Abstract: A power supply includes fuel cell, secondary battery, power converter, current detecting unit and control unit. The power converter couples the fuel cell with the secondary battery, and is adapted to convert current outputted by the fuel cell into output current. The current detecting unit couples the power converter with the secondary battery and adapted to detect charging current of the output current transferred to the secondary battery. The control unit couples the current detecting unit with the power converter and is adapted to: when the charging current is greater than a charging current upper-limit-setting value of the secondary battery, a down-adjustment signal is outputted to the power converter to reduce the output current; and when the charging current is less than the charging current upper-limit-setting value, an up-adjustment signal is outputted to the power converter to increase the output current.

Abstract: A control system and a control method of fuel cell stacks are provided. The control system includes a set of fuel cell stacks, a secondary battery, a monitoring device, and a control device. Each fuel cell stack has a power output that can be independently started up or shut down. The secondary battery is connected to power output terminals of the fuel cell stacks via a power transmission path. The monitoring device is configured to monitor an electrical parameter of the power transmission path. The control device receives an electrical parameter signal from the monitoring device, and outputs a control signal to shut down or start up the power output of at least one of the fuel cell stacks if the electrical parameter's value is higher than a predetermined upper limit or lower than a predetermined lower limit.

Abstract: A control system and a control method of fuel cell stacks are provided. The control system includes a set of fuel cell stacks, a secondary battery, a monitoring device, and a control device. Each fuel cell stack has a power output that can be independently started up or shut down. The secondary battery is connected to power output terminals of the fuel cell stacks via a power transmission path. The monitoring device is configured to monitor an electrical parameter of the power transmission path. The control device receives an electrical parameter signal from the monitoring device, and outputs a control signal to shut down or start up the power output of at least one of the fuel cell stacks if the electrical parameter's value is higher than a predetermined upper limit or lower than a predetermined lower limit.

Abstract: A passive fuel cell assembly including a membrane electrode assembly, an anode current collector, a cathode current collector, a hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer, and a gas-liquid separation layer is provided. The anode current collector and the cathode current collector are disposed at two opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. The hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer is disposed on the anode current collector. The gas-liquid separation layer is disposed on the hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer, such that the hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer is disposed between the gas-liquid separation layer and the anode current collector.

Abstract: A flat fuel cell assembly including a MEA, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector, a gas barrier material layer, a case, and at least one air baffle is provided. The cathode porous current collector and the anode porous current collector are disposed at two opposite sides of the MEA. The gas barrier material layer is disposed at a side of the cathode porous current collector and has at least one opening for exposing a surface of the cathode porous current collector. The case is disposed at a side of the MEA, the gas barrier material layer is disposed between the case and the MEA, and an air channel is located between the gas barrier material layer and the case. Additionally, the air baffle disposed within the air channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided, comprising a cell unit capable of gas exhausting. The cell unit comprises an anode current collector and a cathode current collector. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is interposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector. A frame is formed to surround the MEA, the anode current collector, and the cathode current collector. A hydrophilic gas-blocking layer is disposed adjacent to an anode side of the MEA, underlying the MEA and the frame. A hydrophobic gas-penetrating layer is disposed under the hydrophilic gas-blocking layer. At least one gas exhaust is disposed in the frame, exposing a part of the hydrophilic gas-blocking layer and contacting the area surrounding adjacent to the cell unit for exhausting a gas produced by the MEA from the cell unit.

