Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a cell stack formed by laminating a membrane electrode assembly and a separator and sandwiching them from the both sides in the laminating direction with a pair of end plates is fastened by being tightened in the laminating direction with a first plate spring. The first plate spring includes two arm sections for pressing the pair of end plates and a connecting section connecting the arm sections, and has a C-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A clean power supply unit with a high fuel utilization rate using a fuel cell is provided. The power supply unit of the present invention comprises a fuel cell using methanol as fuel; a secondary battery for supplying power to a load; a fuel cell control part for controlling the amount of fuel and/or air supplied to the above-mentioned fuel cell; and a power converter for converting the power output from the above-mentioned fuel cell to a predetermined voltage or current, supplying power to the load and/or the above-mentioned secondary battery and controlling the supplied power so as to fall within a predetermined range including the value at which the amount of methanol discharged from the above-mentioned fuel cell becomes minimized.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge for fuel cells is configured to include an inner bag made of a flexible material and filled with liquid fuel, a valve provided to the inner bag for discharging the fuel, and an outer case encasing the inner bag with the valve being exposed to the outside, the outer case being deformable by a hand and able to recover its initial shape by itself. The fuel cartridge allows the liquid fuel inside to be used almost completely irrespective of its attachment direction, and can be used in both applications where the cartridge is hand-pressed to discharge fuel and where fuel is pumped-out from the cartridge.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a separation unit for separating gas-liquid mixed fluid discharged from the fuel cell stack. The separation unit has a tank for storing the separated liquid. A pair of metal electrodes is disposed on the side surfaces of the tank opposed to each other. The electrodes are used to measure the amount of the liquid in the tank and also promote the heat dissipation of the liquid in the tank. This can suppress the transpiration of the liquid in the tank and cool the liquid to a temperature suitable for the reuse in the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.

Abstract: A separator used in a fuel cell stack includes an inlet chamber, a plurality of partition walls, and an outlet chamber. The partition walls are formed in the same length in an equal interval from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber so as to form a plurality of linear passages. The outlet chamber is formed at an end side of the partition walls. The outlet chamber is provided with a first outlet and a second outlet opening in the facing edges of the separator. A space is provided between the center partition wall and the inner wall surface of the separator in the outlet chamber, and the first outlet and the second outlet communicate with each other via the space.

Abstract: To hold cells while efficiently adjusting temperature of the cells, a battery module (1) includes: a plurality of columnar cells (20), and a holder (3) for holding the cells (20). The holder (3) includes cylindrical container portions (31) for containing the cells (20), respectively, refrigerant passages (34) and phase change elements (4) for adjusting temperature of the cells (20), and pressing walls (33) for pressing the cells (20) to bring outer circumferential surfaces of the cells (20) into contact with inner circumferential surfaces of the container portions (31), respectively. The holder (3) is made of an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack formed by laminating thin end plates, separators, and the like, includes a first side surface and a second side surface parallel to the laminating direction. An anode side end plate has a plane portion on a first side surface. The dimension in the laminating direction of the plane portion is larger than a thickness of one of the end plates in a portion where the end plates sandwich a membrane electrode assembly. The plane portion is provided with a fuel inlet port for taking in fuel from the outside.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a flow rate of fuel supplied to a fuel cell, a voltage change is examined while the flow rate of the fuel is increased step by step in a state in which a constant current is output. Conversely, when the voltage change becomes small, the flow rate of fuel is reduced step by step. When the voltage change becomes large, the flow rate of the fuel in the previous step is employed. Thus, the flow rate of fuel can be optimized in accordance with an operating state of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A heat insulation sheet (16) covers a temperature fuse (10) arranged on a sealing plate (23) of a rechargeable battery (2) so as to provide a shield from heat of resin that is filled in a gap between the rechargeable battery (2) and a circuit substrate (3) to form a primary mold (11) and to prevent destruction of the temperature fuse (10) caused by the heat.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for optimally controlling an amount and temperature of liquid component stored in a gas-liquid separator, and its control method. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a pump for supplying gas to the fuel cell, a gas-liquid separator for storing a liquid component discharged at least from a cathode side of the fuel cell, a cooler for cooling the stored liquid component, a temperature detector for measuring temperature of liquid component, a liquid level detector for measuring an amount of liquid component, and a controller for controlling a flow rate of gas from the pump and heat discharge by the cooler. The controller controls at least heat discharge by the cooler or a flow rate of gas supplied from the pump based on an output of the temperature detector and an output of the liquid level detector.

