Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive protective layer-forming paste for current collector laminates which can be used even for high voltage designs to protect current collectors from corroding without loss of cell characteristics, and a current collector laminate, an electrode laminate, and nonaqueous secondary cells (e.g. a lithium secondary cell, an electric double layer capacitor) that include a conductive protective layer formed therefrom. The paste for forming conductive protective layers for current collector protection includes: polytetrafluoroethylene; and a conductive filler (b). The current collector laminate includes: a conductive protective layer (A); and a current collector (B), the conductive protective layer (A) being formed by coating the paste for forming conductive protective layers onto the current collector (B).

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a laminated body in which a plurality of electricity generation cells are laminated and is provided with a reaction gas discharge through hole which discharges a reaction gas used in an electricity generation reaction. An end plate is arranged at one end in the lamination direction of the laminated body and is provided with a reaction gas outlet which communicates with the reaction gas discharge through hole. A drainage structure has an outlet pipe coupled to the reaction gas outlet. A tip end portion of the outlet pipe on the downstream side in the reaction gas discharge flow direction opens downward. Umbrella-shaped protrusion portions are provided within the outlet pipe. These protrusion portions have a shape which tapers toward the upstream side with respect to the reaction gas discharge flow direction, dividing the continuous flow of the discharged liquid and the reaction gas.

Abstract: A two-phase positive electrode material for a lithium battery in which particles of lithium-enriched layered oxide of formula Li1+x(MnaNibMc)1?xO2 are at least partially coated on the surface with a metal oxide of formula LiyVOz. Such a material is advantageously produced by mixing the lithium-enriched lamellar oxide with at least one precursor of the metal oxide in aqueous solution, followed by thermal treatment at a temperature no lower than 280° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable energy storage device capable of preventing a reaction current from flowing in a carbon nanotube electrode by ionizing a catalyst metal or a substrate metal to cause the metal to flow out to an electrolytic solution. An energy storage device of the present invention includes: at least a pair of electrode bodies that are a cathode and an anode; and an electrolytic solution. At least one of the electrode bodies is configured such that a layer of carbon nanotubes is formed on an electric conductor. A coupling region where one ends of the carbon nanotubes are coupled to and electrically connected to the electric conductor and a non-coupling region where ends of the carbon nanotubes are not coupled to the electric conductor are formed on a surface of the electric conductor. The carbon nanotubes having one ends connected to the coupling region are toppled to cover a surface of the non-coupling region.

Abstract: The fuel cell power plant operating system (10) includes an on/off switching device by-pass circuit (60) to sustain operation of a fuel cell (12) whenever the fuel cell (12) on/off switching device (58) is turned off while a fuel cell operating temperature is below a predetermined freeze-safe operating temperature. The by-pass circuit (60) operates the fuel cell (12) until the fuel cell (12) temperature reaches or exceeds the freeze-safe temperature to thereby prevent fuel cell (12) product water from becoming ice in and adjacent fuel cell catalysts (26, 40).

Abstract: An apparatus including a flexible substrate of electrically insulating material, and an electrically conductive polymer, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is retained by the flexible substrate to form together at least part of an electrode of an electrical storage apparatus such that the electrically conductive polymer provides an electrical path for electrons which are generated and/or stored by the electrical storage apparatus.

Abstract: An exemplary monitoring assembly includes, among other things, a controller configured to identify a change in an internal pressure of a battery cell using a resistance measurement and a reference temperature measurement, the resistance measurement provided by a strain gauge associated with the battery cell.

Abstract: Batteries, separators, battery packs, electronic devices, electromotive vehicles, power storage apparatus, and electric power systems are provided. In one embodiment, a battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution holding layer between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolytic solution holding layer includes a porous polymer compound, and an electrolytic solution is held in the porous polymer compound. The porous polymer compound includes a vinylidene fluoride polymer selected from the group consisting of (1) a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer and (2) a copolymer including a vinylidene fluoride monomer unit and a hexafluoropropylene monomer unit. The average molecular weight of the vinylidene fluoride polymer is 500,000 or more to less than 1.5 million, and the air permeability of the porous polymer compound is 500 seconds/100 cc or less.

Abstract: A heat shrink film comprising a core layer having an upper and lower surface and comprising a blend of (A) less than 40% of an alpha-olefin copolymer that is a copolymer of ethylene or propylene with an alpha-olefin and (B) a polyolefin copolymer, and (C) an olefin homopolymer; a skin layer on the upper surface of the core layer; and a skin layer on the lower surface of the core layer. The film exhibits excellent shrinkage and is suitable as a shrink film to encapsulate a wide variety of articles including, for example, batteries.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a lithium-ion battery system comprising an anode, an anode current collector, and a layer of lithium metal in contact with the current collector, but not in contact with the anode. The lithium compensation layer dissolves into the electrolyte to compensate for the loss of lithium ions during usage of the full cell. The specific placement of the lithium compensation layer, such that there is no direct physical contact between the lithium compensation layer and the anode, provides certain advantages.

