Abstract: A fuel cell having a capability of making uniform a water distribution in an in-plane direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane and supplying a reactive gas to an air electrode catalyst layer efficiently is provided. The fuel cell of the present invention has a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst electrodes, and a pair of metal separators. An air electrode separator has an oxidizing gas flow channel used to supply an oxidizing gas to the catalyst electrodes. The oxidizing gas flow channel is formed in such a manner that a flow channel near an oxidizing gas supply manifold and a flow channel near an oxidizing gas exhaust manifold are adjacent to each other in the same plane, and is formed in an S-shaped or spiral pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel treatment device which can realize easy separation and collection of a catalyst contained in the device. In a fuel treatment device (21) of the present invention a fuel gas is supplied to a catalyst, which fills a catalyst filling space (24) surrounded by a cylindrical inner circumferential wall and a cylindrical outer circumferential wall, to produce a reformed gas. The fuel treatment device (21) has a removal section indicator indicating a catalyst removal section (29) on the outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential wall of the cylindrical catalyst filling space (24) and an opening formation assister assisting the formation of a catalyst removal opening for removing the catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a film electrode assembly which can acquire unique information on a film electrode assembly even from the film electrode assembly alone. The film electrode assembly includes: a polymer electrolyte film; a pair of catalyst electrodes formed by a fuel pole and an air pole arranged to sandwich the polymer electrolyte film; and a unique information unit which contains unique information on the film electrode assembly. The unique information includes information on a catalyst composition of the catalyst electrode. More specifically, the unique information may be a content of Pt contained in the catalyst electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel treatment device which can realize easy separation and collection of a catalyst contained in the device. In a fuel treatment device (21) of the present invention a fuel gas is supplied to a catalyst, which fills a catalyst filling space (24) surrounded by a cylindrical inner circumferential wall and a cylindrical outer circumferential wall, to produce a reformed gas. The fuel treatment device (21) has a removal section indicator indicating a catalyst removal section (29) on the outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential wall of the cylindrical catalyst filling space (24) and an opening formation assister assisting the formation of a catalyst removal opening for removing the catalyst.

Abstract: There is provided a film electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of preventing a polymer electrolyte film from being exposed. The film electrode assembly includes: a main body portion of a film electrode assembly having a polymer electrolyte film, and a pair of electrode layers having catalyst layers placed on the two surfaces of the polymer electrolyte film on the inner side from the peripheral edge portion thereof and diffusion layers each having a peripheral edge protruding from the catalyst layer, which are laminated on one another, with a gap being formed between the protruding portion of the diffusion layer and the peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte film; a frame member that sandwiches the peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte film between the paired electrode layers with a gap therebetween, and is formed so as to surround an outer edge of the polymer electrolyte film; and gaskets made of a thermoplastic resin, which are placed on the two surfaces of the frame member.

Abstract: In a fuel-cell stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked, each of the cells includes a membrane electrode assembly which is composed of a polyelectrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the polyelectrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators by which the membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched, where the electrodes each have a catalytic layer brought into contact with the polyelectrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer brought into contact with the separator, and where a material of the gas diffusion layers is formed from carbon fiber woven cloth. In this fuel-cell stack, the warp direction and weft direction of the carbon fiber woven cloth are so set as to be uniform in all the cells with respect to the primary direction of the gas flow passages of the separators.

Abstract: There is provided a film electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of preventing a polymer electrolyte film from being exposed. The film electrode assembly includes: a main body portion of a film electrode assembly having a polymer electrolyte film, and a pair of electrode layers having catalyst layers placed on the two surfaces of the polymer electrolyte film on the inner side from the peripheral edge portion thereof and diffusion layers each having a peripheral edge protruding from the catalyst layer, which are laminated on one another, with a gap being formed between the protruding portion of the diffusion layer and the peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte film; a frame member that sandwiches the peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte film between the paired electrode layers with a gap therebetween, and is formed so as to surround an outer edge of the polymer electrolyte film; and gaskets made of a thermoplastic resin, which are placed on the two surfaces of the frame member.

Abstract: A method of preserving a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in which catalyst electrodes are stacked on each surface of a polymer electrolyte is to preserve the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in an airtight package that prevents oxygen, moisture and a function inhibitor from permeating through the package.

