Abstract: Thermal energy of batteries is efficiently dissipated to outside, achieving high safety. A battery pack includes a core block (10) including battery cells disposed at predetermined positions in a battery holder (2) and a casing accommodating the core block (10) therein. The casing includes a heat-dissipating case (4) having both end-openings and closing parts closing the both end-openings of the heat-dissipating case (4). The heat-dissipating case (4) includes a tubular part (6) and heat-absorbing fins (7). The tubular part (6) has a tubular shape made of metal, and accommodates the core block therein. The heat-absorbing fins (7) disposed in rows are made of metal and thermally coupled to the inner surface of the tubular part (6), and protrude to an inside from the tubular part and extend in an axial direction of the tubular part (6).

Abstract: A core block accommodated in an outer case is effectively prevented from moving relative to the outer case. A main tubular part is thin and light at low cost, and openings at both ends of the main tubular part are precisely covered with covering parts. A battery pack includes: a core block including battery blocks stacked and interconnected each including battery cells arranged at predetermined positions in a battery holder; an outer case including a main tubular part with a tubular shape having the core block inserted therein, and a pair of covering parts covering openings at both ends of the main tubular part; and a fastening member fastening the covering parts to main tubular part from both sides of main tubular part. The core block is accommodated in an outer case such that the battery blocks are stacked in an axial direction of main tubular part. The fastening member fastens the covering parts through the core block.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of batteries, a lead plate, and a circuit board. The plurality of batteries are connected with one another. The lead plate are connected with the plurality of batteries, and made of a conductive material. The circuit board is connected with the plurality of batteries through the lead plate. The circuit board includes insertion holes passing through the circuit board along the thickness thereof. The lead plate includes an insertion part disposed in the insertion hole. The insertion part is folded and is thicker than the other part of the lead plate.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a cell stack formed by laminating a membrane electrode assembly and a separator and sandwiching them from the both sides in the laminating direction with a pair of end plates is fastened by being tightened in the laminating direction with a first plate spring. The first plate spring includes two arm sections for pressing the pair of end plates and a connecting section connecting the arm sections, and has a C-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A battery assembly production method is provided that enables the reduction in mechanical stress caused in at least one cell. A battery assembly produced by this method is also provided. The method includes a first welding step of resistance-welding a connection member 5A to a cell 4b, and a second welding step of welding the connection member 5A to a cell 4a subsequent to the first welding step. In at least the second welding step out of the first and second welding steps, an end surface of the connection member 5A, which rises from an outer side surface of the cell 4a when the connection member 5A is brought into contact with the outer side surface, is melted and welded to the cell 4a without pressing the connection member 5A.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing an assembled battery with which electric resistance welding can be performed more efficiently and flexibility in cell layout can be increased. The method includes a step of preparing a lead plate 5A for connecting a cell 4A and a cell 4B, and a lead plate 5B for connecting the cell 4B and a cell 4C; a step of causing the lead plates 5A and 5B to contact against the cell 4B with one end of the lead plate 5A and one end of the lead plate 5B being spaced apart from each other with a predetermined plate gap therebetween; and a step of electric resistance welding the lead plates 5A and 5B to the cell 4B by causing electrodes to contact against the one end of the lead plate 5A and the one end of the lead plate 5B from the side opposite to the cell 4B and applying electric current between the electrodes.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, constructed as an integrated stack comprising a laminate, produced by stacking a plurality of cells between two end plates, and a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to the fuel cell. In this fuel cell system, a plurality of individual fuel supply ports, for supplying fuel independently from the fuel supply device to each of the plurality of cells, are formed on the end plates, thus forming individual fuel supply channels that deliver fuel from the plurality of individual fuel supply ports to the fuel electrodes of the corresponding cells, respectively. This fuel cell system is compact, and enables equal supply of a predetermined quantity of fuel to each of the plurality of cells.

Abstract: A cell includes an electrode plate group which is formed by laminating a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed between them, and includes leads protruding toward directions opposite to each other from one side of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. Collectors are joined to the leads on both sides of the electrode plate group, and include connection protrusions formed so as to protrude outside. A bag-shape battery case containing the electrode plate group is joined to the collectors such that only the connection protrusions of the collectors are protruded outside the bag-shaped battery case. A battery module is constituted by placing a plurality of the cells, connected together, into a prismatic battery case.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell of the present invention includes a unit cell having an electrolyte membrane, an anode on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer and an anode diffusion layer. The anode catalyst layer is in contact with a surface of the electrolyte membrane. The anode diffusion layer is in contact with a surface of the anode catalyst layer opposite to the surface of the anode catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane. A methanol flux value JGDL of the anode diffusion layer and a methanol flux value JPEM of the electrolyte membrane satisfy the following relations: JGDL=1×10?5 to 5×10?4 mol/(cm2·min.),??(i) and JPEM×JGDL?1×10?8 [mol/(cm2·min.)]2.

