Abstract: A method for controlling a startup of a fuel cell system is provided. The method includes comparing a voltage generated in a fuel cell stack when hydrogen is supplied to a fuel electrode of the fuel cell stack for a set period of time with a first reference voltage. A voltage of a unit cell of the fuel cell stack is compared with a second reference voltage for load connection when the voltage generated in the fuel cell stack is higher than the first reference voltage. A load is connected to the fuel cell stack when the voltage of the unit cell of the fuel cell stack is higher than the second reference voltage for load connection.

Abstract: A heat pump cycle includes a refrigerant circuit and a coolant circuit. A first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger are disposed between the refrigerant circuit and the coolant circuit. The first heat exchanger includes an exterior heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in a heating operation, and a radiator for radiating heat of a coolant. The second heat exchanger transmits a heat of high-pressure refrigerant to the coolant in the heating operation. A temperature of refrigerant within the second heat exchanger is higher than a temperature of refrigerant within the first heat exchanger. The heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is supplied to the first heat exchanger through the coolant. Further, the heat obtained from the second heat exchanger is stored in the coolant. In defrosting operation, the coolant that has stored the heat therein is supplied to the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: There is provided a flat battery including a positive electrode can, a negative electrode can, a positive electrode material, a negative electrode material, and a positive electrode ring provided on an inner surface of a bottom of the positive electrode can to hold one of the positive electrode material and the negative electrode material. The positive electrode ring has a side wall and a flange that extends outward to overlap an open end of a circumferential wall of the negative electrode can. The flange is placed between the open end of the circumferential wall of the negative electrode can and the inner surface of the bottom of the positive electrode can.

Abstract: A battery pack and a simple construction is provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of secondary batteries, a housing storing the plurality of secondary batteries, and an inspection circuit stored in the housing. The housing includes a main body section and a closing member to close an opening for taking the plurality of secondary batteries in and out of the main body section, and includes a plurality of fixing members for fixing the closing member on the main body section, the plurality of fixing members being made of a conductive material. An attachment state of the fixing members with respect to the closing member and the main body section is monitored by the inspection circuit, and an attachment order of the fixing members with respect to the closing member and the main body section is memorized by the inspection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder, including the steps of (a) preparing a mixture solution by adding a lithium precursor, an iron precursor and a phosphorus precursor in a reaction solvent, and (b) putting the mixture solution into a reactor and heating to prepare the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder under pressure conditions of 10 to 100 bar, and a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder prepared by the method. When compared to a common hydrothermal synthesis method and a supercritical hydrothermal synthesis method, a reaction may be performed under a relatively lower pressure. When compared to a common glycothermal synthesis method, a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder having effectively controlled particle size and particle size distribution may be easily prepared.

Abstract: Disclosed is a binder for a secondary battery electrode including a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer, wherein, when a concentration of the copolymer is 5% in a solution based upon NMP as a solvent, a viscosity of the solution including the copolymer is 800 cP to 10000 cP. By using the binder, stability of an electrode is fundamentally improved from an electrode preparation process and, as such, a secondary battery having excellent lifespan characteristics is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon, including the steps of (a) preparing a mixture solution by adding a lithium precursor, an iron precursor and a phosphorus precursor in a reaction solvent, (b) putting the mixture solution into a reactor and reacting to prepare amorphous lithium iron phosphate nanoseed particle, and (c) heat treating the lithium iron phosphate nanoseed particle thus to prepare the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon on a portion or a whole of a surface of a particle, and a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon prepared by the above method. A lithium secondary battery including the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon thus prepared as a cathode active material has good capacity and stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder, including the steps of (a) preparing a mixture solution by adding a lithium precursor, an iron precursor and a phosphorus precursor in a reaction solvent, and (b) putting the mixture solution into a reactor and heating to prepare the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder under pressure conditions of 1 to 10 bar, and a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder prepared by the method. When compared to a common hydrothermal synthesis method, a supercritical hydrothermal synthesis method and a glycothermal synthesis method, a reaction may be performed under a relatively lower pressure. Thus, a high temperature/high pressure reactor is not necessary and process safety and economic feasibility may be secured. In addition, a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder having uniform particle size and effectively controlled particle size distribution may be easily prepared.

Abstract: A “Cascading Startup Controller” provides various techniques for quickly and efficiently initializing grids of interconnected fuel cells. In general, the Cascading Startup Controller dynamically controls heat exchange between fuel cells in the grid to produce a cascading startup of the fuel cell grid via an expanding pattern of excess thermal energy routing from hotter fuel cell stacks to cooler fuel cell stacks. This expanding pattern of excess thermal energy routing is dynamically controlled via automated valves of a heat exchange grid coupled to the fuel cell grid to decrease a total startup time for fuel cell stacks in the grid. Additional excess heat beyond that used to heat fuel cells to operational temperatures is then made available for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, preheating gas or other fuel for use by the fuel cells, local or community-based heating systems, heat-based energy cogeneration systems, etc.

Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery separator resolves defects of a non-woven fabric separator which is not suitable for use in such a battery. The separator is thin and does not short-circuit and has excellent electrolyte retainability and rate characteristics. The separator includes a composite of a non-woven fabric having a basis weight of 2 to 20 g/m2 formed from fibers of a thermoplastic material having an average fiber diameter of 5 to 40 ?m and ultra-microfibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 ?m or less in an amount of ? to 3 times the mass of the non-woven fabric. The composite has a thickness of 10 to 40 ?m after heat-pressing treatment under conditions that the non-woven fabric has a glossiness (JIS Z 8741) measured at 60° in the range of 3 to 30 and a thickness of 10 to 40.

Abstract: A transition metal hydroxy-anion electrode material for lithium-ion battery cathodes includes the charge-neutral structure Mx(OH)n(XO4)m, where M is one or more transition metals, x is the total number of transition metal atoms, X is sulfur or phosphorus, and x, n, and m are integers. (OH)n(XO4)m is a hydroxysulfate or hydroxyphosphate, and M can be one or more (e.g., a solid solution of) transition metals selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, manganese, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, zinc, chromium, and molybdenum. A lithium-ion battery may have a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material, and an electronic device may include a lithium-ion battery having a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a secondary battery and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the present disclosure, the influence of heat generated at a welding spot between an electrode tab and an electrode lead on the performance of a secondary battery may be minimized. Accordingly, in the design of a large capacity secondary battery, the battery performance may be close to an ideal condition.

Abstract: A secondary battery charged and discharged even after dissolution. The active material in the cathode body and/or the anode body is a liquid, or the active material undergoes phase transition into a liquid is provided. The secondary battery (1) includes: a cathode collector (2), a cathode body (3), a solid electrolyte (4), an anode body (5), and an anode collector (6). The cathode body and the anode body are sealed by the solid electrolyte, the cathode collector, and/or the anode collector. The cathode body and the anode body preferably contain an active material that undergoes phase transition from a solid to a liquid, or to a phase containing a liquid, due to charge and discharge. The cathode body or the anode body preferably contains a liquid active material. A polymeric layer may be inserted between the cathode body and/or the anode body and the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A substituted lithium-manganese metal phosphate of formula LiFexMn1-x-yMyPO4 in which M is a bivalent metal from the group Sn, Pb, Zn, Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Ti and Cd and wherein: x<1, y<0.3 and x+y<1, a process for producing it as well as its use as cathode material in a secondary lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a storing unit which is provided on a battery pack and which retains power information of the battery pack, an acquiring unit which is provided in the main unit and which acquires the power information of the battery pack from the storing unit, and a control unit which is provided in the main unit and which controls the operation of the main unit based on the power information of the battery pack.

Abstract: A wireless communication accessory for a mobile communication device comprising: a casing that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device; a processing circuit housed within the casing and configured to process a first data; and a wireless transmitter coupled to the processing circuit, where the transmitter is configured to transmit the first data. The wireless communication accessory may further comprise a wireless receiver that is configured to receive a second data from an external wireless device. The first data may be associated with any or all of the following: payment card information for processing purchase transactions; public transportation account information for processing travel credits on public transportation systems; and access card information for gaining access into restricted areas.

Abstract: A composite positive active material including an over-lithiated lithium transition metal oxide, the over-lithiated transition metal oxide including a compound represented by Formula 1 or Formula 3: [Formula 1] xLi2-yM?yMO3-(1-x)LiM?O2, [Formula 3] xLi2-yM?yMO3-x?LiM?O2-x?Li1+dM??2-dO4, x+x?+x?=1, 0<x<1, 0<x?<1, 0<x?<1, 0<y?1, and 0?d?0.33, is disclosed. A positive electrode and a lithium battery containing the composite positive active material, and a method of preparing the composite positive active material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: An electricity supply element and the ceramic separator thereof are provided. The ceramic separator is adapted to separate two electrode layers of the electricity supply element for permitting ion migration and electrical separation. The ceramic separator is made of ceramic particulates and the adhesive. The adhesive employs dual binder system, which includes linear polymer and cross-linking polymer. The adhesion and heat tolerance are enhanced by the characteristic of the two type of polymers. The respective position of the two electrode layers are maintained during high operation temperature to improve the stability, and battery performance. Also, the ceramic separator enhances the ion conductivity and reduces the possibility of the micro-short to increase practical utilization.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an electric storage apparatus includes an electric storage device; an insulating member arranged in alignment with the electric storage device; and a sandwiching member made of metal configured to sandwich the insulating member with the electric storage device, wherein one of the insulating member and the sandwiching member includes a recess having an opening on a first surface and having a recess-side large-diameter portion, on the bottom side, with an inner circumference larger than the opening, and the other of the insulating member and the sandwiching member includes a projection-side large-diameter portion, on the distal end side, with an outer circumference larger than the opening, the projection-side large-diameter portion being arranged inside the recess-side large-diameter portion.