Abstract: In a power generation unit incorporated in a fuel cell system, a mixture fuel with a certain concentration is supplied to an anode, power is generated by electrochemical reaction between the anode and a cathode exposed to air, and a discharge liquid containing an unreacted mixture fuel is discharged from the anode. The power generation unit is connected to a fuel circulation path for circulating the discharge liquid to the anode. If a mixture fuel is low in pressure, a fuel supply unit supplies fuel to the fuel circulation path. The temperature of the power generation unit is controlled in accordance with the concentration or volume of the mixture fuel supplied to the anode.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, mixture fuel having a certain fuel concentration is supplied to an anode, electric power is output from between the anode and the cathode due to electrochemical reaction when the cathode makes contact with air, and unreacted fuel containing unreacted fuel is discharged from the anode. A fuel circulating path for circulating the unreacted fuel to the anode is connected to the power generating unit and fuel is supplied from the fuel supplying unit to the fuel circulating path depending on a reduction in pressure of the mixture fuel. The temperature of the power generating unit is controlled according to the concentration of the mixture fuel supplied to the anode. Consequently, a fuel cell system, which can achieve reduction of the size thereof without dropping fuel usage efficiency, can be provided.

Abstract: There are provided a power generation unit, a fuel tank, a line, a mixing tank, a fuel circulation unit which circulates a mixture fuel from the mixing tank to the mixing tank via the power generation unit and the line, a fuel supplier which supplies the fuel from the fuel tank to the mixing tank, an air supplier which supplies air to a cathode, a power adjustment unit which adjusts the current applied to the load in accordance with a generated power output, a fan which adjusts the temperature of the power generator, and a control unit which detects the concentration and volume of the mixture fuel and manipulates, on the basis of a detection result, the fuel circulation unit, the fuel supplier, the load of the power adjustment unit, the air supplier and the fan to control the concentration and volume of the mixture fuel.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode with a hydrophobic microporous layer, an electrolyte membrane put in-between, and a fuel supply path supplying fuel to the anode. The fuel supply path is provided with an upwind water barrier preventing back-diffusion of water and a gas flow path channeling gas generated at the anode and disposed between the barrier and the anode. A water-rich zone is formed between the water barrier and the cathode microporous layer. Water loss from either side of this zone is eliminated or minimized, thereby permitting direct use of highly concentrated methanol in the fuel flow path with good fuel efficiency and power performance. The cell unit can be applied equally well to both an active circulating air cathode and an air-breathing cathode.

Abstract: A direct type fuel cell power generator comprises an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, a fuel container comprising at least two electromotive portion units, each of which comprises an electrolyte film disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, the fuel container housing a fuel therein, and a fuel flow path to supply a fuel in the electromotive portion unit. In the power generator, the fuel flow path has a flow path which produces flow-back again from the fuel container to the first electromotive portion unit via the first electromotive portion unit and the second electromotive portion unit, and which is not branched during the flow-back.

Abstract: There are provided a power generation unit, a fuel tank, a line, a mixing tank, a fuel circulation unit which circulates a mixture fuel from the mixing tank to the mixing tank via the power generation unit and the line, a fuel supplier which supplies the fuel from the fuel tank to the mixing tank, an air supplier which supplies air to a cathode, a power adjustment unit which adjusts the current applied to the load in accordance with a generated power output, a fan which adjusts the temperature of the power generator, and a control unit which detects the concentration and volume of the mixture fuel and manipulates, on the basis of a detection result, the fuel circulation unit, the fuel supplier, the load of the power adjustment unit, the air supplier and the fan to control the concentration and volume of the mixture fuel.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith is provided with a casing, a partition member movably fitted in the casing, which partitions the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber, an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device and a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, which presses the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte film put therebetween, a fuel supply unit supplying fuel to the anode and a gas supply unit having a pump, the pump giving negative pressure to the cathode so as to introduce gas containing oxidant to the cathode.

