Abstract: A Personal Area Network (PAN) (100) including multiple communication devices (104, 106, 108) is provided. The communication devices are capable of communicating with each other and a connection point. The communication devices derive energy from multiple fuel cells (110, 112, 114). The PAN is capable of distributing fuel to the multiple fuel cells from a common fuel container (116), if the communication devices are attached to the connection point.

Abstract: The provided is a prismatic lithium ion battery including an electrode assembly having a wound structure of a stack of a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode. The stack has a first side edge and a second side edge, and the wound structure of the stack is formed by winding the stack around the first side edge. The wound structure of the stack has a side surface that is substantially parallel to the first side edge, and a top surface and a bottom surface, each of which is substantially perpendicular to the first side edge. A first tape is coupled to the second side edge portion of the stack of the electrode assembly, and a second tape covers the bottom surface and part of the side surface of the wound structure of the stack in a manner that the second tape does not overlap the first tape.

Abstract: The provided is a prismatic lithium ion battery including an electrode assembly having a wound structure of a stack of a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode. The stack has a first side edge and a second side edge, and the wound structure of the stack is formed by winding the stack around the first side edge. The wound structure of the stack has a side surface that is substantially parallel to the first side edge, and a top surface and a bottom surface, each of which is substantially perpendicular to the first side edge. A first tape is coupled to the second side edge portion of the stack of the electrode assembly, and a second tape covers a part of the bottom surface and a part of the side surface of the wound structure of the stack in a manner that the second tape does not overlap the first tape.

Abstract: A MEA-frame assembly is arranged in a mold for injection molding to form a first flow passage arranged so as to extend along the outer periphery of an electrode between the outer periphery of the electrode and the inner periphery of a frame, a second flow passage arranged so as to extend along an inner elastic member between the inner periphery and outer periphery of the frame and a plurality of connecting flow passages which communicate the first flow passage with the second flow passage. An elastic resin is injected into the first flow passage to fill the first flow passage with the elastic resin and to fill the second flow passage with the elastic resin through each of the communicating flow passages, thereby an elastic member which hermetically seals the space between the MEA-frame assembly and the separator is integrally formed.

Abstract: A MEA-frame assembly is arranged in a mold for injection molding to form a first flow passage arranged so as to extend along the outer periphery of an electrode between the outer periphery of the electrode and the inner periphery of a frame, a second flow passage arranged so as to extend along an inner elastic member between the inner periphery and outer periphery of the frame and a plurality of connecting flow passages which communicate the first flow passage with the second flow passage. An elastic resin is injected into the first flow passage to fill the first flow passage with the elastic resin and to fill the second flow passage with the elastic resin through each of the communicating flow passages, thereby an elastic member which hermetically seals the space between the MEA-frame assembly and the separator is integrally formed.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect for a solid-oxide fuel cell stack assembly, including a novel sintering paste and an improved manufacturing process for an anode and cathode electrical contacts is disclosed. On the anode side, the paste contains a metallic oxide such as NiO, and an amount of sacrificial pore-forming particles, such as carbon particles or polymer spheres, which are vaporized during sintering of the paste, resulting in a very porous connection having good electrical conductivity and good adhesion. A preferred level of pore-former in the paste is about 40 volume percent. On the cathode side, the paste contains a noble metal such as for example, gold, platinum, palladium or rhodium, and an amount of the sacrificial pore-forming particles. The paste may be applied to the surfaces in a grid pattern or, because the resulting contact is porous after sintering, it may be applied as a continuous layer.

Abstract: This invention is a method of fabricating a conformal lithium polymer battery comprising the steps of: selecting a slab of lithium polymer battery material of a desired height, containing a desired number of cells; freezing the slab; vertically cutting the slab to a desired shape; attaching a lead to each anode conductor; and attaching a lead to a each cathode conductor. The slab may contain one or many cells. The leads may be made of multistranded, metallic wire, metallic ribbon, low melting point alloy, self-healing metal, and litz wire. Attachment is accomplished so as to minimize tension on the leads. The cut slab may need to be deburred after cutting and before attaching leads. Preferably, burr formation is prevented by recessing the edge of the anodic or cathodic half cells.

Abstract: A method of operating an atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell generator (6) in combination with a gas turbine comprising a compressor (1) and expander (2) where an inlet oxidant (20) is passed through the compressor (1) and exits as a first stream (60) and a second stream (62) the first stream passing through a flow control valve (56) to control flow and then through a heat exchanger (54) followed by mixing with the second stream (62) where the mixed streams are passed through a combustor (8) and expander (2) and the first heat exchanger for temperature control before entry into the solid oxide fuel cell generator (6), which generator (6) is also supplied with fuel (40).

