Abstract: A battery which includes: a plurality of cell stacks arrayed in a plane, each of which includes a plurality of flat cells stacked on one another; and a planar holding member to be pressed against the plurality of cell stacks for holding the plurality of cell stacks together. Heights of the respective cell stacks are adjusted for deflection of the holding member.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the internal temperature of a fuel cell stack during stack start-up so as to start a cooling fluid flow before the internal temperature of the stack rises above a temperature that might damage the fuel cells within the stack. The system and method include determining an initial temperature from either an ambient temperature sensor or a sensor in the cooling fluid manifold in the stack, measuring the voltage of the stack and the current from the stack, and from these values determining the waste heat from the stack to determine its temperature. If hydrogen is sent to the cathode side of the stack during the start-up, then the system and method also include determining the flow rate of the hydrogen.

Abstract: Electrolyte compositions and methods for planarizing a surface of a substrate using the electrolyte compositions are provided. In one aspect, an electrolyte composition includes one or more chelating agents, one or more corrosion inhibitors, and one or more pH adjusting agents. In another aspect, an electrolyte composition includes one or more chelating agents, two or more corrosion inhibitors, and one or more pH adjusting agents. In another aspect, an electrolyte composition includes one or more chelating agents, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more pH adjusting agents, and one or more electrically resistive additives.

Abstract: First and second fuel cell stacks having a simple and compact structure are connected in parallel to each other to enable ensuring a desired electric power generating performance. The first and second fuel cell stacks have the same structure and are arranged in parallel to each other with polarities thereof reversed. A manifold piping is mounted to one ends of the first and second fuel cell stacks. In order to supply an oxidizer gas, a fuel gas, and a coolant to the first and second fuel cell stacks, at least an oxidizer-gas supply pipe, a fuel-gas supply pipe, and a coolant supply pipe in the manifold piping are provided to be symmetrical with respect to the first and second fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: To provide a lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide powder for a positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery, which has a large volume capacity density and high safety and is excellent in the charge and discharge cyclic durability. A positive electrode active material powder for a lithium secondary battery characterized by comprising a first granular powder having a compression breaking strength of at least 50 MPa and a second granular powder having a compression breaking strength of less than 40 MPa, formed by agglomeration of many fine particles of a lithium composite oxide represented by the formula LipNixCoyMnzMqO2-aFa (wherein M is a transition metal element other than Ni, Co and Mn, Al or an alkaline earth metal element, 0.9?p?1.1, 0.2?x?0.8, 0?y?0.4, 0?z?0.5, y+z>0, 0?q?0.05, 1.9?2?a?2.1, x+y+z+q=1 and 0?a?0.02) to have an average particle size D50 of from 3 to 15 ?m, in a weight ratio of the first granular powder/the second granular powder being from 50/50 to 90/10.

Abstract: In a flat non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising an electricity-generating element including at least a cathode, a separator and an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte in the inside of a cathode case, a plurality of electrode units each consisting of the cathode and the anode opposite to each another via the separator are laminated to form an electrode group, or an electrode unit in a sheet form consisting of the cathode and the anode opposite to each another via the separator is wound to form an electrode group, or a sheet-shape cathode is wrapped with the separator except for a part contacting at inner face of cathode case and a sheet-shaped anode is set on the sheet-shaped cathode in a right angled position each other and then these cathode and anode are bent alternately to form an electrode group, and the total sum of the areas of the opposing cathode and anode in this electrode group is larger than the area of the opening of an insulating gasket in a sealed portion in the cathode case or than

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an ion-conducting membrane comprising an ion-conducting region and a non-ion-conducting region. The ion-conducting region is formed by a plurality of ion-conducting passageways that extend through the membrane. The passageways are filled with ion-conducting material and may be surrounded by non-ion conducting material. The membrane may comprise a substrate of non-ion-conducting material that is penetrated by openings, each opening providing a corresponding one of the passageways.

Abstract: An electric storage battery and method of manufacture thereof characterized by a feedthrough pin which is internally directly physically and electrically connected to an inner end of a positive electrode substrate. A C-shaped mandrel extends around the pin and substrate end enabling the pin/mandrel to be used during the manufacturing process as an arbor to facilitate winding layers of a spiral jellyroll electrode assembly. The pin additionally extends from the battery case and in the final product constitutes one of the battery terminals with the battery case comprising the other terminal. Active material is removed from both sides of the outer end of the negative electrode in the jellyroll to allow room for adhesive tape to secure the jellyroll. The electrolyte is injected through the open end of the case after the endcap is welded to the negative electrode but before sealing the endcap to the case. The electrolyte is preferably injected through the C-shaped mandrel to facilitate and speed filling.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for hydrogen detection and dilution. The present invention uses an enclosure within which a variety of components of a fuel cell system are located and a ventilation stream to vent the enclosure which is induced by operation of a compressor that also is operable to supply the oxygen to the fuel cell system. The ventilation stream is directed through an outlet in the enclosure that contains a hydrogen sensor that is operable to both detect the presence of hydrogen and to consume hydrogen within the ventilation stream prior to being exhausted from the enclosure. The ventilation stream, alternatively, can be induced by operation of a fan driven by a motor which operates independently of the operation of the oxidant delivery system.

