: providing the first cell aqueous liquid, the second cell aqueous liquid, and electrical power from an external power source to the functional unit thereby providing an electrically charged functional battery unit and one or more of hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) stored in said storage system, wherein during at least part of a charging time the functional unit is charged at a potential difference between the first cell electrode and the second cell electrode of more than 1.37 V.

Abstract: A system for stacking fuel cells for a fuel cell stack includes, a component part storage region to store the fuel cells, a finished product storage region to store a completed fuel cell stack transferred by an automated guided vehicle, and a plurality of stacking regions disposed between the component part storage region and the finished product storage region, where a pair of stacking units are disposed at opposite sides of a first transfer robot that is centrally disposed in the stacking region, one side of the stacking region is formed as an entry and exit for the automated guided vehicle for the fuel cell stack, and the stacking region is supplied with the fuel cells from the component part storage region by the automated guided vehicle to sequentially stack the fuel cells to manufacture the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A cell stack including; a stacked body including a plurality of cell frames each having a bipolar plate whose outer periphery is supported by a frame member; and a pair of end plates that tighten the stacked body from both sides of a stacking direction thereof, wherein an area S [cm2] of each cell frame as viewed from the stacking direction of the stacked body and a length W [mm] in the stacking direction of the stacked body satisfies a relationship 0.05?W/S?0.9.

Abstract: A metal air battery apparatus includes: a metal air cell including a cathode layer including pores, an anode layer facing the cathode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer between the cathode layer and the anode layer; and a controller configured to control at least one of a charge rate or a discharge rate of the metal air cell based on a porosity of the cathode layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods of operating a vehicle include operating at least one fuel cell stack, whereupon a heat exchanger for the at least one fuel cell stack counter-balances heat therefrom with heat rejected therefrom, and operating a water system to pump water from the at least one fuel cell stack into a water reservoir. Moreover, in response to high water levels in the water reservoir, the embodiments include increasing electrical energy loads on at least one battery operable to store electrical energy from the at least one fuel cell stack, operating the at least one fuel cell stack for higher output, whereupon the heat exchanger under-balances heat therefrom with heat rejected therefrom, and operating the water system to apply water from the water reservoir onto the heat exchanger, whereupon the heat exchanger restoratively counter-balances heat therefrom with heat rejected therefrom.

Abstract: A method of battery state monitoring includes: (1) providing a battery cell and at least one ultrasonic actuator and at least one ultrasonic sensor mounted to the battery cell; (2) using the ultrasonic actuator, generating a guided wave that propagates in-plane of the battery cell; (3) using the ultrasonic sensor, receiving an arriving wave corresponding to the guided wave; and (4) determining a state of the battery cell based on the arriving wave.

Abstract: A drying method of a fuel cell includes holding the fuel cell having separator plates exposed on the surface of the fuel cell at a predetermined angle, and blowing air to the fuel cell at an angle in a range of 5° or larger and 85° or smaller with respect to the surface of the separator plate of the fuel cell held at the predetermined angle.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a reaction gas supply portion, and a control unit. The control unit performs two stages of purging that are a first purging and a second purging in which the flow rate of the reaction gas is smaller than the flow rate of the reaction gas of the first purging, and provides a purging standby time between the first purging and the second purging, and in a case in which an operation mode of the fuel cell stack when power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped is a high output mode in which an output is higher than the output of a normal mode, the control unit makes a purging time longer than the purging time of the first purging that is performed in the normal mode.

Abstract: Means for maintaining level complementary electrolytes inflow battery tanks has first and second interconnected tanks 2, 3. The first tank 2 contains positive electrolyte, 2b, and the second tank containing negative electrolyte 3b. Both tanks have a void 2a and 3 a respectively, for air or other noble gases. The tanks themselves are connected by pipes; a lower tank connecting pipe 4, an upper tank connection pipe 5 with an inter-pipe connecting pipe 6 therebetween. The peak of the lower tank connection pipe 4a is designed to remain below the normal liquid level 7 of both tanks, in contrast to the upper tank connection pipe 5 which remains above the desired liquid level 7.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a gas diffusion layer with a microporous layer includes coating a gas diffusion layer containing titanium with a precursor containing an electroconductive material, a water-repellent resin, and a polyethylene oxide, and heating the gas diffusion layer coated with the precursor to form a microporous layer containing the electroconductive material and the water-repellent resin on a surface of the gas diffusion layer. The heating atmosphere is a non-oxidation atmosphere where an oxygen concentration is no more than 0.3% by volume.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes an energy storage device and an outer case. The outer case includes: an outer case body; and a lid body having a plurality of fixing portions, and fixed to the outer case body by the plurality of fixing portions. The plurality of fixing portions and the plurality of fixing portions are arranged at different positions in an arrangement direction of the outer case body and the lid body, and have the same rigidity.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a flexible battery comprises forming a first substrate on a first release liner, forming at least one current collector layer on each of the first and second substrate, forming an anode side of the battery by forming an anode on the current collector of the first substrate, forming a cathode side of the battery by forming a cathode on the current collector of the second substrate, depositing electrolyte on one or both of the anode and cathode, adhering and sealing the anode side and cathode side together such that the anode and cathode face one another with the electrolyte In between, and removing the flexible battery from the release liners. The battery may be a primary battery or a secondary battery. The method may be implemented using a roll-to-roll process.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a secondary battery, and a method for producing the same, and more particularly, to a negative electrode for a secondary battery used for a negative electrode of a secondary battery, and a method for producing the same. A negative electrode for a secondary battery may include a carbon-based active material; a conductive material; and a silicon-based active material-polymer binder combination including a silicon-based active material, and a polymer binder for suppressing the expansion of the silicon-based active material bonded to a particle surface of the silicon-based active material.