Abstract: A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality of unit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both ends of the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outside the current collector plates (12, 12) with 5 insulating plates (14, 14) interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening the end plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30). According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode (41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.

Abstract: A fuel cell-purposed separator has a gas channel that includes a plurality of stages connected via turnaround portions. A bypass is provided which connects an upstream-side stage to a downstream side stage. After flowing through the downstream-side stage, a gas is let out of a gas outlet. The fuel cell-purposed separator thus constructed curbs a gas concentration drop on the downstream side in the gas channel.

Abstract: A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator is pressed so that one side thereof defines a gas flow channel and that the other side thereof defines a coolant flow channel. A width dG and a cross-sectional area SG of the gas flow channel and a width dW and a cross-sectional area Sw of the coolant flow channel satisfy a relationship: dG?dW or a relationship: SG?SW.

Abstract: A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality of unit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both ends of the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outside the current collector plates (12, 12) with 5 insulating plates (14, 14) interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening the end plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30). According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode (41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.

Abstract: A fuel cell-purposed separator has a gas channel that includes a plurality of stages connected via turnaround portions. A bypass is provided which connects an upstream-side stage to a downstream side stage. After flowing through the downstream-side stage, a gas is let out of a gas outlet. The fuel cell-purposed separator thus constructed curbs a gas concentration drop on the downstream side in the gas channel.

Abstract: A method for storing natural gas by adsorption which comprises separating an available natural gas in an infrastructure side (10) into a low carbon number component mainly containing methane and ethane and a high carbon number component mainly containing propane, butane and the like, and storing the low carbon number component by adsorption in a first adsorption tank (16) and storing the high carbon number component by adsorption in a second adsorption tank (18). The method can solve the problem that the high carbon number component condenses within a pore of an adsorbing agent and hence the adsorption of the carbon number component, the main component of natural gas, is inhibited, and thus improves the storage density. Accordingly, the method can be used for ensuring a high storage density also for an available natural gas. An adsorbing agent for use in the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A system stores densely dissolved methane-base gas and supplies gas of a predetermined composition. A container (10) stores methane-base gas dissolved in hydrocarbon solvent and supplies it to means for adjusting composition, through which an object of regulated contents is obtained. Preferably, the means for adjusting composition is means for maintaining the tank in a supercritical state, or piping (48) for extracting substances at a predetermined ratio from the gas phase (12) and liquid phase (16) in the container.

Abstract: A system stores densely dissolved methane-base gas and supplies gas of a predetermined composition. A container (10) stores methane-base gas dissolved in hydrocarbon solvent and supplies it to means for adjusting composition, through which an object of regulated contents is obtained. Preferably, the means for adjusting composition is means for maintaining the tank in a supercritical state, or piping (48) for extracting substances at a predetermined ratio from the gas phase (12) and liquid phase (16) in the container.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator is pressed so that one side thereof defines a gas flow channel and that the other side thereof defines a coolant flow channel. A width dG and a cross-sectional area SG of the gas flow channel and a width dW and a cross-sectional area Sw of the coolant flow channel satisfy a relationship: dG≧dW or a relationship: SG≧SW.

Abstract: A method for storing natural gas by adsorption which comprises separating an available natural gas in an infrastructure side (10) into a low carbon number component mainly containing methane and ethane and a high carbon number component mainly containing propane, butane and the like, and storing the low carbon number component by adsorption in a first adsorption tank (16) and storing the high carbon number component by adsorption in a second adsorption tank (18). The method can solve the problem that the high carbon number component condenses within a pore of an adsorbing agent and hence the adsorption of the carbon number component, the main component of natural gas, is inhibited, and thus improves the storage density. Accordingly, the method can be used for ensuring a high storage density also for an available natural gas. An adsorbing agent for use in the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of producing hydrogen halide and oxygen by reacting water and halogen as represented by the following formula:H.sub.2 O+X.sub.2 .fwdarw.HX+1/2O.sub.2 ( 1)(wherein, X represents a halogen), wherein activated carbon is used as catalyst, said activated carbon is inserted into an aqueous solution containing said halogen as an electrode, a counter electrode is inserted into said solution and, after bringing this counter electrode into contact with said active carbon electrode, the above reaction takes place in a reaction system in which said activated carbon electrode and counter electrode are connected outside said aqueous solution. Moreover, a voltage is applied between the activated carbon electrode and counter electrode, and contact between the activated carbon electrode and counter electrode is made through an anion electrolyte membrane. In addition, openings are provided in this anion electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A method of separating iodine gas by passing a phase containing iodine gas through a hydrophobic separation membrane containing pores having a pore diameter of 1 nm to 60 .mu.m, retaining iodine gas on the upstream side of the flow of the phase in the separation membrane, and removing the phase from which iodine gas has been removed from the downstream side of the separation membrane. In addition, a membrane that is impermeable to water but permeable to steam is used in combination with this separation membrane.

