Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell to consume a fuel and generate electric power; a feeder for feeding a circulating fluid including the fuel to the cell; a collector for collecting the circulating fluid including unconsumed fuel from the cell; a first channel connecting the cell with the collector; a second channel connecting the collector with the feeder; and a third channel connecting the feeder with the cell. A mass ratio M2/M1 is less than or equal to 20 ppm in terms of hexadecane, where M1 is a total mass of the collector and the first, second and third channels, and M2 is a mass of organic substances eluted into the circulating fluid or an equivalent therefor, while the collector and the first, second and third channels are immersed in the circulating fluid or equivalent at a temperature TH1 for a certain time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system that is capable of improved power generating performance and reduced size, and furthermore, is very safe. The system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a fuel tank, a liquid collecting tank, a two-liquid-joining unit, a first fuel supply unit, a second fuel supply unit, and a fuel filter. The fuel tank stores a liquid fuel. The liquid collecting tank stores a liquid discharged from at least one of an anode or a cathode in the MEA, as a collected liquid. The two-liquid-joining unit prepares a diluted fuel by mixing the liquid fuel and the collected liquid. The first fuel supply unit supplies the liquid fuel to the two-liquid-joining unit. The second fuel supply unit supplies the diluted fuel to the anode. The fuel filter, disposed between the two-liquid-joining unit and the anode, removes impurities in the diluted fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a direct oxidation fuel cell system including: a direct oxidation fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, an air pump for supplying air to the cathode, a liquid feed pump for supplying an aqueous fuel solution to the anode, and a collection tank for collecting an anode fluid discharged from the anode. The collection tank has an anode fluid collection port at which the anode fluid is merged with a liquid in the collection tank. Either during normal operation or during suspension of operation of the fuel cell system, or both, the volume of the liquid in the collection tank is controlled to be equal to or greater than a predetermined first lower-limit value. The first lower-limit value is set such that the anode fluid collection port is positioned below the level of the liquid in the collection tank.

Abstract: A direct oxidation fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a fuel supply portion for supplying a liquid fuel to a fuel inlet; an oxidant supply portion for supplying an oxidant to an oxidant inlet; an effluent tank for storing a fuel effluent; a fuel discharge path for leading the fuel effluent to the effluent tank; a gas-liquid separation mechanism for separating a part of product water from a fluid containing unconsumed oxidant and product water and discharging the remainder to outside; and a product water discharge path for leading the separated product water to the effluent tank. The gas-liquid separation mechanism has: a vent hole communicating with the oxidant outlet and outside; a porous filter for closing the vent hole; and a water-absorbent material for partially covering the surface of the porous filter on the oxidant outlet side.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus for supplying a liquid fuel to a device having a fuel cell which uses the liquid fuel is provided. The fuel supply apparatus includes: a container containing the liquid fuel and being configured to be detachably attached to the device; and a joint for connecting the container and the device. The joint has a double tube structure including an outer tube and an inner tube. One of the outer tube and the inner tube forms a flow path through which the liquid fuel in the container flows into the device by gravity, while the other tube forms a flow path through which a replacement fluid spontaneously flows into the container to replace the liquid fuel.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lure (A) which does not require batteries to be changed, and a lure (B) wherein the changing of batteries has been simplified. Lure (A) is structured in such a manner that a solar battery (10) housed within a fish-shaped case (1) serves to charge a secondary battery (11), thus rendering it unnecessary to change batteries. Meanwhile, lure (B) is structured in such a manner that a lid unit (23) holding a battery (24) and a light-emitting body (25) can be inserted into and released from an aperture within a fish-shaped case (21), it being possible to remove the battery (24) when the lid unit (23) is released, thus permitting the easy changing of batteries without the need for exaggerated action and without any risk of injuring the fingers on hooks (5).