Abstract: A method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane type fuel cell including a polymer electrolyte membrane, fuel and air electrodes that sandwich therebetween the polymer electrolyte membrane and that each include a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer provided in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane, and separators provided in contact with the gas diffusion layers. A paste containing at least a carbon powder having a catalyst supported thereon is spread over a predetermined support, and the coated support is dried to form the catalyst layer. A cracking occupation area on the electrodes is controlled to a predetermined tolerance by controlling at least one of (1) a thickness of the catalyst layer, (2) a kind of carbon having the catalyst supported thereon, and (3) a drying rate of a solvent of the paste.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (2) of a fuel cell power plant (1) generates electric power using a fuel gas such as hydrogen supplied from a fuel gas supply device (3, 5, 5a), and an oxidant gas such as air supplied from an oxidant gas supply system (4). The fuel cell stack (2), fuel gas supply device (3, 5, 5a) and oxidant gas supply system (4) are housed in a casing (6). The casing (6) is provided with a ventilation fan (7). The concentration increase of the fuel gas in the casing (6) due to leaks is appropriately suppressed by the controller (10) controlling the operation of the fan (7) based on the power generation load of the fuel cell stack (2).

Abstract: A composite separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack and method of manufacture is provided. The composite separator plate includes a plurality of elongated support members oriented generally parallel to each other and a polymeric body portion formed around the support members. The body portion includes a first surface with a plurality of flow channels and a second surface opposite the first surface. A plurality of electrically conductive fibers are disposed within the polymeric body portion, each fiber extending continuously from the first surface of the polymeric body portion to the second surface of the polymeric body portion in a through plane configuration.

Abstract: An ion transporting solvent maintains very low vapor pressure, contains flame retarding elements, and is nontoxic. The solvent in combination with common battery electrolyte salts can be used to replace the current carbonate electrolyte solution, creating a safer battery. It can also be used in combination with polymer gels or solid polymer electrolytes to produce polymer batteries with enhanced conductivity characteristics. The solvents may comprise a class of cyclic and acyclic low molecular weight phosphazenes compounds, comprising repeating phosphorus and nitrogen units forming a core backbone and ion-carrying pendent groups bound to the phosphorus. In preferred embodiments, the cyclic phosphazene comprises at least 3 phosphorus and nitrogen units, and the pendent groups are polyethers, polythioethers, polyether/polythioethers or any combination thereof, and/or other groups preferably comprising other atoms from Group 6B of the periodic table of elements.

Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell device assembly is a fuel cell stack assembly comprising: (i) a plurality of fuel cell packets, each of the packets comprising (a) a frame and (b) two planar electrolyte-supported fuel cell arrays, the fuel cell arrays arranged such that anode side of one fuel cell array faces the anode side of another fuel cell array, and the frame in combination with the fuel cell arrays defines a fuel chamber; (ii) a main enclosure enclosing the plurality of fuel cell packets, such that the plurality of packets form a plurality of oxidant channels; (iii) a restrictor plate forming, in conjunction with the fuel cell pockets, a plurality of oxidant channels; (iv) an inlet oxidant plenum manifold connected to one side of the oxidant channels; (v) an outlet oxidant plenum manifold connected to the other side of the oxidant channels; (vi) an inlet fuel manifold connected to one side of each of the fuel chambers; and (vii) an outlet fuel manifold connected to the other side of each of the fuel chambers.

Abstract: Passive water management techniques are provided in an air-breathing direct oxidation fuel cell system. A highly hydrophobic component with sub-micrometer wide pores is laminated to the catalyzed membrane electrolyte on the cathode side. This component blocks liquid water from traveling out of the cathode and instead causes the water to be driven through the polymer membrane electrolyte to the cell anode. The air-breathing direct oxidation fuel cell also includes a layer of cathode backing and additional cathode filter components on an exterior aspect of the cell cathode which lessen the water vapor escape rate from the cell cathode. The combination of the well laminated hydrophobic microporous layer, the thicker backing and the added filter layer, together defines a cathode structure of unique water management capacity, that enables to operate a DMFC with direct, controlled rate supply of neat (100%) methanol, without the need for any external supply or pumping of water.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell body, a hydrogen supply system supplying hydrogen containing gas to the fuel cell body, an oxygen supply system supplying oxygen containing gas to the fuel cell body, a cooling system adjusting the temperature of the fuel cell body, a water circulation system supplying water to humidify the fuel cell body and collecting water discharged from the fuel cell body, a generated heat amount calculating section calculating a generated heat amount of the fuel cell body, a cooling performance calculating section calculating a cooling performance of the cooling system, a temperature calculating section calculating a fuel cell temperature of the fuel cell body on the basis of the generated heat amount and the cooling performance, a collected water amount calculating section calculating an amount of water collected from the water circulation system on the basis of the fuel cell temperature, and a collected water amount controlling section controlling the amount of collected

Abstract: The invention describes a method and the relevant devices for permitting an operation stable with time of a stack of membrane fuel cells fed with air and a gas containing hydrogen and at least 100 ppm of carbon monoxide, characterised in that it provides for an oxidising condition at the anodes of said cells in a self-adjusting continuous way or sequentially discontinuous way. Different embodiments of the invention are illustrated wherein the oxidising condition is obtained by adding to the gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, oxygen produced in an electrolysis cell integrated to the fuel cell stack, or by flowing air through porous areas obtained in the bipolar plates or by resorting to high gas diffusion rate membranes, wherein the air flow rate is regulated in both cases by adjusting the pressure differential existing between air and the gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method for fuel cell system thermal management includes: maintaining a first zone at a first selected temperature range, maintaining a second zone at a second selected temperature range, and maintaining a third zone at a third selected temperature range. The second zone is in thermal communication with a first sensor and comprises a reformer, while the third zone is in thermal communication with a second sensor and comprises a fuel cell stack. The second selected temperature range is greater than the first selected temperature range, while the third selected temperature range is greater than the second selected temperature range.