Abstract: A stacked type fuel cell includes electricity generating modules, at least two cathode flow field plates, and at least one common anode flow field plate. Each electricity generating module includes an anode collector, a cathode collector, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) between the anode collector and the cathode collector, a fuel diffusion layer, and a cathode moisture layer. The fuel diffusion layer and the cathode moisture layer are respectively located at two sides of the MEA. The anode collector is between the fuel diffusion layer and the MEA, and the cathode collector is between the cathode moisture layer and the MEA. The common anode flow field plate is between two fuel diffusion layers in two adjacent electricity generating modules. The common anode flow field plate and two electricity generating modules located at two sides of the common anode flow field plate are sandwiched between the cathode flow field plates.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel supply control system for fuel cells, controlling fuel concentration in a fuel unit. The fuel supply control system comprises a first thermal meter detecting a system temperature of the fuel cell, a fuel supply device comprising a fuel tank storing highly concentrated fuel and a fuel deliver device delivering fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel unit to adjust fuel concentration thereof, and a controller calculating a difference between a predetermined and an environmental temperature, generating a first velocity by adjusting the predetermined fuel supply velocity according to the temperature difference, and setting the delivery velocity of the fuel delivering device according to the first velocity.

Abstract: A heating method of a heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a fuel cell, a power storage device, a heat-electricity conversion element, and a switching unit. The fuel cell is adapted for charging the power storage device. The power storage device is adapted for supplying electricity to the heat-electricity conversion element. The switching unit is adapted for switching the heating apparatus between a first mode and a second mode. The method includes a first heating process in which the fuel cell charges the power storage device and generates heat during a charging process, and a second heating process in which the power storage device supplies electricity to the heat-electricity conversion element and the heat-electricity conversion element generates heat. The first heating process and the second heating process are performed alternatively or simultaneously when the heating apparatus is switched to the first mode or the second mode, respectively.

Abstract: A flat fuel cell assembly including a membrane electrode assembly, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector and a gas barrier material layer is provided. The membrane electrode assembly includes a proton conducting membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer disposed respectively on two sides of the proton conducting membrane, and an anode gas diffusion layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer disposed respectively on the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode porous current collector is disposed on one side of the cathode gas diffusion layer. The anode porous current collector is disposed on one side of the anode gas diffusion layer. The gas barrier material layer having at least an opening exposing the surface of the cathode gas diffusion layer is disposed on the cathode gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A control method of replenishing anode fuel for DMFC system is provided. The DMFC system includes at least a fuel cell, a cathode humidity-holding layer, a fuel distribution unit, a control unit, a liquid fuel replenishment device, a fuel storage region, and a temperature detecting device. The temperature detecting device is for detecting an actual temperature of the fuel cell. The control method of replenishing anode fuel includes utilizing the control unit to adjust a fuel replenishment amount supplied from the liquid fuel replenishment device. The fuel replenishment amount is the sum of a basic replenishment amount and a replenishment amount for temperature correction. The basic replenishment amount is a function of actual discharge current of the fuel cell. The replenishment amount for temperature correction is a function of the difference between the actual temperature of the fuel cell and the target temperature.

Abstract: A method of measuring concentration of a fuel is provided. First, a fuel cell unit having at least an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided. Next, a fuel is supplied to the anode, while a reactive gas is supplied to the cathode. Then, the amount of the reactive gas supplied to the cathode is adjusted and the concentration of the fuel is estimated in accordance with the consumption rate of the reactive gas in the fuel cell unit, wherein a method of estimating the concentration of the fuel in accordance with a consumption rate of the reactive gas in the cathode includes measuring a concentration of the reactive gas supplied to the cathode and estimating the concentration of the fuel in accordance with a relationship between the concentration of the reactive gas supplied to the cathode and time.

Abstract: An apparatus of measuring concentration of fuel including a catalyst layer, a diffusion layer, a fuel chamber, a reactive gas chamber, and a sensor is provided. The diffusion layer is connected to the catalyst layer. The fuel chamber is suitable for containing a fuel. The diffusion layer is between the fuel chamber and the catalyst layer. The reactive gas chamber is suitable for containing a reactive gas. The catalyst layer is between the reactive gas chamber and the diffusion layer. The fuel diffuses to the catalyst layer via the diffusion layer such that a combustion reaction of the fuel and the reactive gas is conducted in the catalyst layer to consume the reactive gas and generate a gaseous product. The sensor is disposed on the reactive gas chamber for measuring the concentration of the reactive gas or the concentration of the gaseous product in the reactive gas chamber.

