Abstract: The electric power loss at the time of charging/discharging storage batteries is reduced. An electric power system control device maintains a balance of power supply and demand of an electric power system by controlling charging/discharging of a storage battery, and includes a frequency detection unit; a frequency prediction unit which predicts the frequency from the frequency calculated by the frequency detection unit and history data of power generation/load supply-demand data. A charging/discharging amount determination unit sets a charging/discharging amount corresponding to a value lower or higher than the frequency of the electric power system predicted by the frequency prediction unit within a range not exceeding a lower or higher limit value of the frequency and determines the charging/discharging amount of the storage battery based on the value. And, a control command unit transmits a control command to the storage battery based on a result of the charging/discharging amount determination unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a lithium-ion secondary battery system having a lithium-ion secondary battery, potential measuring sections, a voltage applying section, an electric current measuring section, and a switching section.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided which can control an optimum fuel concentration according to an output without a sensor for measuring the fuel concentration. The fuel cell uses a liquid organic compound for fuel and includes a membrane-electrode assembly, a passage for allowing fuel or oxidant to flow, a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the fuel cell and intermittently or periodically changing a rate of fuel supply, and a computation processor for measuring a signal of a voltage or an output of the fuel cell, computing the rate of the fuel supply and the signal, and correcting the rate of the fuel supply. In the fuel cell, the optimum fuel concentration can be easily controlled according to the output by periodically varying the fuel concentration from a reference fuel concentration, measuring a voltage or an output and a variation range of the voltage or the output, and then determining whether the reference fuel concentration is appropriate or not.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which suppresses a decrease in system efficiency of a fuel cell and, at the same time, allows an emission amount of harmful materials to be reduced for an extended period of time is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack generating electric power by chemical reaction between liquid fuel supplied to an anode and oxidant gases supplied to a cathode, and an exhaust mechanism discharging to an outside of the system exhaust gases discharged from the anode of the fuel cell stack, the exhaust mechanism being adapted to emit the exhaust gases into liquid in a tank storing the liquid fuel or water and, thereafter, discharge the exhaust gases to the outside of the system.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode being formed on one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and containing a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, a cathode being formed on another side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and containing a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, an anode gas diffusion layer formed on one side of the anode, and a cathode gas diffusion layer formed on one side of the cathode. In addition, a formic acid oxidation electrode containing palladium and a solid polymer electrolyte is formed between the anode gas diffusion layer and the anode.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a fuel cell and a fuel cartridge in which a fuel contained in the fuel cartridge is determined to be appropriate for the fuel cell or not, and when it is appropriate, the connection of the fuel cartridge is mechanically made possible. A fuel cartridge for a fuel cell is provided with a specific member for distinguishing the methanol concentration of a contained methanol solution fuel according to the methanol concentration. Further, a fuel cell is provided with a concentration recognizing member for determining whether the member for distinguishing the fuel concentration provided at the fuel cartridge is the one for a desired concentration.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided which can control an optimum fuel concentration according to an output without a sensor for measuring the fuel concentration. The fuel cell uses a liquid organic compound for fuel and includes a membrane-electrode assembly, a passage for allowing fuel or oxidant to flow, a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the fuel cell and intermittently or periodically changing a rate of fuel supply, and a computation processor for measuring a signal of a voltage or an output of the fuel cell, computing the rate of the fuel supply and the signal, and correcting the rate of the fuel supply. In the fuel cell, the optimum fuel concentration can be easily controlled according to the output by periodically varying the fuel concentration from a reference fuel concentration, measuring a voltage or an output and a variation range of the voltage or the output, and then determining whether the reference fuel concentration is appropriate or not.

Abstract: A fuel cell device comprising a fuel cell cartridge having a container for containing methanol mixed solution fuel and a direct methanol fuel cell on which the fuel cartridge is set the fuel cartridge being provided with a fuel injection nozzle on part of the container and a projection disposed around the fuel injection nozzle; the size of which is determined according to the concentration of methanol of the fuel in the container, and the direct methanol fuel cell being provided with a concavity, which is designed to engage with the projection of the fuel cartridge at a portion where the fuel cartridge is to be set when the concentration of methanol is proper.