Abstract: A cylindrical secondary battery where safety can be secured even when an external pressure accompanying rapid deformation of the battery acts on the battery is provided in a battery having a large capacity. A lithium ion secondary battery has a capacity of 14 Ah, where an upper lid is fixed to a battery can which receives an electrode winding grope therein. The upper lid includes a diaphragm 2 formed with a rupturing valve and an upper lid cap whose peripheral edge portion is fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm 2. The rupturing valve includes a rupturing groove 8 with a V-shaped section formed on a surface of the diaphragm 2 positioned on the side of the upper lid cap and a rupturing groove 18 with a U-shaped section formed on a surface of the diaphragm 2 positioned on the side of the electrode winding group so as to correspond to the position of the rupturing groove 8.

Abstract: A MEA-frame assembly is arranged in a mold for injection molding to form a first flow passage arranged so as to extend along the outer periphery of an electrode between the outer periphery of the electrode and the inner periphery of a frame, a second flow passage arranged so as to extend along an inner elastic member between the inner periphery and outer periphery of the frame and a plurality of connecting flow passages which communicate the first flow passage with the second flow passage. An elastic resin is injected into the first flow passage to fill the first flow passage with the elastic resin and to fill the second flow passage with the elastic resin through each of the communicating flow passages, thereby an elastic member which hermetically seals the space between the MEA-frame assembly and the separator is integrally formed.

Abstract: A secondary battery with a maximized cycle-life having a multi-stage safety valve so as to lower the inner pressure of the battery in stages. The multi-stage safety valve is installed on a case and the secondary battery is equipped with an electrode assembly including both positive and negative electrodes and a separator interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery including a current collector and an active material layer carried on the current collector, wherein the active material layer includes an active material and no binder, the active material contains silicon and nitrogen, and the active material layer has a larger nitrogen ratio on a side of a first face which is in contact with the current collector than on a side of a second face which is not in contact with the current collector.

Abstract: A fuel cell having: a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode disposed to sandwich a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; current collecting plates disposed outside of the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode; a fuel electrode channel member disposed outside of the current collecting plate disposed outside of the fuel electrode; and an oxidant electrode channel member disposed outside of the current collecting plate disposed outside of the oxidant electrode. The oxidant electrode channel member has a thickness of not less than 1.2 mm. The fuel cell is a direct methanol type fuel cell.

Abstract: A direct liquid feed fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including a plurality of unit cells composed of an electrolyte membrane, and a plurality of anodes and cathodes formed on opposing surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; a current collection plate including a plurality of first current collecting portions correspondingly coupled with the anodes; a diffusion plate receiving a liquid fuel supplied from an inlet formed at a side thereof; a liquid fuel tank supplying the liquid fuel to the diffusion plate through the inlet; a plurality of second current collecting portions correspondingly coupled with the cathodes; a porous plate, arranged on the second current collecting portions, and communicating with air; and a conductive portion coupling the first and second current collecting portions to form an electrical circuit of the unit cells.

Abstract: A latching assembly for securing a battery package (12) to a portable communication device. The latching assembly includes a pair of opposed moveable latches (10), each latch (10) being located toward a side of the battery package, and a biasing member or members (13) arranged to bias the latches (10) away from each other to engage with respective catches on the portable communication device to thereby secure the battery package (12) to the portable communication device. User contacts (15) are also provided and these are operable to cause the latches (10) to move toward each other to disengage from their respective catches to enable the battery package (12) to be removed from the portable communication device.

Abstract: An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for use in a fuel cell having a layer of a conductive non-metallic fiberless microporous media. In certain embodiments, an electrically conductive metal is deposited along a surface of the element to form one or more metallized regions. The metallized regions are arranged to contact a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in a fuel cell assembly, and thus improve electrical conductance at contact regions between the MEA and the layer of media. Methods of making such a fluid distribution element and operating fuel cell assemblies are also provided.

Abstract: Respective heaters 21 through 24 receive power supply and start heating. The heaters 21 through 24 keep heating sealing layers 8 to or over a softening temperature at which the sealing layers 8 are softened or molten. After the sealing layers 8 are softened or molten to weaken the adhesive force between a pair of separators 6 and 7, the heaters 21 through 24 are detached from a fuel cell 10. The worker then completely separates the pair of separators 6 and 7 from each other with some tool or by hand and removes an MEA 2 from the fuel cell 10.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a container containing a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The container has a bottom face and a hole formed in the bottom face. A positive electrode current collector is embedded in the bottom face of the container so that the hole formed in the bottom face exposes a portion of the positive electrode current collector. A covering portion is adhered to the positive electrode and covers the exposed portion of the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode current collector is electrically connected to the positive electrode via the covering portion. A lid seals the container.

Abstract: Electrochemical power systems of modular design are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochemical power system is provided comprising a container, at least one container reactant port, at least one container electrical power output port, module mounting hardware within the container, and a set of fuel cell modules within the container. Each of the fuel cell modules is mounted within the container via the module mounting hardware. Each of the fuel cell modules comprises at least one modular reactant port and at least one modular electrical power output port.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery including an additive for overcharge inhibition comprising a compound represented by formula 1; a lithium salt; and a non-aqueous organic solvent: where R1, R2 and R3 are the same or independently selected from H, CH3, C2H5, CH?CH2, CH?CHCH3, or a functional group with N, P, or S.