Abstract: An alignment dowel comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a plurality of resilient vanes that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator portion. The stack has openings of a predetermined diameter. The vanes are arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the axis and project radially outwards to define an outer diameter of the body. The actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration. A stack assembly jig, comprises a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned. The tool base has guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings in the stack.

Abstract: A busbar connector (60) for making one or more electrical connections within or to a battery module (M) of a battery pack, the battery module (M) comprising one or more battery cells, wherein the busbar connector (60) comprises: a base portion (160) for forming an electrical connection to one or more of the battery cells within the module; and at least one connector portion (180, 190) for forming an electrical connection from the base portion (160) to one or more other components of the module or the battery pack; wherein at least one or more of the following (i) to (iv) is satisfied: (i) the at least one connector portion (180, 190) has a non-uniform transverse cross-sectional area passing therealong, or (ii) the at least one connector portion (180, 190) has a lateral width which varies passing therealong, or (iii) the base portion (160) has a longitudinal length, the base portion (160) and the at least one connector portion (180, 190) are united or joined via an attachment portion, and the attachment portio

Abstract: A thermal storage device for batteries is provided. In some examples, the thermal storage device is provided for a battery pack that includes one or more rechargeable battery cells. In some examples, the lithium ion battery cells are used. The thermal storage device is in thermal contact with the battery cell. The thermal storage device is made of a material that absorbs heat that is given off by battery cells during discharge. In some examples, the thermal storage device is made of a plastic material. The material has a relatively low thermal conductivity but a relatively high specific heat capacity, allowing heat energy to be stored in the thermal storage device. The thermal storage device prevents the battery pack from overheating during use. The thermal storage device defines one or more cell receiving volumes. In some examples, an axially extending relief volume is provided.

Abstract: An assembly for producing energy may include a fuel cell, a fluidic cell circuit configured to receive a first heat-transfer fluid and arranged at least partially around the fuel cell, a reversible thermodynamic system configured to alternatively: (i) evacuate the thermal energy produced by the fuel cell and transform it into mechanical energy through the first heat-transfer fluid, and (ii) input thermal energy to the fuel cell through the first heat-transfer fluid, wherein the thermodynamic system includes: (a) a fluidic thermodynamic circuit to receive a second heat-transfer fluid; (b) a first exchanger to exchange thermal energy between the fluidic thermodynamic circuit and the fluidic cell circuit; and (c) a second exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between the fluidic thermodynamic circuit and an external source.

Abstract: Disclosed are a membrane-electrode assembly and a method for manufacturing the same. The membrane-electrode assembly has durability and proton conductivity which are improved by employing an ion conductive polymer having improved chemical durability and ion conductivity.

Abstract: A power supply device includes secondary battery cells disposed adjacent to each other and a separator that is interposed between the secondary battery cells adjacent to each other. The separator is made of a flexible material that has both a heat insulating property and restoring force such that the separator deforms when being pressed by each of the secondary battery cells and recovers an original shape of the separator. This configuration provides an improved heat insulating property between the secondary battery cells and prevents thermal propagation caused by thermal runaway. At the same time, this allows the separator to adapt to deformation of a secondary battery cell that has thermally swelled. In response to contraction of the swelled battery, the separator recovers its original shape to maintain a mechanical pressing force. This allows the power supply device to provide increased mechanical stability and maintain resistance to vibration and impact.

Abstract: A charging-discharging device for secondary battery and a secondary battery activation process device are provided. The charging-discharging device of the present invention includes a box-type body including two open parts formed at lateral surfaces thereof; charging-discharging terminals disposed on lateral surfaces of the body; a nonflammable blocking means for opening or closing the open parts at the lateral surfaces; an air conditioning line connected to the inside of the body to individually control the temperature of each charging-discharging device; and/or a CO 2 supply line for spraying carbon dioxide inside the body when a fire occurs. It is possible to uniformly control and manage the internal temperature of the charging-discharging device for performing an activation process of a secondary battery, and when a fire occurs, the fire can be immediately and efficiently extinguished and prevented from spreading to the outside.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a control device. The control device raises the voltage of the fuel cell stack until a predetermined voltage condition is met, by supplying a cathode with an oxidant gas before current sweep is started when the fuel cell system is started and a value measured by a temperature sensor is equal to or less than a temperature determined in advance. The control device executes stand-by control, in which a current command value is kept constant, when a measured voltage value reaches a control start voltage value smaller than a voltage command value in a transition period, and ends the stand-by control by permitting a change in the current command value when the measured voltage value reaches a permission voltage value equal to or more than the voltage command value during execution of the stand-by control.

Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth battery components for secondary and/or traction batteries. Described herein are new solid-state lithium (Li) conducting electrolytes including monolithic, single layer, and bi-layer solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion (Li+) conducting catholytes or electrolytes. These solid-state ion conductors have particular chemical compositions which are arranged and/or bonded through both crystalline and amorphous bonds. Also provided herein are methods of making these solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion conductors including new annealing methods. These ion conductors are useful, for example, as membrane separators in rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of suppressing the movement of an operating point of a compressor between a surge region and a non-surge region to reduce operation sounds and vibrations, the fuel cell system including at least: a fuel cell; a compressor; a dry state estimation part to estimate a dry state of the fuel cell; and a pressure target control part to control a pressure target, wherein the pressure target control part is capable of executing at least rise control and lower control, the rise control and the lower control being such that an operating point of the compressor is positioned outside a surge region, a current pressure target is corrected to the value same as a last pressure target if the current pressure target is lower (higher) than the last pressure target when the rise control (lower control) is being carried out.

Abstract: A control device of a fuel cell system does not execute feedback control of an air valve in a case where a first condition in which a valve opening degree command value calculated by the control device is less than a command value threshold and a second condition in which a valve opening degree measurement value measured by an air valve opening degree sensor is less than a measurement value threshold are satisfied, and executes the feedback control of the air valve in a case where the first condition or the second condition is not satisfied.

Abstract: A dummy cell disposed at least at one end of a cell stack body in a fuel cell stack includes a dummy electrode assembly. The dummy electrode assembly includes a plate, and a pair of electrodes joined to both surfaces of the plate through adhesive layers, respectively. The adhesive layers are disposed only in a second area that lies outside a first area corresponding to a power generation area of a power generation cell in the dummy electrode assembly.

Abstract: To suppress the generation of condensed water and suppress the flow of the condensed water into a fuel cell stack. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack, an elector set, a fuel gas supplier which supplies fuel gas to the ejector set, a circulation flow path, a mixed gas supply flow path, a temperature detector which detects a temperature of the fuel gas, and a controller, wherein the ejector set includes at least two ejectors in parallel, which are a first ejector that supplies first mixed gas to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack, and a second ejector that supplies second mixed gas, in which a content ratio of the circulation gas is smaller than the first mixed gas, to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A thermally insulated housing for a heat-producing, heat-radiating device such as an integrated CPOX reformer and SOFC stack includes an assembly of thermal insulation sections that presents an indirect, or tortuous, path that inhibits the flow of IR vectors to the walls of the housing.

Abstract: A battery device (100) is disclosed, comprising a plurality of cells (110), an enclosure (120) configured to accommodate cells when they are at least partly immersed in a thermal management liquid, and at least one flow unit (130) arranged within the enclosure to control a flow of the thermal management liquid through the enclosure. The at least one flow unit comprises a first electron (131) and a second electrode (132) that are arranged offset from each other and being connectable to a voltage source so as to affect the flow between the electrodes.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, an air compressor that supplies oxidant gas to the fuel cell, an upstream supply pipe provided with the air compressor, a downstream supply pipe connected to the upstream supply pipe and the fuel cell, an upstream discharge pipe connected to the fuel cell, a downstream discharge pipe connected to the upstream discharge pipe, a bypass pipe, a valve mechanism configured to be switchable between a supply state and a bypass state, and a controller configured to control the air compressor, the valve mechanism, and a power generation state of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A battery module includes a unit module stack formed by stacking a plurality of unit modules, each unit module having a plurality of battery cells stacked on each other; a swelling absorption pad interposed between the unit modules adjacent to each other; and a module housing configured to accommodate the unit module stack and the swelling absorption pad, wherein the swelling absorption pad has a coolant channel formed to extend along a longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that is supplied with a reaction gas to generate electricity; a plurality of auxiliary components used for power generation of the fuel cell; and a control device that causes the fuel cell to generate electricity when a predetermined scavenging start condition is satisfied and controls the auxiliary components using electric power generated by the fuel cell to perform a scavenging process of removing water in a flow path of the reaction gas using the reaction gas, during a stop period in which electric power is not supplied to a load from the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that comprises an SOFC that generates power as a result of an oxide gas being supplied to an air electrode and a fuel gas being supplied to a fuel electrode, a plurality of exhaust fuel gas discharge lines that discharge, into the atmosphere, exhaust fuel gas that has been discharged from the fuel electrode, exhaust fuel gas discharge valves that are respectively provided to the plurality of exhaust fuel gas discharge lines, a plurality of exhaust oxide gas discharge lines that discharge, into the atmosphere, exhaust oxide gas that has been discharged from the air electrode, exhaust oxide gas discharge valves that are respectively provided to the plurality of exhaust oxide gas discharge lines, and a control device that, when stopping the SOFC, closes the exhaust oxide gas discharge valves before the exhaust fuel gas discharge valves.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a temperature measurement unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to, when the stack temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined first threshold temperature at the time of startup of the fuel cell system, control a heat generation amount per unit time of the fuel cell stack to a set heat generation amount to perform a warming-up operation until the stack temperature increases to a target temperature, and when the stack temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold temperature, execute at least one of setting the target temperature to be lower than the target temperature when the stack temperature is lower than the second threshold temperature and setting the set heat generation amount to be smaller than the set heat generation amount when the stack temperature is lower than the second threshold temperature.