Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for subzero start-up of a fuel cell. The method for the subzero start-up of the fuel cell includes: introducing a gas containing hydrogen having a mass percentage of 5% to 100% to a hydrogen electrode and an air electrode of the fuel cell (2) under a condition of minus 50° C. to 0° C.; applying a current or a voltage to the fuel cell (2), and utilizing ohmic heat generation, reaction heat, and concentration overpotential heat generation of the fuel cell (2) to raise the fuel cell (2) to a required temperature or to cause the fuel cell (2) to reach to a set time, so as to implement the subzero start-up of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object the provision of a controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor capable of speedily obtaining a state in which gas concentration measurement can be conducted after the activation of a power source. The controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor is configured to include at least a working electrode and a counter electrode which are provided in contact with an electrolytic solution and to detect a concentration of a detection target gas in a gas to be tested by detecting a current flowing between the working electrode and the counter electrode in a state in which the working electrode is controlled at a constant set potential. The controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor includes an operation control circuit that drives the controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor based on a current in a forward direction detected when the controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor is activated under energization conditions at the time of a gas detection operation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for subzero start-up of a fuel cell. The method for the subzero start-up of the fuel cell includes: introducing a gas containing hydrogen having a mass percentage of 5% to 100% to a hydrogen electrode and an air electrode of the fuel cell (2) under a condition of minus 50° C. to 0° C.; applying a current or a voltage to the fuel cell (2), and utilizing ohmic heat generation, reaction heat, and concentration overpotential heat generation of the fuel cell (2) to raise the fuel cell (2) to a required temperature or to cause the fuel cell (2) to reach to a set time, so as to implement the subzero start-up of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object the provision of a controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor capable of speedily obtaining a state in which gas concentration measurement can be conducted after the activation of a power source. The controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor is configured to include at least a working electrode and a counter electrode which are provided in contact with an electrolytic solution and to detect a concentration of a detection target gas in a gas to be tested by detecting a current flowing between the working electrode and the counter electrode in a state in which the working electrode is controlled at a constant set potential. The controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor includes an operation control circuit that drives the controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor based on a current in a forward direction detected when the controlled potential electrolysis gas sensor is activated under energization conditions at the time of a gas detection operation.

Abstract: A film member stacking device includes a block having a bottom surface portion provided with an outer end configured to contact with an inner end of an opening of a first film member. The outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block is larger than the inner end of the opening of the first film member. The film member stacking device further includes a member configured to uniformly force the first film member in a direction of the bottom surface portion of the block. The inner end of the opening of the first film member is positioned by the block, and the first film member is stacked on a second film member. The block is configured to resist deformation upon contact between the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block and the inner end of the opening of the first film member.

Abstract: Provided is a gas detector which has a high durability to silicone poisoning and of which power consumption is reduced. The gas detector includes a contact combustion-type gas sensor and detects a paraffinic hydrocarbon gas, a solvent gas, and a hydrogen gas. The contact combustion-type gas sensor is configured to include two gas detection elements that are disposed in two detection chambers partitioned from each other, respectively, and the gas inlet of one detection chamber is provided with a silicone removal filter. The paraffinic hydrocarbon gas is detected by one gas detection element disposed in the one detection chamber which is provided with the silicone removal filter. Furthermore, the solvent gas is detected by the other gas detection element which is disposed in the other detection chamber. Still furthermore, the hydrogen gas is detected by either the one gas detection element or the other gas detection element.

Abstract: A holding apparatus for a fuel cell electrolyte membrane includes a support having a flat surface part which supports an electrolyte membrane on which catalyst layers are disposed, and which constitutes a membrane electrode assembly. The flat surface part has a frame-shaped recess positioned outside an outer circumference of the catalyst layers, and the recess is connected to an air-sucking section, and attracts the electrolyte membrane by sucking air in the recess.

Abstract: A transferring method for transferring a catalyst layer to a desired position on an electrolyte film includes the following processes. A multi-layer body is formed by stacking base materials and an electrolyte film on one another such that catalyst layers formed on the base materials are brought into contact with the electrolyte film. The multi-layer body is pressed from a stacking direction. The multi-layer body is heated to a first temperature. The heating is stopped after a predetermined time passes from when pressing is started. The pressing is stopped when the temperature of the catalyst layers becomes a second temperature or lower, which is a temperature lower than the first temperature, after the heating is stopped.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a coating apparatus that can prevent distortion of the shape of a coating area on a sheet member. [Solution Means] A coating apparatus 50 includes a suction roller peripheral wall 114a (base plate 70) on which a flexible electrolyte membrane 21 shaped like a thin film (sheet member 60) is placed, drawing unit 80 that draws the electrolyte membrane on the suction roller peripheral wall, and a coating mechanism 90 that applies catalyst ink 91 (material) onto the electrolyte membrane drawn on the suction roller peripheral wall by the drawing unit. The electrolyte membrane has, in a range from a center portion to a portion on an inner side of an outer peripheral edge 61, a coating area 62 where the catalyst ink is applied.

