Abstract: An axial-gap motor-generator includes a case, a rotor, a stator, a cooling plate, an air inlet, an outlet, an airflow generating groove, and a radial groove. The rotor is rotatable around a rotating shaft. The stator is fixed to the case. The stator has a first distal end and a second distal end. The first distal end faces the rotating shaft. The cooling plate is in contact with the second distal end. The stator is disposed between the rotating shaft and the cooling plate. The first distance between the air inlet and the rotating shaft is smaller than a second distance between the air outlet and the rotating shaft. The airflow generating groove is provided between the case and the rotor. The radial groove is provided between the case and the cooling plate via which the airflow generation groove is connected to the air outlet.

Abstract: An axial-gap motor-generator includes a case, a rotor, and a stator. The rotor includes a magnet and is accommodated in the case to be rotatable around a rotating axis of the rotor. The stator is fixed to the case to be accommodated in the case and includes a coil facing the magnet of the rotor in the rotating axis. The case includes a heat-dissipating member with which the coil of the stator is in contact.

Abstract: An axial-gap motor-generator includes a case, a rotor, a stator, a cooling plate, an air inlet, an outlet, an airflow generating groove, and a radial groove. The rotor is rotatable around a rotating shaft. The stator is fixed to the case. The stator has a first distal end and a second distal end. The first distal end faces the rotating shaft. The cooling plate is in contact with the second distal end. The stator is disposed between the rotating shaft and the cooling plate. The first distance between the air inlet and the rotating shaft is smaller than a second distance between the air outlet and the rotating shaft. The airflow generating groove is provided between the case and the rotor. The radial groove is provided between the case and the cooling plate via which the airflow generation groove is connected to the air outlet.

Abstract: An injection-molding method made up of a step of preparing a first die (41), a second die (46) and a third die (47), a step of sandwiching a separator proper (16) with the first die (41) and the second die (46), a step of molding a front side molded layer (32) by injecting silicone rubber (59) into the front side cavity (50) through a gate (52), a step of replacing the second die (46) with a third die (47) while the front side molded layer (32) is still soft, and a step of molding a rear side molded layer (34) by piercing the front side molded layer (32) with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber (59) through the gate (52) and filling a rear side cavity (63) with silicone rubber (59) through the through hole (30).

Abstract: An injection-molding method made up of a step of preparing a first die (41), a second die (46) and a third die (47), a step of sandwiching a separator proper (16) with the first die (41) and the second die (46), a step of molding a front side molded layer (32) by injecting silicone rubber (59) into the front side cavity (50) through a gate (52), a step of replacing the second die (46) with a third die (47) while the front side molded layer (32) is still soft, and a step of molding a rear side molded layer (34) by piercing the front side molded layer (32) with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber (59) through the gate (52) and filling a rear side cavity (63) with silicone rubber (59) through the through hole (30).

Abstract: An injection-molding method made up of a step of preparing a first die (41), a second die (46) and a third die (47), a step of sandwiching a separator proper (16) with the first die (41) and the second die (46), a step of molding a front side molded layer (32) by injecting silicone rubber (59) into the front side cavity (50) through a gate (52), a step of replacing the second die (46) with a third die (47) while the front side molded layer (32) is still soft, and a step of molding a rear side molded layer (34) by piercing the front side molded layer (32) with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber (59) through the gate (52) and filling a rear side cavity (63) with silicone rubber (59) through the through hole (30).

Abstract: An injection-molding method including preparing a first die, a second die and a third die, sandwiching a separator proper with the first die and the second die, molding a front side molded layer by injecting silicone rubber into the front side cavity through a gate, replacing the second die with a third die while the front side molded layer is still soft, and molding a rear side molded layer by piercing the front side molded layer with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber through the gate and filling a rear side cavity with silicone rubber through the through hole.

Abstract: A method for joining a resin member and a porous member can prevent peeling in a specified direction. When a thermoplastic laser transmitting resin member and a porous member are joined, the laser transmitting resin layer and the porous member are laminated, and a laser beam is emitted at a side of the laser transmitting resin member. The porous member is heated so that the laser transmitting resin member is melted, and the melted resin is impregnated with holes of the porous member. The resin is cooled so as to solidify.

Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first unit cell and a second unit cell to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, the first and second unit cells have structures different from each other.

Abstract: A unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and first and second separators for sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes an anode and a cathode having a substantially square shape having a side length L1 in a range of 140 mm to 200 mm. The first and second separators have a substantially square shape having a side length L2 in a range of 200 mm to 300 mm.

