Abstract: A manganese non-aqueous electrolyte battery having safety at a time of battery abnormality and having a long life span is provided. A battery 20 has a cylindrical container 7 having a bottom. An electrode group 6 where a positive electrode plate that a spinel-related lithium manganese complex oxide is used as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode plate that a carbon material is used as a negative electrode active material are wound via separators W5, is accommodated in the container 7. The electrode group 6 is infiltrated by an electrolytic solution in which LiBF4 is added as an electrolyte to organic solvent. Further, a phosphazene flame retardant is added at 10 wt % to the electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution hardly catches fire at a time of battery abnormality and manganese elution can be prevented.

Abstract: An on-board fuel cell system adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle includes a main passage connecting a hydrogen-gas storage device with an inlet of a fuel cell, a circulation passage that connects an outlet of the fuel cell with a first point in the main passage, a pump disposed in the circulation passage, and a bypass passage that connects a second point between the outlet of the storage device and the first point, with a third point located in the circulation passage between the outlet of the fuel cell and the pump. During a normal operation condition of the system, the hydrogen gas flows from the storage device to the fuel cell through the main passage, and hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell returns to the main passage through the circulation passage.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the invention, a pressure regulator is provided in the pathway of a hydrogen supply conduit that connects a hydrogen tank to a fuel cell stack. An anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell stack is recirculated through a recirculation pipe into the hydrogen supply conduit. A hydrogen pump is provided in the pathway of the recirculation pipe to increase the pressure of the anode off gas. A control unit of the fuel cell system includes a hydrogen pump control module, an abnormality diagnosis module, and an atmospheric pressure-based correction module. The hydrogen pump control module regulates the rotation speed of the hydrogen pump corresponding to a power demand to be output from the fuel cell system. The abnormality diagnosis module detects an abnormal state, based on a result of determination of whether the pressure of the hydrogen supply measured by a pressure sensor is within a certain range defined by two preset threshold values.

Abstract: A fuel cell system FC replenishes a fuel cell stack with air or hydrogen by temporarily driving a compressor or a low-pressure valve even during an intermittent operation mode. If air is supplied for replenishment, the amount of air remaining in an air supply system is kept substantially constant, so that the voltage fall during a stop of the fuel cell system can be curbed. If hydrogen is supplied for replenishment, the amount of hydrogen moving to the air supply system is offset, so that a delay in supplying hydrogen can be curbed. Furthermore, the fuel cell system FC inputs signals from a sensor, such as, a brake sensor, a shift selector, or other suitable means and anticipates acceleration of a vehicle equipped with the system FC. On the basis of the anticipation of acceleration, the system FC replenishes the fuel cell stack with air or hydrogen in advance.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is provided which detects a freeze among specific components and portions thereof by evaluating various conditions upon starting operation of the fuel cell system. If a freeze is detected through those evaluations, the start of the system is prohibited in order to prevent some deterioration in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer that generates reformed gas using reforming fuel; a fuel cell that generates electric power using the reformed gas generated by the reformer; and a control device. The control device includes a plurality of different stop control modes for stopping operation of the fuel cell system, and selects a specific stop control mode among the plurality of stop control modes, according to the cause of a malfunction of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is provided which detects a freeze among specific components and portions thereof by evaluating various conditions upon starting operation of the fuel cell system. If a freeze is detected through those evaluations, the start of the system is prohibited in order to prevent some deterioration in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: An on-board fuel cell system adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle includes a main passage connecting a hydrogen-gas storage device with an inlet of a fuel cell, a circulation passage that connects an outlet of the fuel cell with a first point in the main passage, a pump disposed in the circulation passage, and a bypass passage that connects a second point between the outlet of the storage device and the first point, with a third point located in the circulation passage between the outlet of the fuel cell and the pump. During a normal operation condition of the system, the hydrogen gas flows from the storage device to the fuel cell through the main passage, and hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell returns to the main passage through the circulation passage.

Abstract: In a steering locking device comprising a locking device for automatically locking a steering shaft when a key of an ignition switch is withdrawn in a state in which the key is withdrawable, a key mechanism section and the locking device of the ignition switch are provided separately, and the locking device is provided at any portion on an output shaft of a steering wheel extending from the steering wheel to a steering gear section. Accordingly, a large space around knees can be secured while securing a sufficient collapse stroke, and a good steerability is maintained by preventing resonance of the steering wheel caused by lowering of a natural frequency vibration of a steering column while reducing the weight of the device.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the invention, a pressure regulator is provided in the pathway of a hydrogen supply conduit that connects a hydrogen tank to a fuel cell stack. An anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell stack is recirculated through a recirculation pipe into the hydrogen supply conduit. A hydrogen pump is provided in the pathway of the recirculation pipe to increase the pressure of the anode off gas. A control unit of the fuel cell system includes a hydrogen pump control module, an abnormality diagnosis module, and an atmospheric pressure-based correction module. The hydrogen pump control module regulates the rotation speed of the hydrogen pump corresponding to a power demand to be output from the fuel cell system. The abnormality diagnosis module detects an abnormal state, based on a result of determination of whether the pressure of the hydrogen supply measured by a pressure sensor is within a certain range defined by two preset threshold values.