Abstract: A casing includes end plates and first through fourth side plates. The first and third side plates are short, and the second and fourth side plates are long. At least cross sectional areas or shapes of the first through fourth side plates are determined such that the sides of the end plates have substantially the same deflection in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes a base material and a surface treatment layer formed on the base material. The surface treatment layer includes a base material-side portion made from metal and a base material opposite-side portion made from carbon formed at an atom level or composite materials of carbon and metal or semi-metal. The surface treatment layer may further include carbon particle composite layer formed on the base material opposite-side portion formed at an atom level. In a manufacturing method of the above separator of a fuel cell, the base material opposite-side portion is formed by dry coating.

Abstract: A laminate type battery comprises a substrate, a power generating element which has at least one single cell made by a positive electrode layer, an electrolyte layer and a negative electrode layer which are sandwiched by collecting layers from both sides thereof, and an electric circuit portion having electrode terminals which connect the collecting layers to an external device and circuitries which connect the collecting layers and the electrode terminals. In the battery, the power generating element and the electric circuit portion are formed by stacking a plurality of layers on the substrate, and each of the layers is configured such that the power generating element and the electric circuit portion are formed by stacking the layers.

Abstract: An improved method of fabricating and discharging a pile configured battery which utilizes an electrically conductive flowing aqueous electrolyte. This is accomplished by use of a single piece hydraulic manifold plate which decouples the hydraulic performance parameters of the manifold from the electrical performance parameters. The manifold plate includes a configuration of hydraulic feed channels and distribution headers which separately account for electrical resistive effects and fluid viscous and dynamic pressure effects. Implementation of such manifold plates allow for improved energy conversion efficiency as well as utilization of multiple dissimilar fluids in a single battery cartridge cell discharge at greatly reduced complexity and cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode electrode having a cathode active material layer stacked on a current collector. The cathode active material layer includes a porous conductive material having a surface coated with sulfur and/or a sulfur-containing organic compound and/or pores filled with sulfur and/or a sulfur-containing organic compound. A lithium secondary battery employing the cathode electrode also is disclosed. The cathode electrode is structurally stable during charging and discharging since the structure of the cathode active material layer can be maintained even at the phase transition of sulfur during charging and discharging.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electrical power from a chemical reaction of a reaction gas; a discharge path for discharging the reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell; a discharge valve which is provided in the discharge path and discharges the reaction gas from the discharge path; and valve control units for controlling opening of the discharge valve, wherein the valve control units are adapted such that, since the discharge valve has been opened by a valve open command issued by one of the valve control units, the valve control units prohibit the discharge valve from being opened by a valve open command issued by any of the other valve control units until a predetermined time period elapses.

Abstract: An exhaust gas processing device for a fuel cell is disclosed. In the exhaust gas processing device, hydrogen gas purged from the fuel cell is mixed with cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell and diluted prior to being discharged to an atmosphere. The exhaust gas processing device includes a reservoir in which purged hydrogen gas from the fuel cell is retained and mixed with cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell, and an agitating gas introduction inlet provided at an upper part of the reservoir. The purged hydrogen gas is mixed with and diluted by agitating gas introduced from the agitating gas introduction inlet.

Abstract: A nanocomposite electrolyte membrane capable of suppressing cross-over of a polar organic fuel and a fuel cell using the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane are provided. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes a polymer having cation exchange groups and silicate nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer, the silicate nanoparticles having a layered structure, and the silicate nanoparticles being intercalated with the polymer, or layers of the silicate nanoparticles being exfoliated. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane has an improved ability to suppress permeation of polar organic fuels, such as methanol, and appropriate ionic conductivity. In addition, a fuel cell with the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane can effectively prevent cross-over of methanol used as a fuel, thereby providing improved working efficiency and extended lifespan.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes cell assemblies connected to each other by a fuel gas connection passage, an oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and a coolant connection passage. A fuel gas adjusting mechanism, an oxygen-containing gas adjusting mechanism, and a coolant adjusting mechanism are connected respectively to the fuel gas connection passage, the oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and the coolant connection passage. These adjusting mechanisms adjust the temperatures in the cell assemblies, the relative humidity in the fuel gas, and the relative humidity in the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A fitting type damper and a process thereof being capable of increasing largely slipping torque in strength are ones that the large slipping torque can be increased not only when the damper is a new product but also after a heat aging test and/or a durability test are performed. And, the damper is one that ?-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane 4, which is an organosilane used as a non-slip agent, is adhered and fitted between a hub 1 formed by some metal parts and a rubber elastic body 3, and between a inertia mass body 2 formed by some metal parts and the rubber elastic body 3.

Abstract: A solid anode composite material for use in thermal batteries that comprises about 65-85% by weight (about 34 to 40 atom percent) particulate iron, about 15-35% by weight (50 to 70 atom percent) lithium, and about 0.1-10% by weight (1.7 to 2.3 atom percent) aluminum. Lithium and Aluminum are only slightly or not alloyed with the particulate iron. The iron and/or the aluminum may be in the form of a powder. The aluminum may be in the form of lithium-aluminum alloy.