Abstract: Anodes, cathodes, and/or solid electrolytes (or separator layers) of an electrochemical cell can be fabricated from aqueous compositions containing monomers and/or polymers. In one formulation, the aqueous composition contains binding materials that are polymerized and crosslinked. In a second formulation, the composition is a latex having as aqueous phase and a solid polymer phase. Upon removal of water, the compositions provide a polymeric structure suitable for use as an electrode or solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A composition for forming polymer electrolyte and a lithium secondary battery employing the polymer electrolyte prepared using the composition are provided. The composition for forming polymer solid electrolyte having a polymer resin, a plasticizer, a filler and a solvent, wherein the filler is synthetic zeolite having an affinity for an organic solvent or moisture. Therefore, the mechanical strength and ionic conductivity can be improved by adding synthetic zeolite as a filler when forming polymer electrolyte. Also, use of such polymer electrolyte makes it possible to prepare lithium secondary batteries having good high-current discharge characteristics and excellent discharge capacity characteristics even under repeated charge/discharge conditions.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, comprising: (A) a cell multilayer element that is formed by stacking unit cell structures in layers, a unit cell structure including: a cell that includes a cathode, an anode, and electrolyte sandwiched between the cathode and the anode an oxidant channel unit with a plurality of oxidant channels that cross the cathode and enable oxidant to be supplied to the cathode; and a fuel channel unit with a plurality of fuel channels that cross the anode and enables fuel to be supplied to the anode; (B) oxidant supplying means for supplying the oxidant to the oxidant channels; and (C) fuel supplying means for supplying the fuel to the fuel channels, wherein the oxidant supplying means includes first switching means for reversing a flow direction of the oxidant in at least one of the oxidant channels and/or the fuel supplying means includes second switching means for reversing a flow direction of the fuel in at least one of the fuel channels.

Abstract: The bipolar electrochemical battery of the invention comprises: a stack of at least two electrochemical cells electrically arranged in series with the positive face of each cell contacting the negative face of an adjacent cell, wherein each of the cells comprises (a) a negative electrode; (b) a positive electrode; (c) a separator between the electrodes, wherein the separator includes an electrolyte; (d) a first electrically conductive lamination comprising a first inner metal layer and a first polymeric outer layer, said first polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the first inner metal layer, said first electrically conductive lamination being in electrical contact with the outer face of the negative electrode; and (e) a second electrically conductive lamination comprising a second inner metal layer and a second polymeric outer layer, said second polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the second inner metal layer, said second electricall

Abstract: A battery with a laminated film as a casing encapsulating the battery power source is manufactured by the steps of: heat sealing the sealing area of the laminated film, whereby encapsulating the battery power source in the laminated film; and irradiating, with an electron beam, a portion of the heat sealed area, thereby the irradiated area crosses, in the direction along the peripheries of the heat sealed area, the overlapping areas of the heat sealed area and the leading electrodes projecting toward outside from the positive electrode and the negative electrode. According to this method, produced is a battery having a high peeling strength at the position of terminals of leading electrodes without sacrificing battery properties and therefore having high reliability and safety.

Abstract: Fuel concentrations are determinable in a solid oxide fuel cell through voltage measurement of one or more fuel cell units, which voltage is a function of hydrogen gas present in the fuel feed stream to the one or more fuel cell units. The voltage in the one or more fuel cell units is proportionally related to the fuel concentration in the fuel feed stream to the entire fuel cell. A sensor determines concentrations of the fuel flowing in the fuel cell. The sensor comprises a fuel cell unit, and an indicator electrically coupled to the fuel cell unit, the indicator being capable of displaying a voltage or being adapted to convert a voltage to a fuel concentration display. The voltage measured is correlated to the fuel concentration flowing in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A metal-air battery includes (a) an anode; (b) a cathode including a metal that reduces oxygen; (c) a housing for the anode and cathode having an air access that allows oxygen to contact the cathode; (d) a separator between the anode and the cathode; and (e) a hydrogen recombination catalyst within the housing. The hydrogen recombination catalyst can include a Pd, Pt, Ru metal or a salt thereof, and CuO.

