Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator having circular disks. On a surface of each of the circular disks, a fuel gas channel is provided for supplying a fuel gas to an anode. The fuel gas channel includes ring shaped grooves and ridges provided alternately, wherein the width of the ring shaped grooves gradually increases outwardly from a fuel gas inlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, an evaporator, a reformer, and a combustor for at least heating any of the fuel cell stack, the heat exchanger, the evaporator, and the reformer. The fuel cell module is surrounded by an inner heat insulating layer and an outer heat insulating layer. The inner heat insulating layer is used in a high temperature area, and the outer heat insulating layer is used in a low temperature area. The inner heat insulating layer contains a large amount of metal component in comparison with the outer heat insulating layer.

Abstract: An operation method at the time of load reduction of fuel cell system includes in this order a first step of determining a target power generation amount of the fuel cell module, a second step of increasing the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to a fuel cell module, a third step of reducing the power generation amount of the fuel cell module, a fourth step of reducing the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell module, a fifth step of reducing the flow rate of the water supplied to the fuel cell module, a sixth step of reducing the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell module, and a seventh step of detecting whether the power generation amount of the fuel cell module reaches the target power generation amount or less.

Abstract: An operation method at the time of load increase of fuel cell system includes in this order a first step of determining a target power generation amount of the fuel cell module, a second step of increasing the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell module, a third step of increasing the flow rate of the water supplied to the fuel cell module a fourth step of increasing the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell module, a fifth step of increasing the power generation amount of the fuel cell module, and a sixth step of detecting whether the power generation amount of the fuel cell module reaches the target power generation amount or more.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes the steps of detecting whether supply of a raw fuel to a fuel cell module is stopped or not, starting supply of water vapor to an electrode surface of an anode based on the temperature of a fuel cell stack when stop of the supply of the raw fuel is detected, starting supply of reverse electrical current to an electrolyte electrode assembly in a direction opposite to electrical current flowing at the time of power generation based on the temperature of the fuel cell stack, stopping the supply of the reverse electrical current at least based on any of the temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of an evaporator, and stopping the supply of the water vapor at least based on any of the temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the evaporator.

Abstract: A separator includes a first plate and a second plate. The separator has a first fuel gas supply unit, a second fuel gas supply unit, first sandwiching sections, second sandwiching sections, a first case unit and a second case unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the first fuel gas supply unit and the second fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. The first sandwiching sections are connected to the first fuel gas supply unit through first bridges, and the second sandwiching sections connected to a second fuel gas supply unit through first bridges. The first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections has a fuel gas inlet and each of the second sandwiching sections has an oxygen-containing gas inlet. The first case unit and the second case unit have oxygen-containing gas supply units.

Abstract: A separator includes a first fuel gas supply unit, a second fuel gas supply unit, first sandwiching sections, second sandwiching sections, a first case unit and a second case unit. The first and second sandwiching sections are connected to the first fuel gas supply unit and the second fuel gas supply unit, respectively, through first bridges. The first case unit and the second case unit are connected to the first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections through second bridges. A first surface pressure F1 generated near a fuel gas supply passage, a second surface pressure F2 generated near an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, and a third surface pressure F3 generated near electrolyte electrode assemblies have different values.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells stacked together in a stacking direction, and end plates provided at opposite ends of the fuel cells in the stacking direction. A fluid unit is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack. The fluid unit includes a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack, and a reformer for reforming a fuel to produce a fuel gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator having a circular disk. On one surface of the circular disk, a fuel gas channel is provided for supplying a fuel gas to an anode, and on the other surface of the circular disk, an oxygen-containing gas channel is provided for supplying air to a cathode. The fuel gas channel has an end point at an outer circumferential end of the anode. A fuel gas discharge channel is connected to an end point of the fuel gas channel, such that the consumed fuel gas is emitted to an oxygen-containing gas supply unit, from a position spaced outwardly from the outer circumference of an electrolyte electrode assembly.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a data requesting unit configured to request the data outputting apparatus to provide output condition setting screen data for displaying an output condition setting screen, a screen display unit configured to receive the output condition setting screen data sent from the data outputting apparatus and to display the output condition setting screen based on the output condition setting screen data, a setting information storing unit configured to store output condition setting information that is set on the output condition setting screen displayed by the screen display unit, and an output data generating unit configured to generate output data processable by the data outputting apparatus in response to the output condition setting information stored in the storage apparatus.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, an electrically conductive first case unit and an electrically conductive second case unit are fixed by screws such that insulating members are interposed between the first case unit and the second case unit. A load applying mechanism is provided in the first case unit. A fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, and a reformer are provided in the second case unit. One pole of the fuel cell stack is electrically connected to the first case unit through an electrically conductive end plate, and the other pole of the fuel cell stack is electrically connected to the second case unit through an electrically conductive end plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly including a cathode, and an anode, and an electrolyte interposed between the cathode and the anode. The anode is made of porous material of Ni, for example. A dense layer is formed integrally on an outer circumferential surface of the anode as a protective layer by densifying process. The dense layer prevents an exhaust gas from flowing into the anode. The dense layer is formed by heating an outer circumferential region of the anode by a laser or the like.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply unit for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cell, an oxygen containing gas supply unit, which has a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas, for supplying the oxygen-containing gas heated by the heat exchanger to the fuel cell, an exhaust gas discharge unit for supplying an exhaust gas used in a generating reaction and discharged from the fuel cell, as a heating medium for heating the oxygen-containing gas to the heat exchanger, and a combustion gas supply unit, which has a combustor disposed out of a passageway of the exhaust gas discharge unit for generating a combustion gas by combusting a raw fuel with an oxygen-containing gas supplied thereto, for supplying the combustion gas, together with the exhaust gas, to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas using a heat medium before the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack, a reformer for reforming a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon to produce a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack, a combustor for burning a raw fuel and an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack after consumption in power generation reaction to produce a combustion gas, and a heat retention chamber provided to cover opposite ends of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction. Before an exhaust gas is supplied to the combustor, the exhaust gas flows into the heat retention chamber as a heat source for maintaining the temperature of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators. The separator includes first through third plates which are stacked together. The first plate has a first protrusion section on its surface contacting an anode of a first circular disk. The first protrusion section includes a large number of protrusions and a substantially ring shaped protrusion which is provided around the protrusions. The first protrusion section protrudes toward the anode, and a fuel gas flow field is formed between the anode and the first protrusion section.

