Abstract: A water electrolysis apparatus is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells. Each unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and an anode separator and a cathode separator which sandwich the membrane electrode assembly therebetween. The anode separator has a plurality of inlet joint channels in fluid communication with a water supply passage, and a plurality of outlet joint channels in fluid communication with a discharge passage. The water supply passage has an inner wall surface at which the inlet joint channels are open, and an outer wall surface which faces the inner wall surface, the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface jointly forming an opening of an oblong cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A water electrolysis apparatus includes an anode separator having a water flow field held in fluid communication with a water supply passage and a discharge passage. The water flow field includes a plurality of water channels, an arcuate inlet buffer, and an arcuate outlet buffer. The water channels have respective ends connected to the arcuate inlet buffer through respective inlet joint channels. The inlet joint channels are oriented at an angle of 90 degrees or greater with respect to respective tangential lines at the ends of the inlet joint channels which are connected to the arcuate inlet buffer.

Abstract: A water electrolysis apparatus includes a plurality of unit cells. A membrane electrode assembly of the unit cell includes an anode side power feeding element and a cathode side power feeding element stacked on an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer on both surfaces of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. A surface of the anode side power feeding element is subjected to a grinding process, and then, subjected to an etching process to form a smooth surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus for preventing hydrogen gas from leaking toward an anode side and for obtaining excellent electrolytic efficiency. The apparatus includes a single cell having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, power feeders, separators, and fluid channels provided in respective separators. High-pressure hydrogen gas accompanied by water is obtained in the fluid channel by supplying water to the fluid channel and applying current to each power feeder to electrolyze water. The obtained hydrogen gas and water are subjected to gas-liquid separation in a second compartment of a high-pressure vessel, and hydrogen gas thus separated is used to press a barrier member towards the single cell. The separated water is supplied to the fluid channel through the hydrogen gas guide channel.

Abstract: A water electrolysis system has a water electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing pure water, thereby producing hydrogen, a water storage apparatus for separating between oxygen and residual water discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus, thereby storing the water, a water circulation apparatus for circulating the water stored in the water storage apparatus through the water electrolysis apparatus, and a water supply apparatus for supplying the pure water prepared from city water to the water storage apparatus. An inlet is formed at one end of a return pipe to introduce the oxygen and the residual water discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus into a tank, and the position of the inlet is determined such that the inlet is constantly opened in the water stored in the tank.

Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing pure water supplied from a pure water supply apparatus for manufacturing high-pressure hydrogen. The water electrolysis apparatus has a pipe serving as a hydrogen outlet to which a gas-liquid separator, a cooler, and a water adsorption apparatus are successively connected in this order along the direction in which hydrogen is discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus. A first back-pressure valve is connected between the cooler and the water adsorption apparatus, and a second back-pressure valve is connected downstream of the water adsorption apparatus.

Abstract: A hydrogen electrolysis apparatus includes a stack of unit cells each having a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between an anode separator and a cathode separator. The anode separator has a first flow field which is supplied with water, and the cathode separator has a second flow field which produces high-pressure hydrogen through an electrolysis of the water. The cathode separator also has a first seal groove defined therein which extends around the second flow field and a first seal member inserted in the first seal groove. The first seal groove and the second flow field are held in fluid communication with each other through passageways. The passageways keep the first seal groove and the second flow field in direct fluid communication with each other in bypassing relation to the boundary between the cathode separator and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing pure water supplied from a pure water supply apparatus to produce high-pressure hydrogen. A pressure releasing device is connected between a pipe of the water electrolysis apparatus and a check valve connected to the inlet port of a gas-liquid separator, for releasing the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen from the water electrolysis apparatus independently from the gas-liquid separator. The pressure releasing device has a bleeder passage including a pressure reducing valve and a solenoid-operated valve.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating system is equipped with a water electrolysis unit for producing hydrogen by performing electrolysis on pure water supplied from a pure water supply apparatus, with a back-pressure valve mechanism disposed in a hydrogen outlet port of the water electrolysis unit. The back-pressure valve mechanism is equipped with a first back-pressure valve, which sets a first back pressure, for discharging hydrogen to the outside of a hydrogen supply passage, and a second back-pressure valve, which sets a second back pressure at a higher pressure than the first back pressure, for extracting high-pressure hydrogen into the hydrogen supply passage.

Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of rigid power feeders, separators, pressing means for pressing the separators and the power feeders against the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a pressure contact surface provided on each of the separators, a recess portion, and fluid channels. Hydrogen gas is obtained by applying a current to each of the power feeders to electrolyze water. A gap G in a range of less than an original thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between a surface of the power feeder which is provided at least in the cathode side separator and the pressure contact surface. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane intrudes into the gap G, because of elasticity of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and directly contacts with the surface of the power feeder provided at least in the cathode side separator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue construct-forming substrate for forming a three-dimensional tissue construct containing proliferating cells, the substrate including a porous film having through-holes, and the porous film having, on the surface of the film, a cell adhesive region capable of retaining cells and a cell non-adhesive region located at a peripheral region of the cell adhesive region, a tissue construct-forming kit comprising the above-mentioned tissue construct-forming substrate and a frame, and a method for forming the above-mentioned tissue construct.

