Abstract: A clamp assembly for securing a fuel cell stack arrangement in a compressed condition. The stack includes an electrode assembly interposed between upper and lower current collectors, supportable between upper and lower endpiate structures. It comprises at least one rigid clamping device comprising spaced apart transversely disposed elongate clamp members for engaging outer surfaces of the upper and lower endplates respectively along peripheral edges, the clamp members being interposed by vertically disposed support members having a length greater than the height of the stack in a compressed condition thereof. The endpiate structures define docking formations along peripheral edges for engaging the damp members under compression of the stack. The docking formations define spaces between the endpiate structures and the compressing means within which the clamp members are receivable during compression.

Abstract: A component for a fuel cell is provided. The component includes a metal gas diffusion layer (M-GDL) plate, a bipolar plate (BPP) and a catalyst coated membrane (CCM). The M-GDL has a diffusion area wherein a plurality of apertures extend through the M-GDL and a frame area substantially surrounding the diffusion area, and the BPP has a plurality of gas flow channels on a surface thereof. The fuel cell component is characterised in that the M-GDL is laminated to the BPP. The laminate is arranged so that the catalyst coating of the CCM is in flow communication with the apertures of the diffusion area and at least some of the gas flow channels. In some embodiments, the M-GDL may be laminated to the BPP to create a fluid impervious seal about the frame area.

Abstract: The invention describes a membrane electrode assembly for use as a transport layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, the assembly comprising a porous metal gas diffusion layer (GDL) (20) and a catalyst layer (40) with a microporous layer (MPL) (30) interposed between them, the MPL (30) being constructed to fill the pores of the GDL (20) and coat the surface thereof.

Abstract: The invention describes a membrane electrode assembly for use as a transport layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, the assembly comprising a porous metal gas diffusion layer (GDL) (20) and a catalyst layer (40) with a microporous layer (MPL) (30) interposed between them, the MPL (30) being constructed to fill the pores of the GDL (20) and coat the surface thereof.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for securing a fuel cell stack arrangement in a compressed condition. The stack includes an electrode assembly interposed between upper and lower current collectors, supportable between upper and lower endpiate structures. It comprises at least one rigid clamping device comprising spaced apart transversely disposed elongate clamp members for engaging outer surfaces of the upper and lower endplates respectively along peripheral edges, the clamp members being interposed by vertically disposed support members having a length greater than the height of the stack in a compressed condition thereof. The endpiate structures define docking formations along peripheral edges for engaging the damp members under compression of the stack. The docking formations define spaces between the endpiate structures and the compressing means within which the clamp members are receivable during compression.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a text processing apparatus includes a generator and a list display unit. The generator is configured to generate topic structure information by analyzing input text. The topic structure information includes information that represents a subordinate relation between a plurality of topics included in the text and information that represents a relative positional relation between the topics included in the text. The list display unit is configured to display, on a display, a topic structure list in which a plurality of nodes each corresponding to a topic included in the text and each including a label that represents a subordinate relation between a topic corresponding to each node and another topic are arranged based on the topic structure information in accordance with a relative positional relation between topics corresponding to the respective nodes.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane (11) includes: a filler (20); and a polymer electrolyte (22). A thickness of the electrolyte membrane (11) is 1 micrometer to 500 micrometer, a moisture content thereof is 10 mass % or more, and a ratio of a swelling ratio in a membrane surface direction (xy) thereof and a swelling ratio in a membrane thickness direction (z) thereof satisfies following Expression 1: where Lambda z is the swelling ratio in the membrane thickness direction (z), and Lambda xy is the swelling ratio in the membrane surface direction (xy). ? ? ? xy ? ? ? z < 0.3 [ Math .

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (10) includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (20); an electrode catalyst layer (90c) provided on one surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (20); a separator (80c) having electrical conductivity, and shielding gas; and an electrode member (50c) interposed between the electrode catalyst layer (90c) and the separator (80c) and constituting an electrode together with the electrode catalyst layer (90c). The electrode member (50c) includes: first contact portions (111) in direct contact with the electrode catalyst layer (90c); second contact portions (112) in direct contact with the separator (80c); and gas diffusion paths (121) through which the gas flows. The electrode member (50c) is provided with a large number of pores (131) formed therein, and constituted by a plate member (100) having electrical conductivity and bent into a wave shape.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (10) includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (20); an electrode catalyst layer (90c) provided on one surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (20); a separator (80c) having electrical conductivity, and shielding gas; and an electrode member (50c) interposed between the electrode catalyst layer (90c) and the separator (80c) and constituting an electrode together with the electrode catalyst layer (90c). The electrode member (50c) includes: first contact portions (111) in direct contact with the electrode catalyst layer (90c); second contact portions (112) in direct contact with the separator (80c); and gas diffusion paths (121) through which the gas flows. The electrode member (50c) is provided with a large number of pores (131) formed therein, and constituted by a plate member (100) having electrical conductivity and bent into a wave shape.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane (11) includes: a filler (20); and a polymer electrolyte (22). A thickness of the electrolyte membrane (11) is 1 micrometer to 500 micrometer, a moisture content thereof is 10 mass % or more, and a ratio of a swelling ratio in a membrane surface direction (xy) thereof and a swelling ratio in a membrane thickness direction (z) thereof satisfies following Expression 1: where Lambda z is the swelling ratio in the membrane thickness direction (z), and Lambda xy is the swelling ratio in the membrane surface direction (xy). ? ? ? xy ? ? ? z < 0.3 [ Math .

