Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a fuel tank 11 for storing fuel; an evaporator 12 for evaporating the fuel to generate fuel gas; a reforming reactor 13 for generating reforming gas containing hydrogen from the fuel gas; a combustor 14 for burning any one of the fuel and the reforming gas to supply heat to the evaporator 12; and a fuel cell portion 15 for generating electricity by use of the hydrogen contained in the reforming gas generated in the reforming reactor 13, wherein a boiling point temperature of the fuel in the evaporator 12 is estimated based on an operation pressure of the evaporator 12, a vapor temperature of the fuel gas in the evaporator 12 is measured, and when a value obtained by subtracting the boiling point temperature from the vapor temperature becomes below a predetermined value, a flow rate of any one of the fuel and the reforming gas burnt in the combustor 14 is increased.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte composite for an electrochemical reaction apparatus that possesses satisfactory ion conduction properties and has excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance, is provided the solid polymer electrolyte composite is characterized in that a solid polymer electrolyte is contained in the continuous pores of an expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene sheet which has continuous pores and in which the inner surfaces defining the pores are covered with a functional material such as a metal oxide. An electrochemical reaction apparatus containing an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical reaction apparatus is characterized in that the aforementioned solid polymer electrolyte composite is used as this electrolyte is also provided.

Abstract: The problem of this invention is based on specifying a process for producing an industrial electrolyte that can be designed in the form of a thixotropic gel in the cells of lead storage batteries, with which large quantities of the liquids needed to fill the lead storage batteries can be prepared and mixed to improve its industrial usability. For the technical solution to this problem, the invention proposes that in the active masses of positive and negative plates in the storage battery cells, the quantity of sulfuric acid necessary to adjust the final acid density of the industrial electrolyte for the ready-to-use storage battery be stored in the form of lead sulfate, while, independently of this, water is set to a pH value from 4.1 to 4.7 by adding an acid and is then mixed with a gel former.

Abstract: The surface of a positive-electrode active material layer or a negative-electrode an active material layer is coated with a gel electrolyte composition to form a gel electrolyte layer. The positive and negative electrodes are laminated such that the gel electrolyte layer is sandwiched. At this time, the gel electrolyte composition is formed into a sol form so as to be applied to the surface of the positive-electrode active material layer or the negative-electrode active material layer. The viscosity of the gel electrolyte composition formed into the sol form is 1 cp to 50 cp. The gel electrolyte composition is formed into the sol form by heating the gel electrolyte composition or diluting the gel electrolyte composition with nonaqueous solvent. When dilution with the nonaqueous solvent is performed, solvent having a high boiling point and solvent having a low boiling point are mixed with each other.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employing a positive electrode active material containing a compound represented by the general formula LixMyPO4, where 0<x≦2 and 0.8≦y≦1.2, with M containing a 3d transition metal, where LixMyPO4 encompasses that with the grain size not larger than 10 &mgr;m. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has superior cyclic characteristics and a high capacity.

Abstract: A safety device for a closed battery capable positively preventing a rupture due to a rapid internal pressure rise at over-packing and short-circuiting and being produced inexpensively, a positive electrode lid (16) attached to one end of an outer covering can (11) comprises a pressure receiving plate (18) forming the innermost lid and connected to positive electrode (13) of an electrode unit (12) via positive electrode lead (17), a shielding plate (20) forming a middle lid and electrically connected to the pressure receiving plate (18) via a center contact (19), and a sealing plate (21) forming the outermost lid and electrically connected to the shielding plate (20).

Abstract: A fuel cell arrangement has at least one fuel cell with an anode and a cathode. A compressor arranged in the admission flow path of the cathode supplies air to the cathode, and a reforming unit with a reformer and a thermally coupled heating chamber is arranged in the admission flow path of the anode supplies the anode with a hydrogen-rich medium. A catalytic burner arranged in the cathode off-gas flow path between cathode and an expansion machine is coupled to drive the compressor. The heating chamber of the reforming unit or of an evaporator unit arranged in the admission flow path of the anode is arranged in the cathode off-gas flow path; and the expansion machine is arranged in the cathode off-gas flow path between catalytic burner and the heating chamber.

Abstract: A battery pack for an electric/hybrid vehicle that includes a plurality of batteries stacked in layers one atop the other and electrically coupled together to provide the necessary power to the vehicle. The plurality of batteries is supported on an underlying base. A plurality of spacers are disposed above and below each layer for separating the layers of batteries and providing air passages around the batteries to allow air flow around the batteries to provide heating or cooling of the batteries. A retention frame affixes the batteries to the base to restrict movement of the batteries. The frame includes a plurality of beams that are interconnected and extend along the ends of the batteries. The beams apply a vertical force against the batteries, thereby fixing them rigidly to the base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrode/electrolyte assemblies for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) comprising a thin electrolyte sheet interposed between opposite electrodes, and wherein the positive air electrode (cathode) and negative fuel electrode (anode) are composed of similar electronically conductive metal phases and stabilizing ceramic phases, and wherein the anode exhibits both good oxidation resistance and good catalytic activity toward fuel oxidation.