Abstract: It is a fuel supply adaptor device which connects the apparatus having a fuel injecting portion including a power generator formed of fuel cells to the fuel cartridge having a fuel supplying portion and delivers the fuel in the fuel cartridge to the power generator, comprising a second connector for making connection to the fuel injecting portion of at least one apparatus, a first connector for making connection to the fuel supplying portion of at least one fuel cartridge, a connecting pipe for connecting the first connector to the second connector, and a holder, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the connecting pipe are held by the holder.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, constructed as an integrated stack comprising a laminate, produced by stacking a plurality of cells between two end plates, and a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to the fuel cell. In this fuel cell system, a plurality of individual fuel supply ports, for supplying fuel independently from the fuel supply device to each of the plurality of cells, are formed on the end plates, thus forming individual fuel supply channels that deliver fuel from the plurality of individual fuel supply ports to the fuel electrodes of the corresponding cells, respectively. This fuel cell system is compact, and enables equal supply of a predetermined quantity of fuel to each of the plurality of cells.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a cell stack is formed by laminating membrane electrode assemblies and a separator, and sandwiching them with a pair of end plates from the both sides in the laminating direction, and the cell stack is tightened and fastened in a laminating direction by a first plate spring. The first plate spring includes two arm sections for pressing the end plates and a connecting section connecting the arm sections so as to have a C-shaped cross-section. Space between the connecting section of the first plate spring, and membrane electrode assembly and the end plates functions as a first cooling air flow passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack of the present invention includes: a membrane electrode assembly, formed by stacking an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and a sealing structure for preventing a fuel that is supplied to the anode electrode and a gas containing an oxidizer that is supplied to the cathode electrode from leaking in a direction different from a stacking direction of the membrane electrode assembly, and has a configuration where pressing force of the sealing structure on the anode electrode side is set larger than pressing force on the cathode electrode side. There are provided a fuel cell stack having a sealing structure excellent in assembly property and replacement property, and a fuel cell using the same.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery (2) and a circuit substrate (3) are connected by lead plates (4, 5) and united by a primary mold (11) that is formed by filling resin therebetween, after which a secondary mold (12) is formed on the outer face by filling resin at necessary locations and a winding sheet (13) is wound around the periphery, thereby forming a battery pack.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided, in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are held by a center frame, a bottom-side frame, and a terminal-side frame in a parallel spaced relationship, the plurality of rechargeable batteries being connected in series and integrated with a circuit substrate by mounting the circuit substrate on the terminal-side frame, the circuit substrate being provided with a resin mold, whereby the battery pack is free of damage to electrical circuit parts even in the event of entrance of water or dust through vents that are provided for suppressing temperature rise of the rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A fuel supply system includes a holder, a first connector, a second connector, and a connecting pipe. The holder has a device holder part on which an electronic device is to be mounted. The first connector is provided at the device holder part. The second connector is connected to a fuel cartridge. The connecting pipe connects the first connector with the second connector. A predetermined portion of the device holder part other than the first connector and a predetermined part of the electronic device form a pair of mechanical keys having special shapes capable of being coupled to each other.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus is for connecting a device including at least a part of a power generation section that has a fuel cell and having a fuel injection section with a fuel cartridge having a fuel supply section so as to send fuel in the fuel cartridge to the power generation section side. The fuel supply apparatus includes a holder having a first connector to be connected to the fuel injection section of the device, a second connector to be connected to the fuel supply section of the fuel cartridge, and a connecting pipe connecting the first connector with the second connector. A guide member for guiding connection between the first connector of the holder and the fuel injection section of the device is provided.