Abstract: A holding apparatus for a fuel cell gasket has a support having a flat surface part which attracts the gasket and serves to stack a frame-shaped gasket on an outer circumference of an electrolyte membrane or a gas diffusion layer constituting a membrane electrode assembly on which a catalyst layer is disposed. The flat surface part has a frame-shaped recess corresponding to a shape of the gasket, and the recess is connected to an air-sucking section, with the gasket attracted by sucking air in the recess.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a screen printing apparatus and a screen printing method with which it is possible to promote reuse of ink and thereby reduce the printing cost. [Solution] A screen printing apparatus 101 includes an ink recovery mechanism 110 that recovers excess ink 81 discharged to a region in which a scraper 60 does not slide over a screen plate 50. By sliding a squeegee 70, the ink recovery mechanism guides the excess ink from a front side 71 of the squeegee to a region that is on a back side 72 of the squeegee 70 and in which the scraper slides over the screen plate.

Abstract: A bonded sheet to be applied to a membrane electrode assembly includes gaskets serving as a first sheet member and an electrolyte membrane serving as a second sheet member stacked on the gaskets. The gaskets each include a first bonded portion where grooves provided in a sheet surface direction at least partly face sheet end portions, and a second bonded portion having no groove. The electrolyte membrane is stacked on the gaskets in the first bonded portion and the second bonded portion.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a screen printing apparatus and a screen printing method with which it is possible to promote reuse of ink and thereby reduce the printing cost. [Solution] A screen printing apparatus 101 includes an ink recovery mechanism 110 that recovers excess ink 81 discharged to a region in which a scraper 60 does not slide over a screen plate 50. By sliding a squeegee 70, the ink recovery mechanism guides the excess ink from a front side 71 of the squeegee to a region that is on a back side 72 of the squeegee 70 and in which the scraper slides over the screen plate.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membran and frame-shaped first and second gaskets disposed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. The first and second gaskets have overlapping portions which are positioned at a peripheral edge of the electrolyte membrane and face to the electrolyte membrane, and bonding portions which are positioned outside of the peripheral edge and bonded to each other. The overlapping portions and the bonding portions have through holes which extend in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane. An aperture ratio of the through holes of the overlapping portions is greater than an aperture ratio of the through holes of the bonding.

Abstract: [Problem] Provided is a film member stacking device which is capable of correcting deformation of the film member. [Solution] The film member stacking device has a block 11 provided with an outer end that contacts with an inner end of an opening of a first film member which has the opening, in which the block 11 is passed through the opening of the first film member such that the inner end of the opening of the first film member contacts with the outer end of the block 11. Accordingly, it is possible to correct deformation of the opening of the first film member to be positioned.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a coating apparatus that can prevent distortion of the shape of a coating area on a sheet member. [Solution Means] A coating apparatus 50 includes a suction roller peripheral wall 114a (base plate 70) on which a flexible electrolyte membrane 21 shaped like a thin film (sheet member 60) is placed, drawing unit 80 that draws the electrolyte membrane on the suction roller peripheral wall, and a coating mechanism 90 that applies catalyst ink 91 (material) onto the electrolyte membrane drawn on the suction roller peripheral wall by the drawing unit. The electrolyte membrane has, in a range from a center portion to a portion on an inner side of an outer peripheral edge 61, a coating area 62 where the catalyst ink is applied.

Abstract: A bonded sheet to be applied to a membrane electrode assembly includes gaskets serving as a first sheet member and an electrolyte membrane serving as a second sheet member stacked on the gaskets. The gaskets each include a first bonded portion where grooves provided in a sheet surface direction at least partly face sheet end portions, and a second bonded portion having no groove. The electrolyte membrane is stacked on the gaskets in the first bonded portion and the second bonded portion.

Abstract: A holding apparatus for a fuel cell gasket has a support having a flat surface part which attracts the gasket and serves to stack a frame-shaped gasket on an outer circumference of an electrolyte membrane or a gas diffusion layer constituting a membrane electrode assembly on which a catalyst layer is disposed. The flat surface part has a frame-shaped recess corresponding to a shape of the gasket, and the recess is connected to an air-sucking section, with the gasket attracted by sucking air in the recess.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, and frame-shaped first and second gaskets disposed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. The first and second gaskets have overlapping portions which are positioned at a peripheral edge of the electrolyte membrane and face to the electrolyte membrane, and bonding portions which are positioned outside of the peripheral edge and bonded to each other. The overlapping portions and the bonding portions have through holes which extend in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane. An aperture ratio of the through holes of the overlapping portions is greater than an aperture ratio of the through holes of the bonding.

Abstract: A transferring method for transferring a catalyst layer to a desired position on an electrolyte film includes the following processes. A multi-layer body is formed by stacking base materials and an electrolyte film on one another such that catalyst layers formed on the base materials are brought into contact with the electrolyte film. The multi-layer body is pressed from a stacking direction. The multi-layer body is heated to a first temperature. The heating is stopped after a predetermined time passes from when pressing is started. The pressing is stopped when the temperature of the catalyst layers becomes a second temperature or lower, which is a temperature lower than the first temperature, after the heating is stopped. The changes to the abstract are shown below: A transferring method for transferring a catalyst layer to a desired position on an electrolyte film includes the following processes.