Abstract: A fuel cell system FC replenishes a fuel cell stack with air or hydrogen by temporarily driving a compressor 41 or a low-pressure valve 24 even during an intermittent operation mode. If air is supplied for replenishment, the amount of air remaining in an air supply system is kept substantially constant, so that the voltage fall during a stop of the fuel cell system can be curbed. If hydrogen is supplied for replenishment, the amount of hydrogen moving to the air supply system is offset, so that a delay in supplying hydrogen can be curbed. Furthermore, the fuel cell system FC inputs signals from a brake sensor 102, a shift selector 104, etc., and anticipates acceleration of a vehicle equipped with the system FC. On the basis of the anticipation of acceleration, the system FC replenishes the fuel cell stack with air or hydrogen in advance.

Abstract: In a fluid leakage detection apparatus, hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank to an FC stack of a fuel cell via first and second pipes. An inlet valve is provided between the hydrogen tank and the first pipe, and an outlet valve is provided between the first pipe and the second pipe. A controller serves to control valve opening a valve closing operation of the inlet and outlet valves, respectively. Those valves are closed in a state where the pressure within the hydrogen tank is made lower than the pressure within the first pipe, and the pressure within the second pipe is made lower than the pressure within the first pipe by operating those valves. Thereafter, the increase or decrease in the pressure within the first pipe is detected by a pressure gauge such that the leakage in the inlet valve or the outlet valve is determined. This makes it possible to detect the leakage both in the inlet valve and the outlet valve at the same time.

Abstract: An on-board fuel cell system adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle includes a main passage connecting a hydrogen-gas storage device with an inlet of a fuel cell, a circulation passage that connects an outlet of the fuel cell with a first point in the main passage, a pump disposed in the circulation passage, and a bypass passage that connects a second point between the outlet of the storage device and the first point, with a third point located in the circulation passage between the outlet of the fuel cell and the pump. During a normal operation condition of the system, the hydrogen gas flows from the storage device to the fuel cell through the main passage, and hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell returns to the main passage through the circulation passage.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is provided which detects a freeze among specific components and portions thereof by evaluating various conditions upon starting operation of the fuel cell system. If a freeze is detected through those evaluations, the start of the system is prohibited in order to prevent some deterioration in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: In a fluid leakage detection apparatus, hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank to an FC stack of a fuel cell via first and second pipes. An inlet valve is provided between the hydrogen tank and the first pipe, and an outlet valve is provided between the first pipe and the second pipe. A controller serves to control valve opening a valve closing operation of the inlet and outlet valves, respectively. Those valves are closed in a state where the pressure within the hydrogen tank is made lower than the pressure within the first pipe, and the pressure within the second pipe is made lower than the pressure within the first pipe by operating those valves. Thereafter, the increase or decrease in the pressure within the first pipe is detected by a pressure gauge such that the leakage in the inlet valve or the outlet valve is determined. This makes it possible to detect the leakage both in the inlet valve and the outlet valve at the same time.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reforming device 1 for reforming a fuel of hydrocarbon family to a fuel gas whose principal component is hydrogen, a fuel-cell stack 2 for generating electricity by using the fuel gas and an oxidizing agent, a gauge 7 for determining a concentration of CO in a fuel gas exhausted from the reforming device 1, a burning device 3 for burning the fuel gas, the burning device 3 being independent of the fuel-cell stack 2, and a switching device 8 for directing the fuel gas to either the fuel-cell stack 2 or the burning device 3. In such a fuel system control at initiation and cooling down time at termination become easy and shorter.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel-cell stack 2 which generates electric power by utilizing a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas; a combusting device 3 which burns an off gas of the fuel gas emitted from the fuel-cell stack 2; an oxidizing agent gas supply device 4 including a turbine 41 and a compressor 43. The turbine 41 is rotated by the combustion energy of an exhausted gas from the combusting device 3. The compressor 43 is coupled to the turbine 41 to pressurize the oxidizing agent gas. The oxidizing agent gas supply device 4 is connected to the fuel-cell stack 2 for supplying the pressurized oxidizing agent gas. A reforming device 1 reforms a carbon hydride family fuel into fuel gas and a compressor 51 further pressurizes the pressurized oxidizing agent gas. The compressor 51 is connected between the reforming device 1 and the fuel-cell stack 2.

Abstract: A shut valve for a hydrogen occluding alloy tank is integrated into a body of the hydrogen occluding alloy tank. Shut valves for a fuel cell are also integrated into a body of the fuel cell. There is no flow passage for communication between the shut valves and the body of the fuel cell. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which hydrogen gas continues to flow out of the flow passage for communication between the shut valves and the body of the fuel cell despite closure of the valves in response to an inconvenience arising in the flow passage. Even in case of emergency, flow of hydrogen gas can be stopped completely.

Abstract: An on-board fuel cell system adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle includes a main passage connecting a hydrogen-gas storage device with an inlet of a fuel cell, a circulation passage that connects an outlet of the fuel cell with a first point in the main passage, a pump disposed in the circulation passage, and a bypass passage that connects a second point between the outlet of the storage device and the first point, with a third point located in the circulation passage between the outlet of the fuel cell and the pump. During a normal operation condition of the system, the hydrogen gas flows from the storage device to the fuel cell through the main passage, and hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell returns to the main passage through the circulation passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel-cell stack 4 for generating electricity by using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, a combustion device 3 for burning an off-gas of the fuel gas, and a water recovering device 8 for recovering a vapor of an exhaust gas resulting from the burning.