Abstract: An air breathing direct methanol fuel cell pack includes: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including single cells having an electrolyte membrane, anodes on a first plane of the electrolyte membrane and cathodes on a second plane thereof, the second plane disposed opposite to the first plane; a fuel supply unit facing the first plane; an upper panel member facing the second plane of the MEA and including a first cavity and second cavity, a plurality of air vent holes formed in the first and/or second cavity and air channels connecting the first and second cavities; current collectors disposed on the cathode and anode of single cells of the MEA; conductors electrically connecting the current collectors to form electric circuitry among the single cells; and a lower panel member for forming a housing for accommodating the MEA and the fuel supply unit in cooperation with the upper panel member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, having improved durability for repeated start-stop operation. The present invention provides; A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell having: a cathode catalyst layer containing a cathode catalyst comprising platinum or a platinum alloy, conductive carbon material supporting said cathode catalyst, and a proton conductive polymer electrolyte; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; and an anode catalyst layer containing an anode catalyst, conductive carbon material supporting said anode catalyst, and a proton conductive polymer electrolyte; wherein average thickness (Ya) of said anode catalyst layer is smaller than average thickness (Yc) of said cathode catalyst layer.

Abstract: Water contained in cathode effluent from a cathode (1B) of the fuel cell power plant is condensed by a condenser (8) and recovered to a water tank (10). Water in the water tank (10) is supplied from a pump (17) to a humidifier (4) which humidifies hydrogen-rich gas supplied to an anode (1A) via a water passage (9B). When the power plant stops operating, a controller (30) first recovers water in the water passage (9B) to the water tank (10). Also, the freezing probability of the water passage (9B) is determined from the temperature detected by an outside air temperature sensor (31), and a wait time is set according to the freezing probability. By opening a drain valve (15) and draining residual water in the water passage (9B) after the wait time has elapsed, freezing of the water passage (9B) can be prevented with a minimum water drainage amount.

Abstract: A liquid low concentration sodium-containing silicate solution as electrolyte for lead-acid storage batteries and its applications, is prepared by mixing a silica gel containing 40˜60 wt % SiO2, the weight units of such a silica gel are 5˜15; add 15-25 weight units water and stir until the concentration of the mixture is 0.65˜0.85 0Be? measured by a Baum densimeter, adjusting the pH value of this mixture to 1-4 using inorganic acid and magnetizing the mixture under 1000-6000 Gauss magnetic field for 5-10 minutes, stir the magnetized mixture until the viscosity of the mixture is less than 0.02 poise and finally obtain a liquid low concentration sodium-containing silicate solution. The electrolyte can be used as electrolyte or activation solution for common or special lead-acid storage batteries.

Abstract: The battery pack has a battery, output terminals to bring out the battery electrodes, and a molding holder to connect to the battery as well as retain the output terminals. The battery pack is molded with at least the battery, the molding holder, and its connecting region inserted into a molded plastic resin region. The molded plastic resin region exposes output terminal surfaces, and also joins the battery, output terminals, and molding holder as a single unit.

Abstract: A flat, flexible electrochemical cell is provided. The within invention describes various aspects of the flat, flexible electrochemical cell. A printed anode is provided that obviates the need for a discrete anode current collector, thereby reducing the size of the battery. An advantageous electrolyte is provided that enables the use of a metallic cathode current collector, thereby improving the performance of the battery. Printable gelled electrolytes and separators are provided, enabling the construction of both co-facial and co-planar batteries. Cell contacts are provided that reduce the potential for electrolyte creepage in the flat, flexible electrochemical cells of the within invention.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system is disclosed which comprises: a fuel cell having a plurality of cells each having a polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode and cathode that are formed so as to sandwich the polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, a fuel gas path formed so as to guide fuel gas from an inlet of the fuel gas to the anode of each cell and discharge the fuel gas to the outside therefrom, an oxidizing gas path formed so as to guide oxidizing gas from an inlet of the oxidizing gas to the cathode of each cell and discharge the oxidizing gas to the outside therefrom, and a cooling fluid path formed so as to guide a cooling fluid from an inlet of the cooling fluid to a cooling fluid supply manifold and then to a region opposite to power generation regions constituted by the anodes and cathodes of the plurality of cells and discharge the cooling fluid to the outside therefrom through an outlet of the cooling fluid, the fuel cell being configured to generate electric power

Abstract: A method for detecting compressor surge in a fuel cell system. The system includes a turbomachine compressor that delivers charge air to the cathode side of a fuel cell module. A bi-directional mass flow meter measures the airflow through the compressor, and provides an indication of a reverse airflow through the compressor for surge protection. A controller receives a signal from the mass flow meter indicative of the reverse flow. The controller controls a motor driving the compressor and a back pressure valve at the cathode exhaust of the fuel cell module to control the pressure in the fuel cell module to remove the surge condition.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic electrode materials comprising intimate mixtures of two or more components, including at least one nanoscale ionically conducting ceramic electrolyte material (e.g., yttrium-stabilized zirconia, gadolinium-doped ceria, samarium-doped ceria, etc.) and at least one powder of an electrode material, which may be an electrically conducting ceramic electrode material (e.g., lanthanum strontium manganite, praseodymium strontium manganese iron oxide, lanthanum strontium ferrite, lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite, etc.) or a precursor of a metallic electrode material (e.g., nickel oxide, copper oxide, etc.). The invention also includes anode and cathode coatings and substrates for solid oxide fuel cells prepared by this method.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which has a humidifying means (2) for directly humidifying a polymer electrolyte membrane (12) that serves as an ionic conductor. As the humidifying means (2), means is employed which has a water holding unit (21) comprised of a water-absorbing material and located in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane to directly humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane (12) by utilizing a capillary action and further has a humidification water passage (28) comprised of a hydrophilic material and provided in the polymer electrolyte membrane so as to be connected to the water holding unit (21) to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane (12) rapidly and uniformly. Such a constitution provides a fuel cell system that can directly humidify an ionic conductor.

