Abstract: The invention provides for a fully electrically rechargeable metal anode battery systems and methods of achieving such systems. An electrically rechargeable metal anode cell may comprise a metal electrode, an air contacting electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte separating the metal electrode and the air contacting electrode. In some embodiments, the metal electrode may directly contact the liquid electrolyte and no separator or porous membrane is needed between the air contacting electrode and the electrolyte. Rechargeable metal anode cells may be electrically connected to one another through a centrode connection where a metal electrode of one cell and an air contacting electrode of a second cell are electrically connected. Air tunnels or pathways may be provided between individual metal anode cells arranged in a stack. In some embodiments, an electrolyte flow management system may also be provided to maintain liquid electrolyte at constant levels during charge and discharge cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery cell configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly, including positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and separators disposed respectively between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes, is mounted in a battery case, wherein the electrode assembly is provided at one and/or the other of opposite surfaces thereof adjacent to electrode terminals, among outer surfaces thereof, with a depression having an outwardly increasing size.

Abstract: There is provided a prismatic secondary battery having high reliability and including a connecting part, wherein a terminal member and an external conduction member are connected by a swaged part and a welded part. The terminal member includes a flange, a first connecting part formed on a first surface side of the flange, and a second connecting part formed on a second surface side of the flange. The flange and the second connecting part are disposed on a battery exterior side than a sealing body. The first connecting part penetrates a through-hole formed in the sealing body. The second connecting part penetrates a through-hole formed in an external conduction member. The second connecting part includes a tip part swaged on the external conduction member. An abutting part of a tip of the swaged part of the second connecting part and a protruding part of the external conduction member is weld-connected.

Abstract: A battery includes an external terminal member and an insulating member on an outer surface of a lid member so that an interval between the insulating member and the lid member is smaller in a long side of the lid member than in a short side. A weld mark is formed over the entire circumference of the lid member to extend across the outer surface of the lid member and an open end face of the case body. The weld mark not only extends across the outer surface of the lid member and the open end face of the case body but also reaches an outer side surface of the case body in a zone of the long side of the lid member facing the insulating member, but does not reach the outer side surface of the case body in a zone except the former zone.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catalyst for a PtxMy-based PEMFC, M being a transition metal, including the steps of: depositing PtxMy nanostructures on a support; annealing the nanostructures; depositing a PtxMy layer at the surface of the nanostructures thus formed; and chemically leaching metal M. It also aims at the catalyst obtained with this method.

Abstract: Purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically or electrically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout are disclosed. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is an integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled by a processor. Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are also disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module using battery cells each having an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case including a resin layer and a metal layer as unit cells, wherein each battery cell has a thin upper end, including a sealing part, which is formed at a region where electrode terminals are placed, and an impact-absorbing member is mounted at the upper end of each battery cell. The battery module according to the present invention prevents the weak upper parts of battery cells, such as electrode terminals and sealing parts, from the breakage of the battery module or the occurrence of a short circuit in the battery module due to the movement of the battery cells caused by dropping of the battery module or application of external impacts to the battery module.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack including (a) a battery cell array comprising two or more battery cells, each of which has an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure disposed in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, arranged in the lateral direction, (b) a protection circuit module (PCM) including connection terminals connected to electrode terminals of the battery cells by resistance welding, metal plates to electrically connect the battery cells to each other, and a protection circuit to control an operation of the battery pack, the PCM being connected to the upper end of the battery cell array, and (c) a pack case in which the battery cell array and the protection circuit module are disposed, wherein electrical connection regions between cathode terminals of the battery cells and the protection circuit module are configured to have a structure in which conductive plates attached to the tops of the respective connection terminals of the protection circuit module

Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell module includes a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion based on a temperature difference between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin and in principle unsupported solid oxide cell, comprising at least a porous anode layer, an electrolyte layer and a porous cathode layer, wherein the anode layer and the cathode layer comprise an electrolyte material, at least one metal and a catalyst material, and wherein the overall thickness of the thin reversible cell is about 150 ?m or less, and to a method for producing same. The present invention also relates to a thin and in principle unsupported solid oxide cell, comprising at least a porous anode layer, an electrolyte layer and a porous cathode layer, wherein the anode layer and the cathode layer comprise an electrolyte material and a catalyst material, wherein the electrolyte material is doper zirconia, and wherein the overall thickness of the thin reversible cell is about 150 ?m or less, and to a method for producing same.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs an on-line self-tuning algorithm that provides temperature control of a fuel cell stack in response to disturbances on the system. The system includes a thermal sub-system having a cooling fluid pump that pumps a cooling fluid through the fuel cell stack, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the cooling fluid out of the stack, a radiator that cooling the cooling fluid from the fuel cell stack and a by-pass valve that selectively controls how much of the cooling fluid flows through the radiator or by-passes the radiator. A controller controls the position of the by-pass valve in response to a temperature signal from the temperature sensor. The controller calculates a plurality of variables and a dead-time value, and determines whether the dead-time value should be increased, decreased or kept the same based on an estimate of a dead-time plant model.