Abstract: A shutdown and self-maintenance operation process of a liquid fuel cell system is introduced. The liquid fuel cell system gives out a shutdown signal and a liquid fuel cell of the liquid fuel cell system stops discharging when receiving the shutdown signal. Thereafter, a self-maintenance operation consisting of the following four steps will be performed: (a) Supply of the cathode gas is stopped in the liquid fuel cell system. (b) After a first duration, the supply of the cathode gas is started. (c) The liquid fuel cell discharges until the output power of the liquid fuel cell is less than or equal to a first predetermined value. (d) The liquid fuel cell stops discharging and the supply of the cathode gas is stopped again. The (a) to (d) four steps are repeated several times before the liquid fuel cell system is completely stopped.

Abstract: A fuel distribution structure including a first material layer, a second material layer, a flow channel layer and a filler is provided. The first material layer has a fuel inlet, the second material layer has a plurality of fuel outlets, the flow channel layer has a patterned flow channel, wherein the fuel inlet and the fuel outlets are covered by a distribution range of the patterned flow channel, and the filler is disposed in the patterned flow channel. In addition, a fuel cell having the above-mentioned fuel distribution structure is also provided.

Abstract: A method of measuring concentration of a fuel is provided. First, a fuel cell unit having at least an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided. Next, a fuel is supplied to the anode, while a reactive gas is supplied to the cathode. Then, the amount of the reactive gas supplied to the cathode is adjusted and the concentration of the fuel is estimated in accordance with the consumption rate of the reactive gas in the fuel cell unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell module, at least a cathode gas supply unit in contact with the cathode, at least one gas delivery unit and at least one anode fuel supply unit in contact with the anode. The fuel cell module comprises at least one fuel cell having one anode and one cathode. The cathode gas supply unit comprises at least one gas input port for receiving cathode gas and at least one gas exit for exhausting the cathode gas. The gas delivery unit guides the cathode gas to the gas input port. The anode fuel supply unit having a fuel comprises at least one fuel input port for receiving a resupplied fuel and at least one cathode gas input port for receiving the cathode gas from the gas exit.

Abstract: A passive fuel cell assembly including a membrane electrode assembly, an anode current collector, a cathode current collector, a hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer, and a gas-liquid separation layer is provided. The anode current collector and the cathode current collector are disposed at two opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. The hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer is disposed on the anode current collector. The gas-liquid separation layer is disposed on the hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer, such that the hydrophilic and gas-impermeable layer is disposed between the gas-liquid separation layer and the anode current collector.

Abstract: An apparatus of measuring concentration of fuel including a catalyst layer, a diffusion layer, a fuel chamber, a reactive gas chamber, and a sensor is provided. The diffusion layer is connected to the catalyst layer. The fuel chamber is suitable for containing a fuel. The diffusion layer is between the fuel chamber and the catalyst layer. The reactive gas chamber is suitable for containing a reactive gas. The catalyst layer is between the reactive gas chamber and the diffusion layer. The fuel diffuses to the catalyst layer via the diffusion layer such that a combustion reaction of the fuel and the reactive gas is conducted in the catalyst layer to consume the reactive gas and generate a gaseous product. The sensor is disposed on the reactive gas chamber for measuring the concentration of the reactive gas or the concentration of the gaseous product in the reactive gas chamber.

Abstract: A flat fuel cell assembly including a MEA, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector, a gas barrier material layer, a case, and at least one air baffle is provided. The cathode porous current collector and the anode porous current collector are disposed at two opposite sides of the MEA. The gas barrier material layer is disposed at a side of the cathode porous current collector and has at least one opening for exposing a surface of the cathode porous current collector. The case is disposed at a side of the MEA, the gas barrier material layer is disposed between the case and the MEA, and an air channel is located between the gas barrier material layer and the case. Additionally, the air baffle disposed within the air channel.