Abstract: The electrocatalysts in certain fuel cell systems can be poisoned by impurities in the fuel stream directed to the fuel cell anodes. Introducing a variable concentration of oxygen into the impure fuel stream supplied to the fuel cells can reduce or prevent poisoning without excessive use of oxygen. The variation may be controlled based on the voltage of a carbon monoxide sensitive sensor cell incorporated in the system. Further, the variation in oxygen concentration may be periodic or pulsed. A variable air bleed method is particularly suitable for use in solid polymer fuel cell systems operating on fuel streams containing carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method for fabricating cylindrical and prismatic rechargeable metal-air batteries is devised. The method includes using micro fans to control air flowing through the batteries via air pathways between the packs of electrodes and separator sheet. The air pathways are created by protrusions printed or molded on plastic spacer film. The air is used by the positive electrode for generating electricity when the metal-air battery is discharged. By conjunction of a second positive electrode and an energy storage device, the micro fans can be actuated as soon as the metal-air battery is demanded by a load. The in-cell air management can not only supply air for reactions but also shut the system to preserve materials when they are not in service.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an explosion-proof safety valve assemblage having a lead cap which allows some of the manufacturing man-hour in the process such as precision working and positioning to be deleted, since the lead cap is integrally formed with an explosion-proof safety valve and serves to provide a current circuit in a battery in place of a conventional one composed of lead plate or lead wire which requires such precision working and positioning operations, and to provide a closed secondary battery using the above mentioned safety valve assemblage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a water tank, a reformer obtaining reformed gas by reforming a fuel using water from the water tank, and a condenser reclaiming water from the exhaust gas from the condenser and return the water to the water tank. A method for controlling operating pressure is applied to such a fuel cell system. Here, in response to the exhaust temperature of the condenser, the equillibrium operating pressure of the fuel cell system at which the water inflow and outflow in the fuel cell system are balanced is calculated, and the maximum efficiency operating pressure at which the operating efficiency of the fuel cell system is maximum is calculated. Control is performed of the operating pressure of the fuel cell system so that it is the higher pressure of the equillibrium operating pressure and the maximum efficiency operating pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting oxygen into a fuel cell reformate stream to reduce the level of carbon monoxide while preserving the level of hydrogen in a fuel cell system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack assembly for use in a fuel cell power plant and for producing electricity from fuel and oxidizer reactants. The fuel cell stack assembly includes a plurality of individual fuel cells each having an electrolytic medium, a cathode and an anode, and the cell stack assembly is adapted for defining anode flow fields for exposing the anodes to a fuel, cathode flow fields for exposing the cathodes to an oxidant. Also included are input and output manifolds defining input and output inner volumes in fluid communication with the cathode flow fields, and at least one blower mounted with one of the manifolds for flowing oxidizer through cathode flow fields. The blower can be mounted within an inner volume defined by a manifold, and can be a vane axial or centrifugal blower, and can be driven by a variable speed motor. Multiple blowers can be associated with the cell stack assembly, and can either push or pull (or both) the oxidizer through the cathode flow fields.

Abstract: A miniaturized solid-oxide fuel cell and process for making the same are provided. A fuel cell is provided that contains an electrolyte material, electrodes, and interconnects. Manifolds can be placed either within the electrodes or within the interconnects. Techniques common to the microelectronic industry are used to manufacture a miniaturized fuel cell. The miniaturized fuel cell is created by stacking individual fuel cells over one another to maintain a sufficient level of power density and durability.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a control system for regulating the power produced by the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack adapted to produce electrical power from a feed. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system includes a fuel processing assembly adapted to produce the feed for the fuel cell stack from one or more feedstocks. The control system regulates the power produced by the fuel cell system to prevent damage to, and/or failure of, the system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lithium electrochemical generator including at least one composite electrode comprising an active material and a first and second solid electrolytes non-homogeneously distributed into the composite. The first solid electrolyte is of mineral nature, vitreous or partly vitreous, and is a specific conductor of lithium ions, and is preferably localized on the surface of the particles of active materials of the electrode. The second solid electrolyte is organic, comprises a dry or gelified polymer electrolyte conducting ions surrounding the dispersed solid phases and acts as a deformable binder, preferably elastomeritically, of the composite in contact also with the collector and the separator electrolyte of the generator.

Abstract: In a lithium secondary battery of this invention, the negative electrode uses, as an active material, an alloy including an A phase of a first intermetallic compound (A), and a B phase of a second intermetallic compound (B) having the same constituent elements as and a different composition from the first intermetallic compound (A) and/or a C phase consisting of one of the constituent elements of the first intermetallic compound (A), and at least one of the A phase, the B phase and the C phase is capable of electrochemically absorbing and discharging lithium ions. Thus, the lithium secondary battery can exhibit good charge-discharge cycle performance.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus for generating electrical power has, according to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells contained in a reaction chamber. The fuel cells are secured at one end thereof in a manifold block, the other ends thereof passing freely through apertures in a baffle plate to reside in a combustion chamber. Reaction gases are supplied to the insides of the tubular fuel cells from a plenum chamber below the manifold block and to the reaction chamber surrounding the outsides of the fuel cells through an annular inlet path, which may include a reformation catalyst. The gases inlet path to the plenum chamber, and the annular inlet path surround the reaction chamber, are both in heat conductive relation with the reaction chamber and the combustion chamber, and raise the gases to formation and reaction temperatures as appropriate.

Abstract: An electrochemical conversion system 10 is disclosed having a housing (11) which includes boiling chamber (12), a cell holding block (13), and a condensing chamber (14) coupled by conduits. The system also includes an electrochemical cell (23) mounted within the cell holding block, a heater (24) mounted in thermal communication with the boiling chamber, and a cooler (25). With the energization of the heater a portion of the working fluid is heated to a vapor state so as to create a high total pressure with a low partial pressure of hydrogen gas upon one side of the electrochemical cell, while simultaneously a high partial pressure of hydrogen gas is developed on the opposite side of the cell. The hydrogen partial pressure differential across the cell causes an electrical potential across the cell as hydrogen migrates across the cell.

Abstract: A cadmium non-sintered negative electrode for use in an alkaline storage cell comprising a main active material comprising at least one of powdered cadmium oxide and powdered cadmium hydroxide; a reserve charging substance comprising powdered metal cadmium; and an additive comprising powdered nickel hydroxide whose grain shape is substantially globe and/or whose average grain size is 1.5 to 200 &mgr;m.