Abstract: A fuel cell has multiple cells, the multiple cells including a first cell having a first fuel gas flow path, and a second cell having a second fuel gas flow path and a sensor that measures a specific parameter value relating to a decrease in concentration of fuel gas in the second fuel gas flow path.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a first cell having a first fuel gas flow path; and a second cell having a second fuel gas flow path constructed to have a specific flow path structure having a higher potential for a decrease in concentration of a fuel gas than that of the first fuel gas flow path during power generation. A sensor is located on the second cell to detect a decrease in concentration of the fuel gas during power generation. In one exemplified structure, a groove formed on an anode separator of the second cell as the second fuel gas flow path has a restriction element to narrow the sectional area of flow passage. A hydrogen concentration sensor is located in a non-narrowed area in the downstream of the restriction element having a lower pressure level. Impurity gas discharge control discharges an anode off gas out of the fuel cell stack, in response to detection of a decrease in hydrogen concentration to or below a preset reference level by the hydrogen concentration sensor.

Abstract: A fuel cell that can prevent local accumulation of a reaction-irrelevant gas in the fuel cell. A gas diffusion layer is stacked on a membrane electrode assembly, which is a stack of an electrolyte membrane and electrode catalyst layers. A separator including gas flow channels is attached to the gas diffusion layer such that the gas flow channels are adjacent to the gas diffusion layer. A gas distribution channel through which gas supplied to the membrane electrode assembly flows is formed in the separator. The gas flow channels communicate with the gas distribution channel at upstream ends thereof and are substantially closed at downstream ends thereof. The gas flow channels are configured so that downstream parts of the gas flow channels and upstream parts of the gas flow channels are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a pump for circulating cooling water in a cooling water circuit, a heating heat exchanger for heating air blown into a passenger compartment of the vehicle using cooling water as a heating source, and a throttle valve disposed at a discharge side of the pump. In the heating apparatus, when the temperature of cooling water is low and heating capacity for heating the passenger compartment is insufficient, an opening degree of the throttle valve is reduced by a control unit. Therefore, heat is generated from the throttle valve and the pump so that the temperature of cooling water is increased. Thus, heating capacity of the heating apparatus can be improved without using a manual operation.

Abstract: A viscous liquid heater is composed of a housing having a heat chamber filled with viscous liquid, a rotor disposed in the heat chamber and a rotary plate movable to change volume of the heat chamber. The rotor rotates in the heat chamber and shears the viscous liquid to generate heat. The temperature of the heat chamber is controlled by changing volume of the heat chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerating system of a gas injection type having first and second stage pressure reducers 3 and 5, between which a separator 4 is arranged, and a conduit 10 for introduction of a gaseous refrigerant separated at a separator 4 into a compressor 1. A by-pass conduit 11 is connected to a refrigerating system so that the second stage pressure reducer 5 is by-passed. An ON-OFF control valve 12 is arranged in the by-pass conduit. The control valve 12 is switched to an opened condition during a low load of the air conditioning system, which makes a pressure difference low between the outlet of the separator 4 and an evaporator 6, which prevent gas injection from being executed.

Abstract: When heating the passenger compartment of a vehicle during cold weather, an air switching outlet is operated to allow the entry of outside air with an interior blower being operated to facilitate the entry of the outside air. A condenser door is operated to close an air passage of the condenser and a bypass passage is opened so that outside air flows to the passenger compartment of the vehicle while bypassing the condenser. Further, only a defogging outlet is opened and the incoming air is blown out from this defogging outlet toward the windshield of the vehicle so that a low humidity air curtain is formed proximate to the inner surface of the windshield. After completing the warm-up of the heat pump cycle, the condenser door is switched such that the air blown in by the blower passes the interior condenser to start the heating of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A method of control of a car air-conditioner which prevents condensation and fogging on window glass occurring at the initial start of a slow starting heat pump system, without dehumidification by a large amount of ventilation as in the past, by driving an absorbent fan simultaneously with the start of a heating operation by the system so as to remove the moisture from the air in the passenger compartment by a small amount of an absorbent, starting a low level of ventilation when the heat pump system has finished warming up, ending the dehumidification by the absorbent within a relatively short time, and starting the regeneration of the absorbent by supplying power to a heater.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator for a heat pump type air conditioning system using a gas-injection cycle, which system can switch its mode of operation between heating and cooling modes, includes a reservoir for receiving refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase flow, an exit port which opens at a upper portion of the reservoir and allows a refrigerant gas to flow out of the reservoir, first and second ports which are provided at a upper part within the reservoir above the level of a refrigerant liquid and allows the refrigerant to flow into and out of the reservoir.