Abstract: A solar power generator of an embodiment includes: a solar cell module having a solar cell, and a heat storage material filled unit configured to house a heat storage material disposed so as to thermally contact a back surface side of the solar cell, and a nucleating unit configured to release supercooling of the heat storage material; and a controller configured to control the nucleating unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic refrigeration device includes magnetic bodies, a magnetic field application unit, a thermal storage medium, and a heat transfer unit. The magnetic bodies are arrayed at an interval. The application unit applies and removes a magnetic field to and from the magnetic bodies, respectively. The medium is arranged to face at least one of the magnetic bodies. The medium has no Curie point within a range of a temperature change of the magnetic bodies and removal. The heat transfer unit selectively brings the medium into thermal contact with the magnetic bodies or thermally isolates the medium from the magnetic bodies, and transfers heat from the magnetic bodies to the medium or from the medium to the magnetic bodies in synchronism with magnetic field application and removal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heat storage apparatus includes a heat storage tank, a heat storage material, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a voltage applying unit. The heat storage material has supercooling and is received in the heat storage tank. The anode electrode includes a nucleation start point portion. The cathode electrode is spaced apart from the anode electrode and is disposed in contact with the heat storage material. The voltage applying unit applies a voltage between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The heat storage material, which is supercooled and is in a liquid-phase state, is nucleated due to an application of a voltage by the voltage applying unit.

Abstract: The carbon fibers of this invention is characterized in that irreducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm and reducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm were mixed by pulverizing and then, the mixture was heat treated under the reducing atmosphere and metal particles in a mean particle size below 1 ?m were obtained, and the mixed powder of the thus obtained metal particles with the irreducible inorganic material particles are included in the carbon fibers.

Abstract: In a magnetic refrigeration device, magnetic bodies having a magnetocaloric effect and solid heat accumulation members having heat accumulation effect are arranged alternately with gaps therebetween. Magnetic field apply units start and stop application of magnetic fields to the magnetic bodies. A contact mechanism brings each of the magnetic bodies into contact with one of the solid heat accumulation members adjacent to the each magnetic body. Alternatively, the contact mechanism brings each of the solid heat accumulation members into contact with one of the magnetic bodies adjacent to the each solid heat accumulation members.

Abstract: An electrolysis device of an embodiment includes: an anode, a cathode having a nitrogen-containing carbon alloy catalyst, and an electrolysis cell having a membrane electrode assembly composed of an electrolyte present between the anode and the cathode so that voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, wherein the electrolyte is any one of acidic, neutral, or alkali, water is produced by the electrolysis device at the cathode, when the electrolyte is acidic, and hydroxide ion is produced by the electrolysis device at the anode, when the electrolyte is neutral or alkali.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a hollow body; a tubular suction port coupled to the hollow body; a first porous member disposed in the hollow body; a second porous member disposed in the suction port and being in contact with the first porous member, the second porous member having a liquid suction capability higher than that of the first porous member, wherein at least one of the first and second porous members has a recess so as to establish an air bubble collector.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation system includes a housing at which a gas inlet and a gas outlet are provided; a separation pipe contained in the housing; a separation membrane provided in the separation pipe; and a pump configured to inject a gas into the housing through the gas inlet from an outside of the housing to the gas outlet.

Abstract: The carbon fibers of this invention is characterized in that irreducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm and reducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm were mixed by pulverizing and then, the mixture was heat treated under the reducing atmosphere and metal particles in a mean particle size below 1 ?m were obtained, and the mixed powder of the thus obtained metal particles with the irreducible inorganic material particles are included in the carbon fibers.

Abstract: In a method of cooling a fuel cell, a fuel cell is provided with a housing in which first and second flow paths are defined to flow first and second airflows on first and second surfaces of the fuel cell, and the first flow path is communicated with the second flow path through air flow paths formed in a cathode electrode of the cell. An adjustable pressure difference is produced between the first and second airflows in the first and second flow paths to produce airflows in the air flow paths. Thus, the airflows in the air flow paths are adjusted in accordance with the pressure difference.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge to be connected to a direct methanol fuel cell power generating device includes a spare fuel tank which stores a liquid fuel and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device and a harmful substance trap member. The spare fuel tank stores a liquid fuel and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device. The harmful substance trap member is fixed to the spare fuel tank and is to be connected to the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device. The harmful substance trap member contains a harmful substance trap material which traps gaseous harmful substances exhausted from the direct methanol fuel cell power generating device.