Abstract: A secondary battery including a first electrode assembly including first and second electrode plates stacked on each other; and a second electrode assembly including third and fourth electrode plates, wherein the second electrode assembly is wound along an outer circumference of the first electrode assembly. The secondary battery having a high energy density and capable of preventing damage of the electrode plates may be provided.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus comprises a battery housing and mechanical switches. The battery housing is configured to house one or more batteries and comprises a connector configured to provide current to a device. A surface of the battery housing forms slots, where each slot is configured to receive a battery. Each mechanical switch is coupled to a slot and is configured to allow current from the battery to flow to the connector if a battery is received in the slot, and to pass current through the slot if a battery is not received in the slot.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a manufacturing apparatus for a sealed secondary battery includes a chamber, pressure reduction unit, sealer transfer unit, and welding unit. The chamber accommodates therein a battery container injected with an electrolyte through an injection hole and is hermetically closed. The pressure reduction unit reduces pressure inside the chamber. The sealer transfer unit is configured to mount a sealer for sealing the injection hole on the injection hole of the battery container in the chamber decompressed by the pressure reduction unit. The welding unit is configured to laser-weld the sealer to the battery container by applying a laser beam to the peripheral edge portion of the sealer on the battery container through a laser transmission window formed in one surface of the chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which includes a compression retention enclosure with upper and lower compression shells and side sheet components coupled by interlocking hem joints. Methods for manufacturing compression retention enclosures with hem joints such that the enclosure remains sealed upon operational swelling of the fuel stack are also provided. A compression shell may be formed from a light weight composite structure having a polymeric layer interposed between steel skins, and an extension of the top steel skin may form a hemmed edge or may form a side sheet having a hemmed edge. Side sheet panels may be coupled to the end plates by interlocking two opposing hemmed edges to form the hem joint, or by sliding an opposing C-linking element between two hemmed edges held under compression force in an interlocking position.

Abstract: An electric energy store having a thermally insulated chamber that has a process gas inlet and a process gas outlet is provided. The thermally insulated chamber is equipped with at least two stacks, each of which has at least one electrochemical storing cell, and each stack has a process gas inlet and a process gas outlet. The at least two stacks are serially connected with respect to the process gas flow.

Abstract: The electrode (10) includes an electrically conductive surface (14) with a galvanic pellicle, or carbon nanotube mat (18), secured to the conductive surface (14). The pellicle (18) has a first surface (20) and an opposed outer surface (22) and defines an uncompressed thickness dimension (24) as a longest length of a straight axis (26) extending from the first surface (20) to the outer surface (22) of an uncompressed section (28) of the galvanic pellicle (18). Uncompressed sections (28) of the pellicle are defined between connected areas (30) and continuous connected areas (32) of the pellicle (18). Any point (35) within any uncompressed section (28) is no more distant from one of a nearest connected area (30) and or a nearest segment (34) of a continuous connected area (32) than about ten times the uncompressed thickness dimension (24) of the pellicle (18), thereby achieving significantly reduced contact resistance.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells including an electrode portion; a holder case accommodating the plurality of battery cells; and a printed circuit module (PCM) mounted to an outer surface of the holder case, the holder case including a fastening portion fixing the PCM to the holder case, the fastening portion being at a region of the holder case corresponding to an edge portion of the PCM.

Abstract: An exemplary method of applying a seal to a fuel cell component includes providing a release layer on one side of a seal. The release layer has reinforcing fibers. Another side of the seal is placed against a selected portion of the fuel cell component. The seal, release layer and fuel cell component are heated. The release layer is then removed after the seal is secured to the fuel cell component.

Abstract: A battery includes a positive plate, a negative plate and an insulative separator disposed between the positive plate and the negative plate. Each of the positive plate and the negative plate has a collector and an electrode layer disposed on a surface of the collector. The electrode layer contains an active material. At least one of the positive plate and the negative plate has cracks in a whole area of the electrode layer thereof or at a part of the electrode layer thereof, the part being away from a connector of the one to be coupled to an electrode at least by a predetermined distance. For example, the cracks are formed by drying the electrode layer at a predetermined drying rate.