Abstract: In a method for detecting the freezing of water within a fuel cell, precise detection can be performed using a phenomenon specific to the time when water starts to freeze to allow a reduction in erroneous activation. Detection at an early stage after the start of freezing is allowed, and hence measures can be taken against an output reduction before the water within the fuel cell completely freezes.

Abstract: An intermediate layer of polyurethane containing an electrolyte in a high concentration can be produced with good productivity and an actuator element having high generative force is provided. An actuator has a pair of electrode layers and an intermediate layer disposed between the pair of electrode layers and containing an electrolyte and polyurethane, in which the actuator deforms when a voltage is applied between the electrode layers, the content of the electrolyte in the intermediate layer is 60 wt % or more and 300 wt % or lower based on the polyurethane, and the polyurethane is obtained by a reaction of at least a compound represented by General Formula (1) and a compound represented by General Formula (2).

Abstract: An expansion and contraction actuator has a first long actuator portion and a second long actuator portion that face each other and connection members that connect the long sides of each of the first long actuator portion and the second long actuator portion to each other, in which a part of the first long actuator portion and a part of the second long actuator portion are apart from each other to thereby form a hollow structure, the first long actuator portion and the second long actuator portion each have a pair of long electrodes and a long electrolyte layer having an electrolyte, long internal electrodes thereof are the same cathode or anode electrodes, long external electrodes thereof are counter electrodes thereto, and the actuator expands and contracts in the direction of the screw axis by voltage application.

Abstract: An actuator with a sensor, including an actuator having a pair of electrodes and an ionic conduction layer present between the pair of electrodes, and a sensor having electrodes and an electromechanical conversion element. When the actuator is deformed, the sensor is also deformed. The relationship between the modulus of elasticity (A) of the actuator and the modulus of elasticity (S) of the sensor satisfies S<A.

Abstract: This invention provides a polymer actuator having a structure such that voltage can be efficiently applied to two or more actuator electrodes without directly providing an electrical contact point to an expanding and contracting portion. An actuator has: an insulating base material 1; a first terminal 2 for energizing provided contacting the insulating base material; a first actuator electrode 4 provided contacting the first terminal; an electrolyte layer 5 provided contacting the first actuator electrode; a second actuator electrode 6 provided contacting the electrolyte layer; a second terminal 3 for energizing provided spaced apart from the first terminal and contacting the insulating base material; an energization preventing portion 7 for preventing energization of the first terminal and the second terminal; and a connecting portion 8 provided contacting the energization preventing portion in order to energize the second actuator electrode and the second terminal.

Abstract: There is provided an actuator that can deform as an electrolyte moves, wherein at least one of a pair of electrode layers contains polymer fibers, and the polymer fibers contain an electroconductive material and are porous.

Abstract: A difference is arisen in the electric potential of the electrode layer between a fixed end portion and a displacement end portion of an actuator. The electrode layer includes a bundle of polymer fibers containing a conductive material. Longitudinal directions of the polymer fibers are arranged parallel to a direction from the fixed portion to the displacement end portion of the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator large in the amounts of displacement and generative force. The actuator includes a pair of electrode layers and an electrolyte-containing electrolyte layer interposed between the pair of electrode layers, and transforms upon application of a voltage thereto to cause ions in the electrolyte to migrate, wherein the electrolyte layer includes at least one polymer fiber layer made of polymer fibers and at least some of the polymer fibers of the polymer fiber layer are uniaxially oriented within a plane of the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell system provided with a fuel cell module, a water supply device for supplying water to the fuel cell module, a water container for supplying water to the water supply device, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in the exhaust gas which is discharged from the fuel cell module and supplying the condensed water to the water container. The water container contains therein an ion exchange device for removing impurities which are contained in the water supplied from the condenser. The water supply device is provided below and downstream of the water container. A pressure regulating device for absorbing a pulsation of the water supply device and absorbing the variation in the pressure in the fuel cell module is provided between the water supply device and the fuel cell module.

Abstract: Provided are an electrode having high conductivity and high durability to driving deformation, and an actuator including the electrode, the actuator having a large amount of displacement. The actuator includes a pair of electrodes arranged oppositely and an intermediate layer arranged between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer containing an electrolyte, and the actuator being deformed by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, in which at least one of the pair of electrodes includes a porous structure containing a first conductive material and having conductivity, a second conductive material, and an electrolyte, pores of the porous structure being filled with the second conductive material and the electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator which uses a cationically conductive polymer electrolyte and shows a large deformation response. The actuator has a pair of opposing electrodes and an intermediate layer arranged between the pair of the electrodes, which actuator being curved and displaced when voltage is applied to the electrodes, wherein the intermediate layer has at least: the cationically conductive polymer electrolyte having an ether bond site and an anion site in its molecule; and a weakly acidic material which interacts with the ether bond site.