Abstract: In a method of cooling a fuel cell, a fuel cell is provided with a housing in which first and second flow paths are defined to flow first and second airflows on first and second surfaces of the fuel cell, and the first flow path is communicated with the second flow path through air flow paths formed in a cathode electrode of the cell. An adjustable pressure difference is produced between the first and second airflows in the first and second flow paths to produce airflows in the air flow paths. Thus, the airflows in the air flow paths are adjusted in accordance with the pressure difference.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack composed of one or more fuel cells, a discharging flow path for conducting an exhaust from the fuel cells connected to the fuel cells and a radiator for cooling the exhaust to a controlled temperature.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, mixture fuel having a certain fuel concentration is supplied to an anode, electric power is output from between the anode and the cathode due to electrochemical reaction when the cathode makes contact with air, and unreacted fuel containing unreacted fuel is discharged from the anode. A fuel circulating path for circulating the unreacted fuel to the anode is connected to the power generating unit and fuel is supplied from the fuel supplying unit to the fuel circulating path depending on a reduction in pressure of the mixture fuel. The temperature of the power generating unit is controlled according to the concentration of the mixture fuel supplied to the anode. Consequently, a fuel cell system, which can achieve reduction of the size thereof without dropping fuel usage efficiency, can be provided.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith is provided with a casing, a partition member movably fitted in the casing, which partitions the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber, an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device and a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, which presses the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.

Abstract: A mixing tank for a fuel cell is provided with a container housing fuel for the fuel cell, an absorbent member housed in the container, which has a cavity therein, an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture absorbed in the absorbent member, an exhaust flow path interconnecting the cavity and an outside of the mixing tank so as to conduct gas to the outside and an outlet flow path interconnecting the absorbent member and the fuel cell so as to conduct the mixture absorbed in the absorbent member to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A mixing tank for a fuel cell is provided with a container housing fuel for the fuel cell, an absorbent member housed in the container, which has a cavity therein, an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture absorbed in the absorbent member, an exhaust flow path interconnecting the cavity and an outside of the mixing tank so as to conduct gas to the outside and an outlet flow path interconnecting the absorbent member and the fuel cell so as to conduct the mixture absorbed in the absorbent member to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer provided on one side of the electrolyte membrane, the anode catalyst layer accelerating the reaction of methanol with water to produce proton, electron and carbon dioxide; a cathode catalyst layer provided on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, the cathode catalyst layer accelerating the reaction between the proton, the electron and oxygen to produce water; a dense water-repelling layer having water-repelling property provided on the opposite side of the anode catalyst layer to the electrolyte membrane, the dense water-repelling layer being formed by calcining a slurry containing carbon powder and water-repelling polymer and having a thickness of 100 ?m or more after calcination; and a porous gas-diffusing layer provided on the opposite side of the dense water-repelling layer to the anode catalyst layer.

Abstract: A direct type fuel cell power generator comprises an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, a fuel container comprising at least two electromotive portion units, each of which comprises an electrolyte film disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, the fuel container housing a fuel therein, and a fuel flow path to supply a fuel in the electromotive portion unit. In the power generator, the fuel flow path has a flow path which produces flow-back again from the fuel container to the first electromotive portion unit via the first electromotive portion unit and the second electromotive portion unit, and which is not branched during the flow-back.

Abstract: In a housing of a fuel cell are arranged an electromotive unit, a fuel tank, an anode passage through which the fuel is circulated between the electromotive unit and the fuel tank, an air supply section which supplies air to the electromotive unit, and a cathode passage through which products from the electromotive unit are discharged. The cathode passage has a first passage extending from the electromotive unit, branch passages which diverge from the first passage, a reservoir portion which communicates with the first passage and lower ends of the branch passages and is stored with water discharged from the first passage and water condensed in the branch passages, and a recovery passage which guides the water stored in the reservoir portion into the fuel tank. A radiator section is provided on the branch passages.

Abstract: A direct type fuel cell power generator comprises an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, a fuel container comprising at least two electromotive portion units, each of which comprises an electrolyte film disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, the fuel container housing a fuel therein, and a fuel flow path to supply a fuel in the electromotive portion unit. In the power generator, the fuel flow path has a flow path which produces flow-back again from the fuel container to the first electromotive portion unit via the first electromotive portion unit and the second electromotive portion unit, and which is not branched during the flow-back.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.