Abstract: A rectangular-shaped primary zinc-air battery is provided. Hence, many components of the primary zinc-air battery can be designed in shapes of sheets for easy production. In addition, the primary zinc-air battery comprises two sheets of air cathodes on opposite sides of the zinc-air battery to double the power output.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a hydrogen discharge valve for discharging hydrogen from the fuel cell under a predetermined condition, a hydrogen concentration reduction device for reducing the concentration of hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen discharge valve, a hydrogen sensor for detecting an instantaneous hydrogen concentration of a gas processed by the hydrogen concentration reduction device and an average hydrogen concentration calculating unit for calculating an average hydrogen concentration per hour of a gas processed by the hydrogen concentration reduction device, wherein a hydrogen discharge from the fuel cell by the hydrogen discharge valve is prohibited in the event that an instantaneous hydrogen concentration detected by the hydrogen sensor exceeds a first threshold, or in the event that an average hydrogen concentration calculated by the average hydrogen concentration calculating unit exceeds a second threshold which is lower than the first threshold.

Abstract: A device and method are provided to allow the flowpaths in a fuel cell stack to be reconfigured dependent on reactant gas throughput in order to maintain appropriate pressure drop, sufficient velocities, and reactant concentrations of each cell of a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A battery power supply system (1) for suppressing the overall temperature variation of a plurality of battery module groups (61 to 65) includes a box (2) having a cooling air inlet (3) on one end face and a suction fan (4) within a section at the other end, and a battery assembly (5) installed in an intermediate section within the box (2). The battery assembly (5) includes a plurality of battery module groups (61 to 65). Each of the battery module groups (61 to 65) includes a plurality of rod-shaped battery modules (7). When a gap between outer peripheral faces of two adjacent rod-shaped battery modules (7) of the first battery module group (61), which is closest to the cooling air inlet (3), is a, and a gap between the outer peripheral face of the rod-shaped battery modules (7) of the first battery module group (61) and the outer peripheral face of the adjacent rod-shaped battery modules (7) of the second battery module group (62) is b, the ratio a/b of the gaps a and b is set so that 1.0<a/b?2.0.

Abstract: This invention relates to controlling a load-following solid oxide fuel cell system such that the fuel cells in the system are operating within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency. The system has a controller that is programmed to detect a load change on a fuel cell stack, and when the load decreases, reduces the fuel flow rate to the stack or deactivates one or more fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range corresponding to the decreased load; and when the load increases, the controller increases the fuel flow rate to the stack or activates fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within the acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range.

Abstract: An integrated cooling system for a fuel cell vehicle according to this invention comprises a fuel gas flow field for supplying fuel gas to a fuel cell stack and exhausting the fuel gas from the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas accumulator, and an air flow field for supplying air to a fuel cell stack and exhausting the air from the fuel cell stack through an air accumulator, wherein at least one cooling pipe of the cooling system comprises a plurality of heat-dissipation pins on a circumferential surface thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides electrolyte that can suppress reduction of battery efficiencies and capacities with increased cycles of charge/discharge of the battery, a method for producing the same, and a redox flow battery using the same electrolyte. The redox flow battery uses the electrolyte having a NH4 content of not more than 20 ppm and a relation of Si concentration (ppm)×electrolyte quantity (m3)/electrode area (m2) of less than 5 ppm·m3/m2. By limiting a quantity of contaminants in the electrolyte, a clogging of carbon electrodes to cause reduction of the battery performances with increased charge/discharge operations can be suppressed.

Abstract: Three configurations for an electrochemical cell are utilized to generate electric power from the reaction of oxygen or air with porous plates or particulates of carbon, arranged such that waste heat from the electrochemical cells is allowed to flow upwards through a storage chamber or port containing raw carbonaceous fuel. These configurations allow combining the separate processes of devolatilization, pyrolysis and electrochemical conversion of carbon to electric power into a single unit process, fed with raw fuel and exhausting high BTU gases, electric power, and substantially pure CO2 during operation.

Abstract: A method to recover wax from wax patterns used in investment casting using a lost wax technique without damaging incorporated ceramic cores is disclosed that includes subjecting the wax pattern to specific conditions. These conditions include chilling a casting tool including the wax pattern and ceramic cores such that a brittle transition temperature for the wax material is approached. Once chilled the wax pattern is subjected to brittle fracture release of the wax from the underlying ceramic cores without damage to those cores.