Abstract: A device-driver program includes a switchover unit to switch display screens on a user interface between a first display screen and a second display screen, a setting-item-status-management unit to store data indicative of a sequence position of a setting item arranged in a setting item display area of the first display screen and data indicative of a display-enabled-or-display-disabled status of the setting item, a first arranging unit to arrange the setting item in the setting item display area, a list-status-management unit to store, in a list-status-management table, data indicative of sequence positions of setting items arranged in a list display area of the second display screen and data indicative of a display-enabled-or-display-disabled status of the setting items, and a second arranging unit to arrange a list of the setting items in the list display area of the second display screen in accordance with the list-status-management table.

Abstract: A device driver or method that operate a periphery device. A display mode storage unit stores setting items, which are operable by a user using a user interface interfacing the device driver, into functionally mutually-related groups, as plates, the plates indicating display modes of the user interface for each group of the setting items. An alignment sequence setting unit sets an alignment sequence for the plates by allowing the user to set the alignment sequence. An arrangement unit arranges the plates in a plate display area on the user interface depending on the alignment sequence set by the alignment sequence setting. Each of the plates has a width that equals either a whole length or a half length of a width of the plate display area, and the arrangement unit arranges the plates in the plate display area depending on the alignment sequence set by the alignment sequence setting unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly. Each of the separators is a single plate, and includes a plurality of circular disks. First protrusions and second protrusions are provided on both surfaces of the circular disk. The first protrusions contact the anode of the electrolyte electrode assembly, and the second protrusions contact the cathode of the electrolyte electrode assembly. A channel member is provided on a surface of the separator facing the cathode. The channel member forms a plurality of fuel gas supply channels connected between a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas into a fuel gas flow field.

Abstract: In a disclosed order support system, devices connected to a communication network are searched for and device information is acquired from each of the found devices. Specified information used for extracting devices to be monitor target candidates is obtained, which is specified according to a predetermined attribute in the device information. Based on the obtained information, devices to be monitor target candidates are extracted from among the found devices. A list of the extracted devices is displayed, and devices to be monitor targets are selected. Status information of a consumable element in each monitor target device is acquired and sent to an order-support apparatus. The order-support apparatus creates an e-mail including a URL of a website used for ordering the consumable element detected as being deficient according to the received status information, and sends the e-mail to an e-mail address associated with the device with the deficient consumable element.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of electrolyte electrode assemblies (56) and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assemblies (56). Each of the electrolyte electrode assemblies (56) includes a cathode (52), an anode (54), and an electrolyte (50) interposed between the cathode (52) and the anode (54). The surface area of the cathode (52) is smaller than the surface area of the anode (54). Specifically, the diameter D1 of the cathode (52) is smaller than the diameter D2 of the anode (54).