Abstract: The fuel cell of this invention includes at least one unit cell that includes: a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode; an anode-side separator in contact with the anode and having a fuel flow path for supplying a fuel to the anode; and a cathode-side separator in contact with the cathode and having an oxidant flow path for supplying an oxidant to the cathode. The fuel flow path has a first flow channel and a second flow channel, and each of the first flow channel and the second flow channel has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are adjacent to each other, and the direction of the flow of fuel through the first flow channel is opposite to the direction of the flow of fuel through the second flow channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a power-generating stack; a fuel feeder for supplying fuel to an anode of the power-generating stack; an air feeder for supplying air to a cathode of the power-generating stack; and an gas-liquid separator for separating water from a gas-liquid mixture. The gas-liquid mixture includes water and water vapor produced at the cathode and gas passing through the cathode. The gas-liquid separator includes a water retainer. This water retainer holds water and water vapor, which is produced at the cathode, in the gas-liquid mixture.

Abstract: A prismatic battery module includes a prismatic battery case having a plurality of prismatic cell cases connected to one another through separation walls, a planar electroconductive connector forming part of the separation wall between the cell cases, an electrode plate group arranged in each cell case, and an electrolyte placed in each cell case. Lead portions of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates of the electrode plate group are directly connected to the electroconductive connector. The prismatic battery module requires fewer connection points and provides shorter electrical communication paths, thereby reducing internal resistance.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a cell stack formed by laminating a membrane electrode assembly and a separator and sandwiching them from the both sides in the laminating direction with a pair of end plates is fastened by being tightened in the laminating direction with a first plate spring. The first plate spring includes two arm sections for pressing the pair of end plates and a connecting section connecting the arm sections, and has a C-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: To prevent the flooding phenomenon at the cathode in a unit cell where the temperature is relatively low or the supply of air is small, a fuel cell stack includes at least three flat unit cells stacked with separators interposed therebetween, the unit cells comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween, and having an oxidant channel formed on the surface of the separator adjacent to the cathode, and the anode and the cathode comprising a catalyst layer attached to the electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer, wherein the cross-sectional area of the inlet side of the oxidant channel, the area of the cathode catalyst layer, the thickness of the electrolyte membrane or the amount of a water repellent contained in the combination of the cathode and the oxidant channel is the largest in at least one of the unit cells at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode; and a purifying apparatus including a catalyst layer that purifies an effluent discharged from the anode. The purifying apparatus has a porous sheet including the catalyst layer and two flow paths disposed on both sides thereof. One of the flow paths has an inlet into which the effluent discharged from the anode is introduced, and the other flow path has an inlet into which air is introduced and an outlet. The effluent discharged from the anode is passed through the porous sheet for purification and then discharged from the outlet.

Abstract: A mixing pump device (1) used for fuel cells etc. has two inflow paths (51, 52), inflow side active valves (21, 22) arranged at the two inflow paths (51, 52), respectively, a pump chamber (11) into which liquids flow via each of two inflow paths (51, 52), four outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) for allowing a liquid mixed in the pump chamber (11) to flow out, and outflow side active valves (31, 32, 33, 34) arranged at the four outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64), respectively. Further, a chamber (82) is formed between the pump chamber (11) and a branch point (80) at which the outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) branch off. The construction prevents a variation in the concentration of the liquid allowed to flow out of the outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) after the mixing in the pump chamber (11).

Abstract: A mixing pump device (1) used for fuel cells etc. has two inflow paths (51, 52), inflow side active valves (21, 22) arranged at the two inflow paths (51, 52), respectively, a pump chamber (11) into which liquids flow via each of two inflow paths (511, 522), four outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) for allowing a liquid mixed in the pump chamber (11) to flow out, and outflow side active valves (31, 32, 33, 34) arranged at the four outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64), respectively. The inflow paths (511, 522) are opened in the directions where turbulent flow and/or swirl flow is formed in the pump chamber (11). The construction prevents a variation in the concentration of the liquid allowed to flow out of the outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) after the mixing in the pump chamber (11).

Abstract: A pump device may include a main body which may have an inflow passage in communication with an inflow port, an inflow side active valve disposed in the inflow passage, a pump chamber connected to the inflow passage, a pump mechanism disposed in the pump chamber, a plurality of outflow passages extended from the pump chamber and respectively in communication with a plurality of outflow ports, and outflow side active valves respectively disposed in a plurality of the outflow passages, wherein the outflow side active valves are disposed in a plane manner around the pump chamber. The pump may be capable of accurately discharging an appropriate amount of fluid.

Abstract: For give a direct methanol fuel cell which secures the fuel supply to the catalyst layer, reliably discharge generated carbon dioxide gas, and has excellent electricity generation ability, at least a portion of the anode side flow path is divided by a film having water-repellency and gas permeability to a first flow path portion positioned at the membrane electrode assembly side and a second flow path portion positioned at the bottom side of the anode side flow path where a fuel mainly flows in the first flow path portion and carbon dioxide mainly flows in the second flow path portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, comprising a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed therebetween and a purification device having a catalyst layer purifying substances discharged from the anode. The fuel cell system is characterized in that the purification device comprises a porous sheet having a catalyst layer and two flow passages disposed on both sides of the porous sheet, an inlet to which the substances discharged from the anode is led is formed in one flow passage, an inlet to which air is led and an outlet are formed in the other flow passage, and the substances discharged from the anode are discharged from the outlet after being purified through the porous sheet.