Abstract: In a reforming reactor (31), a partial oxidation reaction is performed between a hydrocarbon fuel and air, and in a mixer (32), water is injected into hot gas heated by the partial oxidation reaction to vaporize the water, and the vaporized water is mixed with the hot gas. In a shift reactor (33), the vaporized water is made to undergo a shift reaction with the hot gas. In this way, a device for promoting vaporization of the water or a complex fuel injection device is not required.

Abstract: A humidifier has a hollow-fiber membrane module comprising a cylindrical gas vent pipe, a permeable hollow-fiber membrane accommodated in the vent pipe, and a first distributing mechanism disposed in the vent pipe. The first distributing mechanism includes a plurality of vent holes formed along an outer periphery of the vent pipe, a distributor covering the vent holes, a gas conduit communicating with the distributor, and a connection hole connecting the gas conduit and the vent holes to each other. Widths of the vent holes in a circumferential direction of the vent pipe are equal to each other, and quantities of flow of gas flowing from the vent holes are equal to each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell generates electric power by the electrochemistry reaction of hydrogen and the oxygen in air. After the hydrogen discharged without being consumed from an anode at this time burns in a burner, it is discharged out of a fuel cell system. However, while activity of the combustion catalyst in the burner is not carried out, a burner cannot burn hydrogen. Therefore, the burner includes a heat exchanger which raises the temperature of the combustion catalyst which burns the hydrogen contained in the hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell stack. The air which is compressed by the compressor and which increased temperature can be supplied to the heat exchanger. After the air supplied to the heat exchanger is supplied to an after-cooler, in order to cool to a temperature required for the reaction of the fuel cell stack, the air is supplied at the fuel cell.

Abstract: A combustor (BR) is provided with a premixer (10) mixing fuel and heating gas, a mixer (8) combusting the fuel and the heating gas mixed in the premixer, and a porous medium (9) disposed between the premixer and the mixer. A reformer (2) can be disposed downstream of the combustor, with the combustor and the reformer forming a fuel reforming device (R). Also, a fuel cell (1) can he disposed downstream of the reformer to form a fuel cell system (S), with the fuel reforming device.

Abstract: In a reforming reactor (31), a partial oxidation reaction is performed between a hydrocarbon fuel and air, and in a mixer (32), water is injected into hot gas heated by the partial oxidation reaction to vaporize the water, and the vaporized water is mixed with the hot gas. In a shift reactor (33), the vaporized water is made to undergo a shift reaction with the hot gas. In this way, a device for promoting vaporization of the water or a complex fuel injection device is not required.

Abstract: A reformer (5) which generates hydrogen-rich reformate gas by causing a catalytic reaction of fuel and air comprises a premixing chamber (12) for premixing the fuel with the air. High temperature air is supplied to the premixing chamber (12) from an air intake tube (13) via an orifice (14). A fuel injector (16) injects the fuel into the flow of the high temperature air in the premixing chamber (12) to generate fuel-air mixture. A homogenizing filter (17) homogenizes the composition of the fuel-air mixture in the premixing chamber (12) and supplies a uniform fuel-air mixture to a reforming catalyst (11).

Abstract: A function expansion device is attached to a portable electronic device such as a notebook-type personal computer so as to provide a function to use various kinds of information storage media. A bay housing is detachably attached to a bottom surface of the notebook-type personal computer. The bay housing has a bay into which a drive unit is inserted. The drive unit can be selected from among a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a magneto-optical disk drive, a high-capacity floppy disk drive, a digital video disk and a hard disk drive. Each of the drive units has an identical outer configuration so that each of the drive units can be alternatively attached to the bay housing. Various types of drive units can be connected to the notebook-type personal computer by merely changing the drive unit accommodated in the bay housing.

Abstract: A function expansion device is attached to a portable electronic device such as a notebook-type personal computer so as to provide a function to use various kinds of information storage media. A bay housing is detachably attached to a bottom surface of the notebook-type personal computer. The bay housing has a bay into which a drive unit is inserted. The drive unit can be selected from among a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a magneto-optical disk drive, a high-capacity floppy disk drive, a digital video disk and a hard disk drive. Each of the drive units has an identical outer configuration so that each of the drive units can be alternatively attached to the bay housing. Various types of drive units can be connected to the notebook-type personal computer by merely changing the drive unit accommodated in the bay housing.

Abstract: A thermal head comprises a number of heating elements arranged on an electrically insulating substrate as a straight line and a plurality of driver ICs which are electrically connected to the heating elements so as to control generation of heat at the respective heating elements, wherein electric resistance values of the respective heating elements are within a range of .+-.1.8% with respect to a reference value, and the electric resistance values of the respective heating elements are distributed in the form of a meandering shape. A maximum value of the distribution of the electric resistance values of the heating elements is set at +0.5% to +1.8% with respect to the reference value and a minimum value of the distribution is set at -0.5% to -1.8% with respect to the reference value. In this manner, it is possible to eliminate inconsistencies in density of the plurality of heating elements connected to the driver ICs and print an image of excellent quality.

Abstract: A milk mineral concentrate free from any turbidity or precipitation can be obtained by filtering whey, which is a by-product obtained in the production of cheese and the use of which has been extremely limited so far, at a pH value of from 4 to 6 through an ultrafiltration membrane of a cut-off molecular wright of 40,000 or below; concentrating the filtrate until the concentration of lactose reaches approximately 50%; allowing the concentrate to stand; and removing the lactose thus precipitated. The milk mineral concentrate thus produced has a well-balanced composition containing all essential minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium, which enable it to be used as an additive for various foods such as drinks for the purpose of providing nutrition.