Abstract: This invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte which is low in water absorption, from which no dopant runs out even in pressing, and which is excellent in stability in the presence of water or methanol, proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties, in which an imidazole ring-containing polymer such as a polybenzimidazole compound is doped with an acid in which at least one hydrogen atom of an inorganic acid such as phosphoric acid is substituted by a functional group having a phenyl group by blending the imidazole ring-containing polymer with the acid in a solution using a solvent such as trifluoroacetic acid, preferably at a rate of 1 to 10 molecules of the acid per repeating structure unit of a molecular chain of the imidazole ring-containing polymer, the solid polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: Battery holder (1) comprises a housing (2) having retaining walls (6, 8) located at both ends of the housing and electrical contacts (60, 80) secured in the retaining walls (6, 8). The electrical contact (80) has resilient contact arms (84) arranged on both sides of base section (4) of the housing (2). Front end sections (86) of the contact arms (84) have stop members (88) positioned on both sides of diametrically-opposed points (112) of battery (110), the purpose of which is to prevent the battery (110) from getting loose. In addition, at a bottom edge (84d) of the contact arms (84), contact tabs (90) are provided that are disposed against diametrically-opposed points (112) and make electrical connection with the battery (110). Electrical contact (60) is disposed in a slot (18) in the base section (4) and it has a contact member (65a) that electrically connects with the battery (110).

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an anode active material with a high capacity and excellent cycle characteristics. The active material comprises a salt of a metal or a semi-metal and a compound selected from the group consisting of oxo-acids, thiocyanic acid, cyanogen, and cyanic acid, wherein each said oxo-acid comprises an element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, carbon, boron, phosphorus, selenium, tellurium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, chromium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, manganese, and vanadium, salts of said oxo-acids of phosphorus and boron being restricted to hydrogenphosphates and hydrogenborates.

Abstract: A hydrogen-fueled fuel cell reacts residual fuel in the exhaust of the anode flow field either in a catalytic converter or by feeding the anode exhaust into the cathode oxidant stream. Control of flow of anode exhaust into the cathode oxidant stream may be in response to a flammability sensor, a gas composition analyzer, current output, or periodically in response to a timer; the anode exhaust may be fed either upstream or downstream of the cathode air inlet blower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating steam from the cooling stream of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. As the cooling stream exits the PEM fuel cell, a portion of the cooling fluid is extracted from the circulating cooling stream, thereby creating a secondary stream of cooling fluid. This secondary stream passes through a restriction, which decreases the pressure of the secondary stream to its saturation pressure, such that when the secondary stream enters a flash evaporator it transforms into steam. Creating steam from the cooling stream of a PEM fuel cell power plant provides the fuel processor with a co-generated source of steam without adding a significant amount of auxiliary equipment to the power plant.

Abstract: The accumulator comprises a container or vessel with a plurality of holes which define vent ducts for the gases developed in the accumulator. A filtering element is provided in each duct for allowing gases to pass through but preventing the electrolyte from passing through. The filtering element is constituted by a porous substrate combined with a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane.

Abstract: A flat and thin accumulator device (10) includes a planar electrochemical cell (100) with at least two laminar electrodes (16, 18) having opposite polarities, arranged on either one of the two sides of an electrolyte material (12, 13), a moisture-proof envelope (51, 52, 53) having two foils (70A, 70B) which form substantially plane faces of a moisture-proof and electrically insulating material. The faces are interconnected in a peripheral sealing area (81A, 81B, 81C, 81D) and electrical contacts (26, 28) of the electrodes form electrode terminals which extend through the peripheral sealing area. The envelope further includes tabs forming extensions of the electrode terminals which have electrical contact areas with the electrode terminals, the tabs and the contact areas longitudinally extending in a sealed manner through the peripheral sealing area, and openings are made transversely through the peripheral sealing area which correspond to the tabs so as to uncover the two opposite faces of the tabs.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure.

Abstract: The structure of the present invention enables all catalysts packed in a cooling layer to be kept in an active temperature range, thereby sufficiently reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen-rich gas. A supply of water is fed through a water inlet pipe 40 to a selective CO oxidizing unit 34 of a reformer 30. The heat of vaporization of the supplied water directly cools down selective CO oxidizing catalysts 50 stored in the selective CO oxidizing unit 34. This enhances the cooling efficiency and enables all the selective CO oxidizing catalysts 50 stored in the selective CO oxidizing unit 34 to be maintained in the active temperature range, thus sufficiently reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide included in a resulting gaseous fuel.