Abstract: An electrode containing zinc-based particles suspended in a fluid medium is disclosed. The zinc-based particles have a multi-modal distribution, such as a bi-modal distribution, of particle sizes, particle morphologies and/or particle compositions. The electrode can be used as the anode in an alkaline battery, such as a primary alkaline battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generator and method for forming the same. More specifically, the present invention comprises a chamber containing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), with a spiral-wound counter-current heat exchanger encompassing the chamber. The spiral-wound counter-current heat exchanger includes a first inlet and an outlet, where both the first inlet and the outlet are connected with the chamber such that reactants introduced into the power generator flow into the first inlet and past the SOFC, where the reactants react to produce energy and reaction products. The reaction products thereafter transfer heat to the reactants and subsequently exit through the outlet. A reactor can be positioned downstream of the SOFC for converting reactants not reacted by the SOFC.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aluminum negative electrode battery comprising a closed space provided by at least one member including a hydrogen gas permeating member that contains an organic material having a He gas permeability of 2×10?10 (cm3(STP)cm/sec·cm2·cmHg) or more at 30° C., and a power generating element including an electrolyte, a positive electrode and a negative electrode containing at least one of aluminum and aluminum alloy, and the power generating element provided in the closed space.

Abstract: Catalytic electrodes, and their production process, as well as electrochemical devices and their fabrication process are provided. The catalytic electrode includes a catalyst layer, which contains an electrolyte composed of a solid polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene and also contains catalyst particles such as Pt. The solid polymer electrolyte has a crosslinked structure. The catalytic electrode is produced by forming the catalyst layer with the solid polymer and catalyst contained therein, and exposing the catalyst layer to radiation to crosslink the solid polymer and to bond side chains to the solid polymer, and further to introduce into the side chains ion dissociative groups.

Abstract: A battery unit has a battery encapsulation formed by first and second encapsulation parts joined by a weld along a weld zone, with a battery contained in the battery encapsulation between the first and second encapsulation parts. Either the battery has a recess exstending along the weld zone, or overlaping edges of the first and second encapsulation parts are bent away from the battery to form a recess. The recess provides a heating insulating space that protects the battery from damage during welding along the weld zone.

Abstract: A method of facilitating a chemical reaction includes raising a temperature of a protective layer covering a catalyst in the presence of a chemical solution.

Abstract: A portable electricity generation device comprises a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode end with a catalyst facilitating the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons, a cathode end facilitating the combination of the electrons and protons into water molecules in the presence of oxygen, and a current bearing portion providing a current path for the electrons to traverse. The electricity generation device also includes a fuel storage container for storing a supply of hydrogen and delivering the supply of hydrogen to an anode end of the plurality of fuel cells so as to initiate a flow of the electrons through the current bearing portion. In addition, the portable electricity generation device includes an air moving device configured to direct atmospheric air toward a cathode end of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the air moving device is positioned to convectively cool the plurality of fuel cells as it supplies atmospheric air to the cathode end.

Abstract: A pair of reactant gas manifolds (11 and 12) on opposite sides of a fuel cell stack (7) are sealed to the fuel cells (14) and pressure plates (8) by means of pressure applied by load cables (17). The centers of the manifolds are prevented from having leakage between them and the end plates by means of a tensioning system comprising a plurality of pins (22) extending outwardly from the ends of the manifolds, and tensioning cables (23) extending around the pins in a closed loop and tensioned by a turnbuckle (24).

Abstract: A structural element for use in aerospace applications such as a structural element suitable as an aircraft component is described. The composite structure comprises: (a) a rib having a first end and a second end; (b) at least one member such as a face sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface; and (c) a rib-receiving member integral to the inner surface of the at least one member, wherein the rib-receiving member comprises at least one rib-receiving element having an opening therein for receiving the first end of the rib and at least one cover sheet having an opening therein for receiving the first end of the rib.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode made of a carbonaceous material, an electrolyte containing a lithium salt, and a negative electrode made of metallic lithium or a material capable of occluding and releasing lithium, wherein said positive electrode is formed from a boronized graphitic material containing boron or a boron compound such that the content of boron therein is 0.05-11 wt %. A method for production of the positive electrode of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.