Abstract: In a method for detecting the freezing of water within a fuel cell, precise detection can be performed using a phenomenon specific to the time when water starts to freeze to allow a reduction in erroneous activation. Detection at an early stage after the start of freezing is allowed, and hence measures can be taken against an output reduction before the water within the fuel cell completely freezes.

Abstract: A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a module area, a first fluid supply area, a second fluid supply area, and an electric parts area. The first fluid supply area is provided on a first side surface of the module area, and an electric parts area is provided on a second side surface of the module area. The second fluid supply area is provided under a bottom surface of the module area. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module area.

Abstract: An anisotropic conductive material prevents conduction resistance from varying among bumps or among linear terminals when connecting an IC chip or a flexible wire to a wiring board via the anisotropic conductive material. The anisotropic conductive material is formed by dispersing conductive particles in an insulating binder. The minimum melt viscosity [?0] thereof is in a range of from 1×102 to 1×106 mPa·sec, and satisfies the following equation (1): 1<[?1]/[?0]?3??(1) where in the equation (1), [?0] represents the minimum melt viscosity of the anisotropic conductive material, and [?1] represents a melt viscosity at a temperature T1 which is 30° C. lower than a temperature T0 at which the minimum melt viscosity is exhibited.

Abstract: In a method for detecting the freezing of water within a fuel cell, precise detection can be performed using a phenomenon specific to the time when water starts to freeze to allow a reduction in erroneous activation. Detection at an early stage after the start of freezing is allowed, and hence measures can be taken against an output reduction before the water within the fuel cell completely freezes.

Abstract: An expansion and contraction actuator has a first long actuator portion and a second long actuator portion that face each other and connection members that connect the long sides of each of the first long actuator portion and the second long actuator portion to each other, in which a part of the first long actuator portion and a part of the second long actuator portion are apart from each other to thereby form a hollow structure, the first long actuator portion and the second long actuator portion each have a pair of long electrodes and a long electrolyte layer having an electrolyte, long internal electrodes thereof are the same cathode or anode electrodes, long external electrodes thereof are counter electrodes thereto, and the actuator expands and contracts in the direction of the screw axis by voltage application.

Abstract: A plurality of permanent magnets are provided at a rotor at equal angular intervals. A plurality of magneto coils are provided at a stator at unequal angular intervals. The number of the plurality of magneto coils is not a multiple of three. The plurality of magneto coils include U-phase magneto coils, V-phase magneto coils and W-phase magneto coils. The U-phase magneto coils are arranged and connected such that phases of currents passing through the U-phase magneto coils are equal. The V-phase magneto coils are arranged and connected such that phases of currents passing through the V-phase magneto coils are equal. The W-phase magneto coils are arranged and connected such that phases of currents passing through the W-phase magneto coils are equal.

Abstract: A fuel cell system provided with a fuel cell module, a water supply device for supplying water to the fuel cell module, a water container for supplying water to the water supply device, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in the exhaust gas which is discharged from the fuel cell module and supplying the condensed water to the water container. The water container contains therein an ion exchange device for removing impurities which are contained in the water supplied from the condenser. The water supply device is provided below and downstream of the water container. A pressure regulating device for absorbing a pulsation of the water supply device and absorbing the variation in the pressure in the fuel cell module is provided between the water supply device and the fuel cell module.

Abstract: A conductance at an oxidizer flow path forming member is defined as C1, a conductance at an opening portion of the oxidizer flow path forming member at which an oxidizer flow rate regulating portion is arranged is defined as C2, the conductances have a relationship of C1>C2. Further, the fuel cell stack has at least one inner fuel cell unit having a value of C1/C2 which is larger than values of C1/C2 of fuel cell units located at both ends of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of performing activation for stabilizing electrical characteristics of a fuel cell with suppressing generation of polarity inversion associated with drying of a polymer electrolyte membrane and excess power consumption. An activation method for a fuel cell, the fuel cell system including a fuel cell having a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode that are provided on both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane; a resistance detector for detecting an internal resistance of the fuel cell; a load connection portion having a mechanism for connecting a resistor between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode; and a control unit for controlling the load connection portion. The control unit controls the operation of the load connection portion based on a value of the inner resistance of the fuel cell, which is detected by the resistance detector.