Abstract: An information processing device includes an acquisition unit which acquires use history information indicating a use history of the vehicle for a plurality of items, a derivation unit which derives an output decrease amount for each of the items based on the use history information and output decrease characteristic information, a factor-specific output decrease amount estimation unit which estimates the output decrease amount for each output decrease factor based on the output decrease amount for each item and output decrease factor information, and a control unit. When an output decrease amount for a predetermined output decrease factor is equal to or larger than a threshold value, the control unit executes adhering substance removal control of supplying a nitrogen-enriched gas having a higher nitrogen concentration and a lower oxygen concentration than air to the fuel cell as a cathode gas.

Abstract: A control unit estimates a discharged fuel gas amount, i.e., an amount of fuel gas discharged from the outlet of a cathode flow field, of a fuel exhaust gas introduced from a communication flow path to the inlet of the cathode flow field and then flowing through a cathode. The control unit calculates an oxygen-containing gas amount necessary for dilution at the time of discharge into the atmosphere, from the estimated discharged fuel gas amount, and sets a discharge amount of the air pump, based on the calculated oxygen-containing gas amount.

Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell system, a stable-period voltage difference is calculated in a state where output power of the fuel cell stack is stable. Thereafter, a voltage difference is calculated during power generation. Then, it is determined whether or not the change amount of the voltage difference with respect to the stable-period voltage difference has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. When it is determined that the change amount has exceeded the predetermined threshold value, electric power is generated with the supply amount of the anode gas to the fuel cell stack being increased.

Abstract: A control unit estimates a discharged fuel gas amount, i.e., an amount of fuel gas discharged from the outlet of a cathode flow field, of a fuel exhaust gas introduced from a communication flow path to the inlet of the cathode flow field and then flowing through a cathode. The control unit calculates an oxygen-containing gas amount necessary for dilution at the time of discharge into the atmosphere, from the estimated discharged fuel gas amount, and sets a discharge amount of the air pump, based on the calculated oxygen-containing gas amount.

Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell system, a stable-period voltage difference is calculated in a state where output power of the fuel cell stack is stable. Thereafter, a voltage difference is calculated during power generation. Then, it is determined whether or not the change amount of the voltage difference with respect to the stable-period voltage difference has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. When it is determined that the change amount has exceeded the predetermined threshold value, electric power is generated with the supply amount of the anode gas to the fuel cell stack being increased.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell vehicle includes supplying electric power to a vehicle drive motor from at least one of a fuel cell and a battery. It is determined whether an electric potential of electric power output from the fuel cell is within a deterioration acceleration region in which the fuel cell is deteriorated due to a platinum oxidation-reduction reaction. The fuel cell is controlled in a deterioration suppressing mode when the electric potential is within the deterioration acceleration region in a state where the fuel cell and the battery supply electric power to the vehicle drive motor.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell vehicle includes supplying electric power to a vehicle drive motor from at least one of a fuel cell and a battery. It is determined whether an electric potential of electric power output from the fuel cell is within a deterioration acceleration region in which the fuel cell is deteriorated due to a platinum oxidation-reduction reaction. The fuel cell is controlled in a deterioration suppressing mode when the electric potential is within the deterioration acceleration region in a state where the fuel cell and the battery supply electric power to the vehicle drive motor.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion apparatus has an evaporator for heating a working medium in liquid-phase to evaporate the working medium, an electric generator for forming a concentration cell for electric power generation when it is supplied with a reactive gas and the working medium evaporated by the evaporator, and a gas-liquid separator for being supplied with a mixed gas of the working medium and a cathode off-gas discharged from the electric generator and separating the mixed gas into the working medium and the reactive gas. The thermoelectric conversion apparatus also has an anode supply passage for supplying the reactive gas separated by the gas-liquid separator to the electric generator, and a cathode supply passage for supplying the working medium separated by the gas-liquid separator through the evaporator to the electric generator.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a polymer electrolyte membrane, a catalytic layer and a diffusion layer of anode formed on one side of the membrane, a catalytic layer and a diffusion layer of cathode formed on the other side of the membrane, in which the cathode catalytic layer includes at least proton conductive material and platinum/platinum alloy powder not containing supporting carbon, the cathode diffusion layer comprises carbon base material, a cathode dividing layer is arranged at a position contacting with the catalytic layer between the catalytic layer and the diffusion layer of cathode side, the cathode dividing layer contains at least electron conductive material, the electron conductive material is one of metallic oxide or graphitized carbon of which index of graphitization degree R value (ratio of peak intensities of G band and D band ID/IG measured by Raman spectroscopy) is less than 1.18.