Abstract: A fuel cell system with improved electrical isolation having a fuel cell stack with a positive potential end and a negative potential, a manifold for use in coupling gases to and from a face of the fuel cell stack, an electrical isolating assembly for electrically isolating the manifold from the stack, and a unit for adjusting an electrical potential of the manifold such as to impede the flow of electrolyte from the stack across the isolating assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell including a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, and an electrolyte layer having hydrogen ion conductivity sandwiched between the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode, so that the fuel cell generates electricity as a result of an electrochemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant. Each time the fuel cell is started from a non-operating condition, the fuel is supplied to the fuel electrode with the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode electrically interconnected to produce hydrogen at the oxidant electrode by provoking electrochemical reactions expressed by the chemical equations H2?2H++2e? and 2H++2e??H2 at the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode, respectively, reducing oxides on the oxidant electrode, using the hydrogen produced at the oxidant electrode. Then, the oxidant is supplied to the oxidant electrode to begin normal continuing operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a fuel cell stack 21 formed by laminating a plurality of fuel cell units each of which includes a fuel electrode 23, an oxidant electrode 24, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22 interposed between the fuel and oxidant electrodes. The fuel cell unit is operable to generate an electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a first gas supplied to the side of the fuel electrode 23 and a second gas supplied to the side of the oxidant electrode 24. In this fuel cell, the first gas supplied to the side of the fuel electrode 23 and the second gas supplied to the side of the oxidant electrode 24 are adapted to flow generally in opposite directions in the fuel cell stack 21, so that a water created on the side of oxidant electrode 24 is reciprocally moved between the fuel electrode 23 and the oxidant electrode 24 to increase a water holding region in the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22.

Abstract: In a lubricant composition suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum alloys comprising lubricant base selected from the group consisting of solid lubricants, liquid lubricants, grease lubricants, emulsion lubricants, and dispersion lubricants, the improvement wherein the lubricant composition further comprises: an effective amount of water and surfactant. It is believed that mixing oil with water and surfactant provides a method for uniformly distributing the surface oxide at the meniscus for casting applications. Uniform distribution of the oxide at the meniscus reduces vertical fold formation that can lead to cracks in the aluminum ingot. In addition, the mixture promotes uniform heat transfer around the mold. Uniform heat transfer around the mold allows the solidifying aluminum alloy to stay in contact with the mold longer and form stronger ingot shells. A process for continuous or semi-continuous casting of aluminum alloys via the use of this lubricant composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, and a case containing the electrode assembly therein. A cap assembly is attached to the case and has a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal. The positive and the negative electrodes have non-active material portions with no active material, and the positive and the negative electrode terminals are respectively electrically connected to the non-active material portions of the positive and the negative electrodes. A width of the electrode assembly W1 is greater than a width of the positive and negative electrode non-active material portions W2.

Abstract: A primary alkaline battery includes a cathode including a nickel oxyhydroxide and an anode including zinc or zinc alloy particles. Performance of the nickel oxyhydroxide alkaline cell is improved by adding zinc fines to the anode.

Abstract: The invention provides a unitized membrane electrode assembly having improved edge sealing by a one-step compression molding process.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated on both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.

Abstract: An example battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode comprises a positive active material, and has a positive electrode area and a positive electrode capacity. The negative electrode comprises a negative active material, and has a negative electrode area and a negative electrode capacity. The battery has an electrode area ratio equal to the positive electrode area divided by the negative electrode area, and an electrode capacity ratio equal to the positive electrode capacity divided by the negative electrode capacity. In an example battery, the electrode area ratio is at least approximately one, and/or the electrode capacity ratio is at least approximately one.

Abstract: The fuel cell (2) is of the kind comprising an anode (12) and a cathode (10) between which an electrolyte (18) is interposed. Solid bodies (20) storing a hydrogen mass, able to be decomposed by combustion, are associated to pyrotechnic means (24,26) to release the hydrogen and bring it into contact with the anode (12). Means (38) tap the ambient air to bring it into contact with the cathode (10). Firing of the pyrotechnic means (24,26) is placed under the control of addressing means (28) embedded in the appliance (2). The surplus water produced by the exchange between the hydrogen and the oxygen is resorbed by the temperature increase induced by combustion of the bodies (20). The solid bodies (20) are supported by an interchangeable card (22).

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell system comprising a fuel supply of hydrogen rich gaseous fuel for delivery to a fuel cell. A fuel supply conduit connects the fuel supply and the fuel cell for delivering a fuel stream of the hydrogen rich gaseous fuel to the fuel cell. An impurity sensor is carried by the fuel supply conduit for detecting impurities in the fuel stream prior to the impurities entering the fuel cell. A pressure adjusting mechanism is provided in communication with the impurity sensor being operatively associated with the fuel cell for changing the pressure of the fuel cell. The pressure adjusting mechanism raises the pressure of the fuel cell from a normal operating pressure to an elevated operating pressure when the impurity sensor detects impurities in the fuel stream to prevent the impurities from interfering with fuel cell efficiency.