Abstract: Fuel cell systems and methods having relatively long use lifetimes are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide relatively long lifetimes when one or more reactant gas streams is unsaturated with water. The systems and methods can use proton exchange membranes having relatively long use lifetimes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prismatic lithium ion battery, more particularly to a prismatic lithium ion battery, wherein jelly roll of a lithium ion battery is mounted and electrolyte is infused in a prismatic can. The present invention provides a prismatic lithium ion battery in which improved safety is provided to a battery itself as well as its battery pack by mounting a jelly roll into a prismatic can with surfaces with recessed portions so that battery volume change due to the electrode expansion and pressure rise inside the battery is restrained. Furthermore, a prismatic lithium ion battery of the present invention improves the cycle life characteristics of a battery by alleviating the jelly roll deformation caused by the expansion and contraction of a jelly roll of a lithium ion battery due to continuous charging and discharging. Accordingly, lithium metal can be uniformly and stably adsorbed in and detached from a jelly roll.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolyte for non-aqueous electrochemical device containing at least one of 6-substituted-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dithiol and derivatives thereof as an additive and a non-aqueous electrochemical device, particularly a lithium secondary battery by the use thereof. The additive of the present invention forms a stable and low resistance film on the positive electrode, inhibiting characteristics of the electrochemical device from deteriorating on account of gas generated due to the decomposition of electrolyte.

Abstract: A fuel evaporator 1 is provided in a fuel cell system FCS having an evaporating chamber that evaporates liquid fuel into fuel gas by heat medium gas. The fuel evaporator is provided with a liquid fuel injection apparatus 40 that injects liquid fuel into the evaporating chamber and an injection volume adjusting apparatus 42 that adjusts the injection volume of the liquid fuel injection apparatus. The injection volume adjusting apparatus 42 includes an injection volume adjusting portion that sets the fuel injection volume according to an injection volume target setting signal.

Abstract: There is provided a battery separator comprising synthetic resin fibers, wherein hydrophilization treatment, preferably plasma treatment is applied, and a contact angle to pure water indicates a value of 0 to 100 degrees; an alkali secondary battery in which a electrode group having the separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode is sealed in a battery case together with an alkali electrolyte, in particular, a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery whose positive electrode is a nickel electrode and whose negative electrode is a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode, wherein active substances of said nickel electrode comprising powders consisting essentially of nickel hydroxides and higher-order cobalt hydroxides formed a surface of a part or whole thereof are employed, thereby providing its superiority in both of self-discharge properties and charge and discharge cycle life performance.

Abstract: A non-aqueous lithium salt secondary battery includes an anode consisting of carbon material in which doping/undoping of lithium is permitted, a cathode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte in which lithium salt is dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent. The carbon material constituting the anode is crushed graphite material having true density of 2.1 g/cm3 or more and bulk density of 0.4 g/cm3 or more. It is necessary that the graphite material is powder having in which an average value of shape parameters indicated by the following expression is 125 or less: x=(L/T)·(W/T) x: shape parameter T: thickness of the portion thinnest in thickness of the powder L: length in a length axis direction of the powder W: length in a direction perpendicular to the length axis of the powder.

Abstract: A method of preventing anode oxidation in a fuel cell is disclosed comprising applying a negative current to an anode of said fuel cell, such that the anode is disposed in ionic communication with a cathode through an electrolyte. Oxygen is transferred from the anode through the electrolyte to the cathode. A method preventing anode oxidation in a fuel cell by storing and using a reformate and doping an anode are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an over-discharge preventing circuit, especially an over-discharge over-current preventing circuit, and more specifically relates to an over-discharge over-current preventing circuit comprising an over-discharge preventing circuit having a FET and an over-current preventing circuit for protecting the FET. The invention includes a primary or secondary battery containing such a circuit, and a battery pack containing such a circuit.

Abstract: A stacking of battery laminate is prepared, each battery consisting of anode, polymer electrolyte, cathode films and possibly an insulating film, under conditions suitable to constitute a rigid monoblock assembly, in which the films are unitary with one another. The assembly obtained is thereafter cut in predetermined shape by using a mechanical device without macroscopic deformation of the films constituting the assembly and without inducing permanent short circuits. The battery which is obtained after cutting includes at least one end which appears as a uniform cut, the various films constituting the assembly having undergone no macroscopic deformation, the edges of the films of the anode including an electronically insulating passivation film.

Abstract: In a fuel evaporator provided with an evaporation chamber 11 that produces raw fuel gas FG by vaporizing raw fuel liquid by heat received from a plurality of heat medium tubes 12 through which a high temperature heat medium passes, a raw fuel injection portion that injects raw fuel liquid onto the heat medium tubes 12 is situated in the evaporation chamber 11. The heat medium tubes 12 are arranged sparsely near the raw fuel injection portion and densely away from it. A catalytic combustor 20 is provided adjacent to the bottom surface 11b of the evaporation chamber 11 to form the high temperature heat medium. Such a fuel evaporator efficiently vaporizes raw fuel liquid and can be suitably applied in a fuel cell system for a fuel cell-powered automobile.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system comprising a reformer generating a hydrogen from base fuel to supply a fuel cell with the hydrogen, and a hydrogen reservoir connected to a first supply conduit between the reformer and the fuel cell through a second supply conduit, for storing hydrogen from the reformer as fuel cell assisting hydrogen. A distributing valve for distributing hydrogen from the reformer to the fuel cell side and the hydrogen reservoir side is provided at a connecting portion of the first and second supply conduits. The distributing valve is controlled to satisfy the amount of hydrogen required for the fuel cell and, thus, to supply the hydrogen reservoir with remaining hydrogen. This always satisfies the amount of the hydrogen required for the fuel cell corresponding to the fuel cell operation state.