Abstract: a passive type fuel cell is comprised of an anode for oxidizing a liquid fuel, a cathode for reducing oxygen, a solid polymer electrolytic membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode, a current-collector for collecting extract electrons accompanying the power generating reaction from the anode, a first porous material to supply the fuel to the anode, and a second porous member for feeding the fuel to the first porous member. The solid polymer electrolytic membrane, the anode, the current-collector, the first porous member, and the second porous member are layered in the above-listed order. The pore diameter of the first porous material is made smaller than that of the second porous material.

Abstract: A fuel cell that uses a liquid fuel and comprises an anode for oxidizing the fuel, a cathode for deoxidizing oxygen, and a proton-conductive solid polymer membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. Further the fuel sell comprises a fuel carrier which has a flow path for transporting the fuel to the anode and another flow path for allowing the passage of gas. The fuel carrier is arranged on one side of the anode, said one side being opposite to another side provided with the proton-conductive solid polymer membrane.

Abstract: a fuel cell uses a liquid fuel and comprises an anode for oxidizing the fuel, a cathode for deoxidizing oxygen, and a proton-conductive solid polymer membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. a fuel carrier is arranged so as to be in contact with one side of the anode; the one side is opposite to another side being in contact with the proton-conductive solid polymer membrane; the fuel carrier is configured to transport the fuel to the anode, allow the passage of carbon dioxide gas produced at the anode, and have a current-collecting function; and the fuel carrier is provided with an electrode terminal connector part.

Abstract: A fuel cell device comprising a fuel cell cartridge having a container for containing methanol mixed solution fuel and a direct methanol fuel cell on which the fuel cartridge is set the fuel cartridge being provided with a fuel injection nozzle on part of the container and a projection disposed around the fuel injection nozzle; the size of which is determined according to the concentration of methanol of the fuel in the container, and the direct methanol fuel cell being provided with a concavity, which is designed to engage with the projection of the fuel cartridge at a portion where the fuel cartridge is to be set when the concentration of methanol is proper.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a fuel cell and a fuel cartridge in which a fuel contained in the fuel cartridge is determined to be appropriate for the fuel cell or not, and when it is appropriate, the connection of the fuel cartridge is mechanically made possible. A fuel cartridge for a fuel cell is provided with a specific member for distinguishing the methanol concentration of a contained methanol solution fuel according to the methanol concentration. Further, a fuel cell is provided with a concentration recognizing member for determining whether the member for distinguishing the fuel concentration provided at the fuel cartridge is the one for a desired concentration.

Abstract: A magnetic loss material includes a soft magnetic powder and a binder. In the magnetic loss material, a frequency dispersion profile of an imaginary part magnetic permeability (&mgr;″) has at least two different dispersion portions including a first dispersion portion (D1) at a relatively high-frequency side and a second dispersion portion (D2) at a relatively low frequency side. The imaginary part magnetic permeability has first and second maximum values (&mgr;″max (D1) and &mgr;″max (D2)) as the maxima within the first and the second dispersion portions, respectively. The second maximum value is equal to or greater than the first maximum value. The second dispersion portion may be the dispersion owing to magnetic resonance. The first dispersion portion may be the dispersion owing to eddy current.

Abstract: A magnetic substance having the maximum value of complex permeability in quasi-microwave range is provided for suppressing a high frequency noise in a small-sized (electronic apparatus. The magnetic substance is of a magnetic composition comprising M, X and Y, where M is a metallic magnetic material consisting of Fe, Co, and/or Ni, X being element or elements other than M and Y, and Y being F, N, and/or O. The M-X-Y magnetic composition has a concentration of M in the composition so that said M-X-Y magnetic composition has a saturation magnetization of 35-80% of that of the metallic bulk of magnetic material comprising M alone. The magnetic composition has the maximum &mgr;″max of complex.