Abstract: A cell assembly (10) includes a first unit cell (12) and a second unit cell (14). The first unit cell (12) and the second unit cell (14) are juxtaposed such that electrode surfaces of the first unit cell (12) and electrode surfaces of the second unit cell (14) are aligned in parallel with each other. An oxygen-containing gas flow passage (32) includes a first oxygen-containing gas passage (38) in the first unit cell (12), an oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40) in a connection passage member (16), and a second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) in the second unit cell (14). The first oxygen-containing gas passage (38), the oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40), and the second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) are connected serially from the first unit cell (12) to the second unit cell (14).

Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first unit cell and a second unit cell to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, the first and second unit cells have structures different from each other.

Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first unit cell and a second unit cell to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, the first and second unit cells have structures different from each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (10) includes a first sub-stack (12), a second sub-stack (14), and a third sub-stack (16) disposed in the flow direction of an oxidizing gas. An intermediate plate (18a) is interposed between the first and second sub-stacks (12, 14), and an intermediate plate (18b) is interposed between the second and third sub-stacks (14, 16). In this fuel stack (10), the flow of an oxidizing gas is set such that the oxidizing gas flows in series in the direction from the first sub-stack (12) to the third sub-stack (16). Between the sub-stacks additional oxidizing gas supplies (70,74) are provided through which oxidizing gas of lower humidity than the humidity of the oxidizing gas entering the first sub-stack is supplied. This arrangement allows an efficient management of the humidity water content of the oxidizing gas with sufficient moisturizing of the solid polymer membrane whilst avoiding excessive condensation of water vapour within the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a plurality of fuel cells. Each of the fuel cells includes a plurality of power generation units. The power generation units are electrically connected in series for outputting a desired level of voltage. The fuel cells are stacked in a direction indicated by an arrow A for combining electrical currents outputted from the respective fuel cells, and the combined electric current is supplied to a power generation circuit. The power generation circuit is selectively connected to the fuel cells by switches.

Abstract: A fuel cell (10) is formed by sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly (14) between first and second separators (16, 18). An oxygen-containing gas supply passage (20) extends through the fuel cell (10) in a stacking direction. The oxygen-containing gas passage (20) includes first and second straight sections (20a, 20b) to form a single opening. The first and second straight sections are elongated in directions indicated by arrows B and C around a corner at an upper portion of one end of the first separator (16).

Abstract: A cell assembly includes a first unit cell and a second unit cell which are stacked to each other. The first unit cell has a first unified body, and the second unit cell has a second unified body. A plurality of oxidizing gas passages and a plurality of fuel gas passages are provided in the cell assembly. The oxidizing gas passages in the first unit cell and the oxidizing gas passages in the second unit cell are communicated in series to each other. The fuel gas passages in the first unit cell and the fuel gas passages in the second unit cell are communicated in series to each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes cell assemblies connected to each other by a fuel gas connection passage, an oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and a coolant connection passage. A fuel gas adjusting mechanism, an oxygen-containing gas adjusting mechanism, and a coolant adjusting mechanism are connected respectively to the fuel gas connection passage, the oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and the coolant connection passage. These adjusting mechanisms adjust the temperatures in the cell assemblies, the relative humidity in the fuel gas, and the relative humidity in the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A humidity sensor is disposed in a circulation passage as a passage of a hydrogen gas supplied to an anode of a fuel cell stack. A load current setting unit determines a level of electrical current supplied to a load. A flow rate controller controls a compressor based on the humidity detected by the humidity sensor and the load current determined by the load current setting unit to regulate a flow rate of the air supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell stack for maintaining the humidity of the hydrogen gas within a predetermined range less than 100%. The fuel cell stack generates the load current efficiently without discharging the hydrogen gas to the outside.

Abstract: A heat medium passage for controlling the temperature of the electric power generation section is separated from the electric power generation section of a fuel cell including a plurality of separators and electric power generating elements alternately laminated in a lamination direction. A heat plate exchanges heat with at least one of the heat medium passage and a heat medium in the heat medium passage and is connected to the separators to provide electrical conduction between the separators in the lamination direction. An electrical insulator is provided for insulation between the heat medium and the heat plate. Another heat medium passage may be provided on the other side. A temperature control system for the fuel cell may include a burner for supplying the heated heat medium to the heat medium passage and may comprise first and second fluidic passages independently to selectively use the first and second fluidic passage.