Abstract: A battery holder comprises first and second caps and a cylindrical socket. The socket forms two spaces therein separated by an abutment midway of the socket and each opening at one end of the socket. Each space holds a battery with the central pole contact thereof positioned at the end of the socket. The socket is positioned selectively with one battery or the other engaging the contacts located at the first cap. Clamping means holds the caps together with the socket there between. The socket forms an outside circumferential groove at each end thereof and in each groove forms at least one slot through the cylindrical wall of the socket, extending over a minor part of the circumferential length of the groove. An elastic O-ring is received in each groove forming a straight portion extending through the slot inside the socket.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal separators for sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. In the membrane electrode assembly, a surface area of a gas diffusion layer is larger than a surface area of a gas diffusion layer. A seal member is provided at a position corresponding to an outer marginal region of the gas diffusion layer. The seal member includes a main seal inserted between a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the first metal separator, and an a flow field wall inserted between the gas diffusion layer and the first metal separator for defining a part of an oxygen-containing gas flow field.

Abstract: A cell according to the present invention is a fuel cell for generating an electric power by supplying one electrode with a fuel and the other electrode with an oxidant. In the fuel cell, a catalyst layer is formed on at least one surface of at least one of the one electrode and the other electrode. The catalyst layer is a layer including catalyst particles alone, a layer including a mixture of the catalyst particles and other particles, or a layer of a porous film carrying at least the catalyst particles, and a molecule including an ion-conducting functional group serving as an electrolyte is chemically bonded to a surface of at least one selected from the group consisting of the catalyst particles, the other particles and the porous film. At least one of the electrodes has a thin film electrolyte, a catalyst and an electron conducting substance, thereby suppressing the elution of the electrolyte from the catalyst layer in an electrode part and the accompanying voltage drop.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack 1 in a fuel-circulating fuel cell system is supplied with fuel and an oxidizing agent to generate electricity. The fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack 1 is supplied to the fuel cell stack 1 again through a fuel-circulating passage 6. In the fuel-circulating passage 6 is provided a fuel pump 3 powered from an outside source to circulate the fuel through the fuel-circulating passage 6 at a predetermined circulation rate. An ECU 4 transmits an output instruction value to the fuel cell stack 1 and regulates a circulation rate of the fuel in the fuel-circulating passage 6 according to the output instruction value.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus for supplying fuel to a fuel cell has a fuel supply unit and a water suction unit. When the fuel cell is mounted onto the fuel supply apparatus, the apparatus supplies fuel to the fuel cell and removes the water inside the fuel cell by suction.

Abstract: A high-lithium carbonate electrolyte formed from a eutectic carbonate mixture including lithium carbonate and from an additional lithium-containing component adapted to form lithium carbonate during at least one of initial heat up and operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A process for recovering lead oxides from the spent paste of exhausted lead acid batteries. The process provides heating the spent paste with an alkali hydroxide solution at elevated temperatures prior to calcinations. Calcination is at various temperatures so that either lead mono-oxide, lead dioxide or red lead is obtained as the principal product. There is also provided the use of the lead oxide to prepare the paste for positive and negative electrodes or other lead compounds.

Abstract: In order to provide a constituting part for a fuel battery in which a number of steps of assembling the constituting parts for the fuel battery can be reduced, and in which the replacing property and the maintenance property of fuel battery cell parts can be improved and the cost for parts can be reduced, the structure is made such that a separator made of a carbon plate or substantially similar material, a gas diffusion layer made of a carbon fiber or substantially similar material, and a gasket made of a liquid rubber cured material or substantially similar material are integrally formed, and further, gaskets are respectively provided on both surfaces of a pair of gas diffusion layers holding an independent electrolyte membrane from both sides thereof between the pair.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a liquid low concentration sodium-containing silicate solution as electrolyte for lead-acid storage batteries and its applications. Such an electrolyte is prepared by mixing a silica gel containing 40˜60 wt % SiO2, the weight units of such a silica gel are 5˜15; add 15-25 weight units water and stir until the concentration of the mixture is 0.65˜0.85 0Be? measured by a Baumé densimeter, adjusting the pH value of this mixture to 1-4 using inorganic acid and magnetizing the mixture under 1000-6000 Gauss magnetic field for 5-10 minutes, stir the magnetized mixture until the viscosity of the mixture is less than 0.02 poise and finally obtain a liquid low concentration sodium-containing silicate solution. It can be used as electrolyte or activation solution for common or special lead-acid storage batteries. The lead-acid storage batteries using above electrolyte showed increased specific energy density up to more than 53 W/Kg.

Abstract: A battery includes a battery enclosure (3), a power-generating unit (50) accommodated in the battery enclosure (3), positive and negative terminal electrodes (1, 2). The battery enclosure (3) is composed of a laminate film compounded of metal and a polymer material, and has a rectangular shape. The power-generating unit (50) includes positive electrode collectors (5), negative electrode collectors (7) and separators (8). The positive and negative terminal electrodes (1, 2) have dimensions substantially equal to those of the positive and negative electrode collectors (5, 7), respectively. Further, the positive and negative terminal electrodes (1, 2) protrude from mutually different sides of the battery enclosure (3). The positive terminal electrode (1) is formed by protruding the positive electrode collectors (5) from the battery enclosure (3) in a state where end portions of the positive electrode collectors (5) are mutually stacked.