Abstract: A fuel cell having a capability of making uniform a water distribution in an in-plane direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane and supplying a reactive gas to an air electrode catalyst layer efficiently is provided. The fuel cell of the present invention has a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst electrodes, and a pair of metal separators. An air electrode separator has an oxidizing gas flow channel used to supply an oxidizing gas to the catalyst electrodes. The oxidizing gas flow channel is formed in such a manner that a flow channel near an oxidizing gas supply manifold and a flow channel near an oxidizing gas exhaust manifold are adjacent to each other in the same plane, and is formed in an S-shaped or spiral pattern.

Abstract: In a fuel-cell stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked, each of the cells including a membrane electrode assembly which is composed of a polyelectrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the polyelectrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators by which the membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched, where the electrodes each have a catalytic layer brought into contact with the polyelectrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer brought into contact with the separator, and where a material of the gas diffusion layers is formed from carbon fiber woven cloth. In this fuel-cell stack, the warp direction and weft direction of the carbon fiber woven cloth are so set as to be uniform in all the cells with respect to the primary direction of the gas flow passages of the separators.

Abstract: A method of preserving a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in which catalyst electrodes are stacked on each surface of a polymer electrolyte is to preserve the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in an airtight package that prevents oxygen, moisture and a function inhibitor from permeating through the package.

Abstract: A method of preserving a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in which catalyst electrodes are stacked on each surface of a polymer electrolyte is to preserve the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in an airtight package that prevents oxygen, moisture and a function inhibitor from permeating through the package.

Abstract: A separator for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which contains electrically conductive carbon and a binder that binds the electrically conductive carbon, comprises a reaction gas passage formed on at least a main surface thereof, wherein a water droplet falling angle of a surface the reaction gas passage is not less than 5 degrees and not more than 45 degrees when a water droplet of not less than 50 ?L and not more than 80 ?L is dropped under a condition in which ambient temperature is not lower than 50° C. and not higher than 90° C. and relative humidity is not less than 70% and not more than 100%.

Abstract: A method of preserving a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in which catalyst electrodes are stacked on each surface of a polymer electrolyte is to preserve the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in an airtight package that prevents oxygen, moisture and a function inhibitor from permeating through the package.

Abstract: An electrolyte fuel system, its operation and program and a recording medium associated with the program is disclosed. Embodiments include a fuel cell system having a load electric current changing means for changing an amount of load electric current that runs in one ore more fuel cells which are operated to generate electricity, a measurement means for measuring voltage responses to the change in said load electric current, a calculating means for calculating impedance of said one or more fuel cells based on said voltage responses measured, and a fuel cell control means for controlling condition for operation of said one or more fuel cells by utilizing calculation results retrieved by said calculating means.

Abstract: In a mixing head for mixing plural kinds of liquid materials, a first forward movement passage for opening a discharge control valve which control supplying the liquid materials into a mixing chamber, is ramified from a second forward movement passage for closing a circulation control valve which controls the circulation of the liquid materials, and extends across a spool of the circulation control valve. The spool is provided with a groove for opening the first forward movement passage when the circulation control valve is in a closed state. Further, a restriction passage having a check valve for keeping a working fluid from flowing into a first cylinder including a first piston of the discharge control valve, is formed to be communicated with the first cylinder at a side of the first forward movement passage and is ramified from the second forward movement passage.

Abstract: An embryo transferring apparatus adapted for an endoscope comprises: an inner tube extending through an optical visual pipe of the endoscope so as to protrude forward its front end beyond a front end of the optical visual pipe; an outer tube in which the inner tube is inserted slidably to and fro; and an embryo transferring tube movable in the inner tube and extending so as to protrude forward its front end beyond a front end of the inner tube, wherein in the vicinity of the front end of the inner tube is provided a gas discharging opening which is retracted in the outer tube when the latter is moved forward, and is unsheathed from the outer tube when the same is moved backward.

Abstract: In an endoscope, there are provided in a manipulating terminal of an optical visual pipe thereof an eyepiece member, a light-guide, various operative instrument channels and a handling forceps channel. Further, on the handling forceps channel are mounted a gas feeding pipe and a locking mechanism for locking a handling forceps.