Abstract: A battery module, which can improve safety against overcharge and puncture on a module basis. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row, each of the plurality of battery cells including terminals and a safety vent, a plurality of bus bars connecting the plurality of battery cells, a duct mechanically coupled to the plurality of battery cells to seal the safety vent, an extension plate electrically connected to a first battery cell among the plurality of battery cells and extending toward the duct, and a short-circuit plate electrically connected to a second terminal of a second battery cell among the plurality of battery cells and extending toward the duct, wherein the duct is electrically connected to the extension plate and is spaced apart from the short-circuit plate.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly including a negative electrode and a positive electrode; a case receiving the electrode assembly; a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and protruding outside the case; a current collecting member electrically connecting the terminal and the electrode assembly to each other; and an insulating member partially enclosing the current collecting member, and the current collecting member includes a plurality of fuse parts including a first fuse part enclosed by the insulating member, and a second fuse part that is not enclosed by the insulating member and is exposed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides for an electrochemical cell comprising: a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel, a second electrode, and an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; the ionically conductive medium comprising hetero-ionic aromatic additives. The fuel electrode and the second electrode are operable in a discharge mode wherein the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode functioning as an anode, whereby electrons are generated for conduction from the fuel electrode to the second electrode via a load. An ionically conductive medium and methods of operating an electrochemical cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: A traction battery thermal plate assembly may include a structure having edge portions defining a cavity and configured to support a battery cell array, a thermal plate disposed within the cavity and adjacent to the array, and a spring assembly disposed within the cavity between the structure and the plate. The spring assembly may be configured to exert a force against the plate such that plate contacts the array to transfer heat between the array and the plate. The thermal plate disposed within the cavity may be below the array. The spring assembly may include a body defining a plurality of tabs configured to extend outward from a plane defined by the body. The spring assembly may include a base portion and an upper portion configured to support one or more compression springs therebetween.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for predicting a value of a cell parameter is provided, wherein the cell is one of a plurality of cells of a battery pack. The method includes determining which other different conditions of the cell and which similar and/or different conditions of any other cell of the plurality of cells correlate with the cell condition, determining values of one or more parameters from the same cell or any other cell of the plurality of cells that correspond to the determined conditions that correlate with the cell condition, and predicting the value of the cell parameter based on the determined values.

Abstract: A flexible board includes a base layer, a wiring conductor layer that is located on the base layer, and a cover layer that is stacked over the base layer and covers the wiring conductor layer. A portion of the wiring conductor layer defines connecting portions that connect each of split electrodes of a flexible thermistor. The cover layer includes an opening that exposes the connecting portions, and receives the flexible thermistor. The split electrodes of the flexible thermistor are mounted on the connecting portions of the wiring layer. The height of the exposed surface of the flexible thermistor from the opening is substantially equal to the height of the surface of the cover layer.

Abstract: A power tool battery pack includes a lower side case, an upper side case fixed to the lower side case, a battery cell in the lower side case and a circuit board connected to the battery cell. A plurality of electrical signal terminals are arranged in parallel on the circuit board, and the circuit board includes at least one slit between adjacent pairs of the plurality of signal terminals to make it difficult for any water that reaches the circuit board to electrically short two of the signal terminals together. Alternately or in addition, a wall structure may be provided between the terminals for reducing the likelihood that water reaching one of the signal terminals will be able to electrically connect two of the signal terminals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for revaporizing natural gas. Provided is a device for revaporizing natural gas hydrate pellets, comprising: a pellet charging portion for charging pellets which is formed with an upper valve and a lower valve so as to divide space for adjusting pressure; a storing portion, which communicates with the lower portion of the pellet charging portion, for receiving pellets when the lower valve is opened; a transfer screw, one end of which couples to the lower portion of the storing portion, for transferring the pellets in the storing portion; and a dissolving reaction tub, which is coupled to the other end of the transfer screw, receives pellets from the lower portion of the dissolving reaction tub, and which accommodates heating water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules, wherein the battery pack is provided at an upper and lower part thereof with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, through which a coolant to cool the battery cells or the unit modules, i.e. unit cells, flows from one side to the other side of the battery module in a direction perpendicular to the stacked direction of the unit cells, the battery pack case is further provided with a flow space (‘coolant introduction part’) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space (‘coolant discharge part’) extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, and the coolant outlet port is bent in a lateral direction at an angle of at least 30 degrees to a flow direction of the coolant introduced through the coolant inlet port.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary batteries comprises amorphous coated particles that are composed of a plurality of consolidated particles having no specific shape, said consolidated particles being obtained by consolidating a plurality of primary spheroidized graphite particles, and 0.5-20% by mass of an amorphous carbon layer that covers the surfaces of the consolidated particles and binds the consolidated particles with each other; and 0.5-20% by mass of a highly crystalline carbon layer that is formed so as to cover the outer surfaces of the amorphous coated particles and has an interplanar distance ascribed to CVD processing of 0.335 nm or more but less than 0.3369 nm. The negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary batteries is also characterized by having a porosity of 5% by volume or less, and a method for producing the negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary batteries.