Abstract: Battery separator comprising a consolidated nonwoven mat of ultrafine polymeric fibers in which at least 10% of said fibers have a diameter less than 1 micron and which mat has an average pore size of less than 3 .mu.m. The fiber mat is formed by meltblowing using modified conditions to produce a self-bonded web having the desired content of ultra fine fibers.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell or battery including as at least one electrode at least one electrically conductive polymer, the polymer being poly(1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-3-fluorophenylene), poly(1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2,5-difluorophenylene), poly(1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylene), or poly(1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-benzene). These polymeric electrodes have remarkably high charge capacities, and excellent cycling efficiency. The provision of these polymeric electrodes further permits the electrochemical storage cell to be substantially free of metal components, thereby improving handling of the storage cell and obviating safety and environmental concerns associated with alternative secondary battery technology.

Abstract: An electrically nonconductive cover system is provided which may be readily installed onto and removed from a cell tray assembly while minimizing the likelihood of accidental human contact with lead-acid cells or batteries. The cover system is reliable and secure and permits observation and maintenance of the cells without requiring cover removal.

Abstract: A lid for accumulator batteries has one or more holes to receive a device to ensure the circulation of electrolyte during the first charge and a second device to ensure the re-fill of electrolyte during the other charges. The lid is equipped with one or more channels each having one end facing the surface of the one or more holes and the opposite end coupled with at least one duct on the inner vertical wall of the container.

Abstract: A novel method for forming powder of a hydrogen storage alloy without the need for further mechanical processing. The alloy powder may be adapted for use as the negative electrode material of rechargeable electrochemical, hydrogen storage cells. The method includes the step of controlling the hydrogen concentration within the hydrogen storage alloy to form powder where 90% of the particles are less than 250 microns in average dimension.

Abstract: A battery device includes a lithium ion battery in a flattened cylindrical form and a circuit board arranged on a side surface of the battery. A first connection member connects between the circuit board and a positive pole, while a second connection member connects between the circuit board and a negative pole. The first connection member and the second connection member are both of strip members. The strip member is formed is a plurality of partial cuts extending from a lateral end of the strip member in a width direction. When there is a variation in the connection length between the circuit board and the positive/negative pole, the plurality of the partial cuts are opened or closed to thereby absorb the variation of the connection length by the first connection member and the second connection member.

Abstract: A hybrid energy storage device (10) including first, second, and third electrodes (20, 25, 30), a first electrolyte (35) disposed between the first and second electrodes (20, 25), and a second electrolyte (40) disposed between the second and third electrode (25, 30). The first electrode (25), the first electrolyte (35), and the second electrode (25) form a battery, and the second electrode (25), the second electrolyte (40), and the third electrode (30) form a capacitor. The first and third electrodes (20, 30) are directly connected together so that the battery and capacitor are in parallel within the hybrid energy storage device (10).

Abstract: An ambient pressure fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack formed from a plurality of fuel cells having membrane/electrode assemblies (MEAs) that are hydrated with liquid water and bipolar plates with anode and cathode sides for distributing hydrogen fuel gas and water to a first side of each one of the MEAs and air with reactant oxygen gas to a second side of each one of the MEAs. A pump supplies liquid water to the fuel cells. A recirculating system may be used to return unused hydrogen fuel gas to the stack. A near-ambient pressure blower blows air through the fuel cell stack in excess of reaction stoichiometric amounts to react with the hydrogen fuel gas.

Abstract: A thermal conductor for use with an electrochemical energy storage device is disclosed. The thermal conductor is attached to one or both of the anode and cathode contacts of an electrochemical cell. A resilient portion of the conductor varies in height or position to maintain contact between the conductor and an adjacent wall structure of a containment vessel in response to relative movement between the conductor and the wall structure. The thermal conductor conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cell and conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cell and thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed between the conductor and the wall structure. The thermal conductor may be fabricated to include a resilient portion having one of a substantially C-shaped, double C-shaped, Z-shaped, V-shaped, O-shaped, S-shaped, or finger-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A cap assembly of a battery, comprising: a cap plate for covering the upper portion of a battery case; a positive terminal installed on the cap plate, insulated from the cap plate; a rivet member having a rivet protrusion, through which a vent hole is formed, inserted through holes formed in the cap plate and the positive terminal for riveting them together, the rivet member electrically connected to the positive terminal; a safety member installed at the lower end of rivet member, blocking the vent hole; and a positive tap fixing member attached to the lower end of the safety member and joined to a positive tap of an electrode assembly in the battery case, wherein the safety member is ruptured and separated from the positive tap fixing member by an internal pressure increase of the battery case.

Abstract: A high sodium ion conducting inorganic composite solid electrolyte obtained by mixing Na.sub.4 Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.12 with titanium oxide and sintering the resultant mixture and a method for the production of a high sodium ion conducting inorganic composite solid electrolyte, consisting essentially of the steps of mixing Na.sub.4 Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.12 with titanium oxide and sintering the resultant mixture.