Abstract: An energy utilization apparatus includes: an endothermic reaction device for performing dehydrogenation endothermic reaction of an organic compound; a compression device for pressurizing a first gas containing hydrogen and a dehydrogenated organic compound, and a non-reacted organic compound which are produced in the endothermic reaction device; a distillation device for distilling under pressure the first gas which is pressurized by the compression device, so as to separate the hydrogen and the dehydrogenated organic compound from the liquefied non-reacted organic compound; a vaporization device for vaporizing the liquefied non-reacted organic compound by pressure-relieving; and an expansion energy recovery device for obtaining power of the compression device by using expansion force generated by the vaporization.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a laminated, plate-shaped membrane electrode assembly and first and second separator plates sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane; first and second electrode layers sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; and first and second gas-diffusion layers disposed on an outer side of the electrode layers, respectively. The first and second gas-diffusion layers are made of an air-permeable metallic material. An arithmetic average roughness Ra of a surface of the air-permeable metallic material on the side contacting one of the electrode layers is in a range of 0.1 ?m?Ra?1.0 ?m.

Abstract: A catalyst particle containing an active metal and a carrier composed of a carbon material, wherein the active metal being supported by cavities on a surface of the carrier and their edge portions. The active metal is fixedly attached to the carrier for a long period of time, so that the catalyst particle stably shows a high catalytic activity, which is hardly reduced by a reaction. The catalyst particle is usable for the dehydrogenation of alcohols.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion apparatus has an evaporator for heating a working medium in liquid-phase to evaporate the working medium, an electric generator for forming a concentration cell for electric power generation when it is supplied with a reactive gas and the working medium evaporated by the evaporator, and a gas-liquid separator for being supplied with a mixed gas of the working medium and a cathode off-gas discharged from the electric generator and separating the mixed gas into the working medium and the reactive gas. The thermoelectric conversion apparatus also has an anode supply passage for supplying the reactive gas separated by the gas-liquid separator to the electric generator, and a cathode supply passage for supplying the working medium separated by the gas-liquid separator through the evaporator to the electric generator.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion apparatus having a high thermoelectric conversion efficiency comprises: a dehydrogenation reactor for generating hydrogen and acetone by an endothermic dehydrogenation reaction of isopropyl alcohol in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst and heat from a heat source, and a fuel cell which generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction of the hydrogen and the acetone produced by the dehydrogenation reactor. A module is constructed by integrating the dehydrogenation reactor and an electricity generating layer constituting the fuel cell into a stack.

Abstract: An energy utilization apparatus includes: an endothermic reaction device for performing dehydrogenation endothermic reaction of an organic compound; a compression device for pressurizing a first gas containing hydrogen and a dehydrogenated organic compound, and a non-reacted organic compound which are produced in the endothermic reaction device; a distillation device for distilling under pressure the first gas which is pressurized by the compression device, so as to separate the hydrogen and the dehydrogenated organic compound from the liquefied non-reacted organic compound; a vaporization device for vaporizing the liquefied non-reacted organic compound by pressure-relieving; and an expansion energy recovery device for obtaining power of the compression device by using expansion force generated by the vaporization.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a laminated, plate-shaped membrane electrode assembly and first and second separator plates sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane; first and second electrode layers sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; and first and second gas-diffusion layers disposed on an outer side of the electrode layers, respectively. The first and second gas-diffusion layers are made of an air-permeable metallic material. An arithmetic average roughness Ra of a surface of the air-permeable metallic material on the side contacting one of the electrode layers is in a range of 0.1 ?m?Ra?1.0 ?m.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion apparatus having a high thermoelectric conversion efficiency comprises: a dehydrogenation reactor for generating hydrogen and acetone by an endothermic dehydrogenation reaction of isopropyl alcohol in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst and heat from a heat source, and a fuel cell which generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction of the hydrogen and the acetone produced by the dehydrogenation reactor. A module is constructed by integrating the dehydrogenation reactor and an electricity generating layer constituting the fuel cell into a stack.

Abstract: A catalyst particle containing an active metal and a carrier composed of a carbon material, wherein the active metal being supported by cavities on a surface of the carrier and their edge portions. The active metal is fixedly attached to the carrier for a long period of time, so that the catalyst particle stably shows a high catalytic activity, which is hardly reduced by a reaction. The catalyst particle is usable for the dehydrogenation of alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention as disclosed herein is directed to an engine with associated decompression device which is adapted to drive an onboard generator/electric motor. The present invention comprises an engine speed sensor means for detecting the speed of rotation of the engine, and a fuel injection control means for controlling the injection of a fuel in the engine. The decompression device is, for example, moved from an operative condition to an inoperative condition or vice versa in response to a sensed signal from the engine speed sensor means. The fuel injection control means is operable to initiate or stop the injection of the fuel in response to a sensed signal from the engine speed sensor means. The present invention provides an onboard electrical generating system which better controls vibration and exhaust emissions when the engine, particularly an onboard generator drive engine, is cranked and stopped.