Abstract: To provide a tracking-type solar module capable of high-performance sunlight-tracking with a simple configuration while simultaneously performing highly effective cooling of a solar cell, a solar cell is movably installed within a transparent cooling tube and is connected to a motor with a crank. A position detecting sensor is also installed inside the transparent cooling tube. Sunlight is refracted by a cooling medium filled inside the transparent cooling tube and is converged on the inner surface of the transparent cooling tube. The position detecting sensor detects the position at which sunlight is converged and the sunlight is tracked by the motor moving the solar cell to that position. Simultaneously, the cooling medium inside the transparent cooling tube directly cools the solar cell.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing a solar module which has a fixed type solar concentrator of high converging magnification, a solar cell 12 is installed on the bottom face of an extension 30 which is extended further from the apex of a V shape formed by a pair of prisms having a refractive index larger than that of air, and a mirror surface 18 is formed on the back side of an incident surface 20 on which sunlight 10 falls. The mirror surface 18 and the incident surface 20 are formed in such a manner that their distance widens toward the apex of the V shape. The sunlight 10 incident on the prisms 16 performs reflection on the mirror surface 18 and total internal reflection on the incident surface 20, respectively. After repeating such reflection, the sunlight 10 reaches the bottom of the extension 30, where it emerges as outgoing light 22 to the solar cell 12.

Abstract: There is provided a converging solar module of a simple structure which can accurately track the sun and efficiently generate electricity. A converging solar module comprises an electricity generating converging lens (10) made of resin having a flat shape, and a solar battery cell (12) placed in the vicinity of a focal area of the converging lens (10). The converging lens (10) and the solar cell (12) are rotatable as a unit. The electricity generating converging lens (10) is attached to a shaft (20) of a rotation driving motor (18). Using sunlight converged by a cylindrical position detecting converging lens (40), a position detecting sensor (42) locates the sun, and outputs information regarding the position of the sun as angle information to a controller (48).

Abstract: Activated carbon is effective as a catalyst for water decomposition when it is coated with a heat-resistant, oxidation-resistant film. The heat-resistant, oxidation-resistant film is formed from an inorganic material such as ceramic or metal, and/or an organic material such as an organic ion-exchange resin, a silicone resin or a fluororesin, and preferably contains oxide capable of decomposing hypohalogenous acid. Water can be chemically decomposed to give hydrogen by the use of the activated carbon.

Abstract: There are provided a method of producing a hydrogen halide and oxygen by reacting water with a halogen using activated carbon as a catalyst, a method of producing hydrogen by thermal decomposition of a hydrogen halide using chromium oxide as a catalyst, and a method of producing oxygen and hydrogen by combining these two methods.

Abstract: In order to generate sufficient electricity in a small light converging solar module, a power generation solar cell is provided with four movement solar cells, situated around it. Below the respective movement solar cells, electromagnets are situated, connected to corresponding movement solar cells. The power generation solar cell, the movement solar cells, and the electromagnets are all mounted on a cell holder, around which a permanent magnet in the form of a ring is provided. When a converged spot moves its position from on the power generation solar cell to a position off the power generation solar cell, and onto one of the movement solar cells, electricity is supplied to the corresponding electromagnet, thereby moving the cell holder due to attracting forces generated between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. After the cell holder is moved to such a point where the converged spot correctly falls on the power generation solar cell, the cell holder stops its movement.