Abstract: The invention provides a high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus for preventing hydrogen gas from leaking toward an anode side and for obtaining excellent electrolytic efficiency. The apparatus includes a single cell having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, power feeders, separators, and fluid channels provided in respective separators. High-pressure hydrogen gas accompanied by water is obtained in the fluid channel by supplying water to the fluid channel and applying current to each power feeder to electrolyze water. The obtained hydrogen gas and water are subjected to gas-liquid separation in a second compartment of a high-pressure vessel, and hydrogen gas thus separated is used to press a barrier member towards the single cell. The separated water is supplied to the fluid channel through the hydrogen gas guide channel.

Abstract: There is provided a hydrogen production apparatus which is easily to be manufactured and can obtain an excellent electrolytic efficiency. This apparatus comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, a pair of rigid power feeders 3, 4, separators 5, 6, pressing means for pressing the separators 5, 6 and the power feeders 3, 4 against the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, a pressure contact surface 17 provided on each of the separators 5, 6, a recess portion 18, and fluid channels 8, 10. Hydrogen gas is obtained by applying a current to each of the power feeders 3, 4 to electrolyze water. A gap G in a range of less than an original thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is provided between a surface 3a of the power feeder 3 which is provided at least in the cathode side separator 5 and the pressure contact surface 17. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 intrudes into the gap G, because of elasticity of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2.

Abstract: A water electrolysis apparatus includes a plurality of unit cells. A membrane electrode assembly of the unit cell includes an anode side power feeding element and a cathode side power feeding element stacked on an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer on both surfaces of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. A surface of the anode side power feeding element is subjected to a grinding process, and then, subjected to an etching process to form a smooth surface.

Abstract: There is provided a water electro system which permits easy recycling of recovered pure water. The water electrolysis system includes: an electrolyte membrane 11 sandwiched by catalyst layers 12 and 13; a water electrolysis means 1 that brings out hydrogen from one catalyst layer and brings out a gas/liquid mixture of oxygen and pure water from the other catalyst layer by electrolyzing pure water; a gas/liquid separating means 2 that separates pure water 7 from the gas/liquid mixture; and a backflow means 8 that makes the separated pure water 7 flow back to the water electrolysis means 1. The gas/liquid separating means 2 is arranged to be directly connected to a discharge opening 3 through which the gas/liquid mixture is brought out from the water electrolysis means 1, and the gas/liquid mixture flows back directly to the gas/liquid separating means 2 through the discharge opening 3.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding strand of glass fiber filaments is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one takeup collet on which a strand of glass fiber filaments is wound, a guiding mechanism for guiding an end portion of the strand which has started being drawn off from a spinning bushing to a predetermined position below the spinning bushing on a stream of a water, and an auxiliary winder mechanism rotatable for catching and winding the guided end portion of the strand. The auxiliary winder being moved toward said takeup collet when the end portion of the strand is under a condition capable of being transferred onto the takeup collet for bringing the strand into contact with the takeup collet within a winding zone of the takeup collet. An associated method therefor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A traverse motion used in combination with a device for winding a continous elongate element such as a strand consisting of a large number of glass filaments drawn through a bushing with a large number of nozzles. In the traverse motion of the type including a scroll cam with an endless cam groove consisting of at least one pair of right- and left-hand grooves joined at each end and a strand guide which has a cam follower fitted in the endless cam groove of the scroll cam and is adapted to reciprocate along a straight path in parallel with the axis of the shaft of the scroll cam when the latter is rotated, the lead angle of the endless cam groove is increased adjacent to its ends or adjacent to each returning point of the cam follower so that the guide is increased in velocity adjacent to each returning point.

Abstract: A cutting roller 2 of a glass filament chopping apparatus mounts a plurality of spaced, axially parallel cutting blades 19 held in receiving grooves 20 by retainer strips 21. The peripheral flange surfaces 24, 25 of the cutting roller on the opposite ends of the roller drum 18 are raised to almost the radius of the cutting blade edges, and serve as driving engagement surfaces when the rotating cutting roller is biased into contact with a feed roller 1.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing chopped strands of glass filaments wherein a multiplicity of glass filaments are extruded through orifices in the bottom of at least two spinning furnaces and a sizing agent is applied and the filaments are collected to form at least two strands. The strands brought into contact with the circumferential surface of a feed roller through a predetermined angle so as to be drawn and attenuated by frictional force exerted by the circumferential surface of the feed roller while the strands are cut into chopped strands of a predetermined length with a cutter roller in contact with the feed roller. An auxiliary feed roller is disposed adjacent to one end portion of and in axial alignment with the main feed roller and is driven independently thereof. An auxiliary cutter roller is adapted to contact under pressure the circumferential surface of the auxiliary feed roller to rotate therewith.

Abstract: In a glass fiber forming apparatus comprising an orifice plate which has a large number of closely spaced orifices and has a flat undersurface and air is blown upwardly against said orifice plate during spinning operation, means is provided for mechanically separating into individual glass fibers a mass of molten glass adhering to the undersurface of the orifice plate in flooding condition before spinning is started or after all glass fibers are broken. The separating means is a clamping means so constructed and arranged as to clamp a mass of molten glass, means for moving said clamping means between a waiting position at which said clamping means will not interfere with the stream of filaments in the normal spinning operation and an operative position at which said clamping means can clamp a mass of molten glass, and means for causing said clamping means to open or close.