Abstract: The carbon fibers of this invention is characterized in that irreducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm and reducible inorganic material particles in a mean primary particle size below 500 nm were mixed by pulverizing and then, the mixture was heat treated under the reducing atmosphere and metal particles in a mean particle size below 1 ?m were obtained, and the mixed powder of the thus obtained metal particles with the irreducible inorganic material particles are included in the carbon fibers.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly including: an electrolyte membrane; anode and cathode catalyst layers respectively disposed on the electrolyte membrane; and anode and cathode gas diffusion layers respectively disposed on the anode and cathode catalyst layers; a cathode porous body including a front face portion and a rear face portion and being disposed on the cathode gas diffusion layer at the front face portion, the front face portion having an electric conductivity higher than that of air and having a hydrophilicity higher than that of the rear face portion; an anode passage plate disposed on the anode gas diffusion layer; and an air supply apparatus that supplies air toward an end of the cathode porous body.

Abstract: A fuel cell formed by arranging a plurality of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly arranged such that an electrolyte membrane is clamped between a membrane-like oxidizer electrode and a membrane-like fuel electrode as well as the electrolyte membrane is disposed with the outer periphery thereof protruding from the outer peripheries of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, a first separator disposed with an abutment surface abutting on the fuel electrode of the membrane electrode assembly and having a first flow path for supplying fuel, and a second separator disposed with an abutment surface abutting on the oxidizer electrode of the membrane electrode assembly and having a second flow path for supplying an oxidizer.

Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell generating electric power, and including a fuel electrode which includes an anode catalyst, which is disposed in one side of an electrolyte membrane, which is supplied with liquid fuel, and which discharges gas generated by a chemical reaction accelerated by the anode catalyst, and an oxidizing agent electrode which includes a cathode catalyst, which is disposed in the other side of the electrolyte membrane, and which is supplied with air, and a control unit controlling a load applied to the fuel cell. The control unit increases the load in at least one of two cases, one case being when electric power generated by the fuel cell lowers below a predetermined reference value and another case being at predetermined time intervals, and stops the increase of the load after elapsing a predetermined time period from the start of the increase of the load.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation system includes a gas-liquid separator configured to separate a gas-liquid mixed fluid into a gas and a liquid; a fuel tank connected to the gas-liquid separator; a bag disposed in the fuel tank; a pressurization pump configured to apply a pressure into the bag; and a pressure control unit configured to control an inner pressure of the gas-liquid separator by controlling a discharge pressure of the pressurization pump.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation system includes a housing at which a gas inlet and a gas outlet are provided; a separation pipe contained in the housing; a separation membrane provided in the separation pipe; and a pump configured to inject a gas into the housing through the gas inlet from an outside of the housing to the gas outlet.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a hollow body; a tubular suction port coupled to the hollow body; a first porous member disposed in the hollow body; a second porous member disposed in the suction port and being in contact with the first porous member, the second porous member having a liquid suction capability higher than that of the first porous member, wherein at least one of the first and second porous members has a recess so as to establish an air bubble collector.

Abstract: The invention provides a direct methanol fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell main body comprising an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, and a feed tank containing a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be fed to the anode, a first liquid fuel storage tank which contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be supplied into the feed tank, a second liquid fuel storage tank which contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be supplied into the first liquid fuel storage tank, and a liquid level change detecting mechanism which detects changes in the level of the liquid fuel stored in the first liquid fuel storage tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cell stack comprising a plurality of power generation cells, each including a first flow channel plate, a second flow channel plate, and a membrane electrode assembly; a first current collector configured to collect a current; a second current collector configured to collect a current; a third current collector configured to collect a current; a fourth current collector configured to collect a current from a downstream region in the second plate; and a controller.