Abstract: In a vehicle power supply system mounted on an electric vehicle, a vehicle controller switches a discharge power limit to a motor during travel of the electric vehicle according to degradation information of a battery module to which a plurality of cells are connected, the degradation information being calculated in advance before the travel of the electric vehicle. For example, the vehicle controller switches a limit of a maximum acceleration and/or maximum speed of the electric vehicle as the switching of the discharge power limit.

Abstract: In a vehicle power supply system mounted on an electric vehicle, a vehicle controller switches a discharge power limit to a motor during travel of the electric vehicle according to degradation information of a battery module to which a plurality of cells are connected, the degradation information being calculated in advance before the travel of the electric vehicle. For example, the vehicle controller switches a limit of a maximum acceleration and/or maximum speed of the electric vehicle as the switching of the discharge power limit.

Abstract: A temperature sensor detects a temperature at a contact between a live part of connector for a first circuit device and a live part of a connector a for second circuit device. A controller determines the occurrence of a contact failure between the live parts if a difference between an amount of change in temperature detected by the temperature sensor per predetermined time and an amount of change in ambient temperature per predetermined time is greater than a set value.

Abstract: A temperature sensor (Tp, Tm) detects a temperature at a contact between a live part of connector (11) for a first circuit device (10) and a live part of a connector (21) a for second circuit device (20). A controller (24) determines the occurrence of a contact failure between the live parts if a difference between an amount of change in temperature detected by the temperature sensor (Tp, Tm) per predetermined time and an amount of change in ambient temperature per predetermined time is greater than a set value.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided which includes: a state detection section which decides whether secondary batteries are in an electricity-charged state or in an electricity-discharging state; a power decision section which decides whether the secondary batteries are in a power-on state or in a power-off state; and a residual-capacity calculation section which, if the state detection section decides that they are in the electricity-charged state, calculates the residual capacity of the secondary batteries by accumulating a current value detected by a current sensor, and if the state detection section decides that they are in the electricity-discharging state, calculates the residual capacity of the secondary batteries by acquiring the voltage of the secondary batteries when the power decision section decides that they are in the power-off state.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a separation unit for separating gas-liquid mixed fluid discharged from the fuel cell stack. The separation unit has a tank for storing the separated liquid. A pair of metal electrodes is disposed on the side surfaces of the tank opposed to each other. The electrodes are used to measure the amount of the liquid in the tank and also promote the heat dissipation of the liquid in the tank. This can suppress the transpiration of the liquid in the tank and cool the liquid to a temperature suitable for the reuse in the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power source system that increases the power supply capacity of a power source device and continuously supplies the power necessary for a load device when a power source device stops. A control unit has a state quantity setting unit that sets a first target state quantity indicating a state of charge of the power storage device that is to be a target value when charge and discharge of the power storage device are controlled. When the power source device stops, the state quantity setting unit can change the first target state quantity to a second target state quantity that is to be a target value exceeding the first target state quantity and can increase the target state quantity of the power storage device. As a result, when the power source device stops, charge and discharge of the power storage device are controlled on the basis of the target state quantity exceeding that during the operation of the power source device.

Abstract: A secondary battery deterioration judging device is provided with an overdischarge detecting section for detecting the overdischarge of a secondary battery, the deterioration of which is to be judged, a computing section for integrating a value indicating the deterioration of the secondary battery while the overdischarge is detected by the overdischarge detecting section, and a judging section for judging a deterioration state of the secondary battery based on an integration value obtained by the computing section.

Abstract: A temperature detection portion 41 captures temperature detection values detected by a plurality of temperature sensors T disposed at prescribed positions of a battery portion 2 with a prescribed period, to detect the state of the battery portion 2. An abnormality judgment portion 42 compares the temperature detection values detected by the temperature detection portion 41 with a threshold value determined in advance, to judge whether the state of the battery portion 2 is abnormal. In a case where the abnormality judgment portion 42 judges that the battery portion 2 is abnormal, a charge/discharge control portion 43 causes a switching element 5 to operate in an on/off sequence set in advance, and then turns off the switching element 5.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack formed by laminating thin end plates, separators, and the like, includes a first side surface and a second side surface parallel to the laminating direction. An anode side end plate has a plane portion on a first side surface. The dimension in the laminating direction of the plane portion is larger than a thickness of one of the end plates in a portion where the end plates sandwich a membrane electrode assembly. The plane portion is provided with a fuel inlet port for taking in fuel from the outside.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a flow rate of fuel supplied to a fuel cell, a voltage change is examined while the flow rate of the fuel is increased step by step in a state in which a constant current is output. Conversely, when the voltage change becomes small, the flow rate of fuel is reduced step by step. When the voltage change becomes large, the flow rate of the fuel in the previous step is employed. Thus, the flow rate of fuel can be optimized in accordance with an operating state of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for optimally controlling an amount and temperature of liquid component stored in a gas-liquid separator, and its control method. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a pump for supplying gas to the fuel cell, a gas-liquid separator for storing a liquid component discharged at least from a cathode side of the fuel cell, a cooler for cooling the stored liquid component, a temperature detector for measuring temperature of liquid component, a liquid level detector for measuring an amount of liquid component, and a controller for controlling a flow rate of gas from the pump and heat discharge by the cooler. The controller controls at least heat discharge by the cooler or a flow rate of gas supplied from the pump based on an output of the temperature detector and an output of the liquid level detector.

Abstract: An imbalance reduction circuit is configured to include: a temperature-related information acquisition unit for acquiring temperature-related information related to the temperature of a plurality of electric accumulators; a discharge unit for executing an equalization process for discharging the plurality of electric accumulators until terminal voltages of the respective electric accumulators become substantially equal to one another; and an equalization controller for prohibiting the discharge unit from executing the equalization process, when the temperature-related information acquired by the temperature-related information acquisition unit satisfies a low temperature condition that is set as a condition where the discharge performance of the plurality of electric accumulators deteriorates.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a cell stack is formed by laminating membrane electrode assemblies and a separator, and sandwiching them with a pair of end plates from the both sides in the laminating direction, and the cell stack is tightened and fastened in a laminating direction by a first plate spring. The first plate spring includes two arm sections for pressing the end plates and a connecting section connecting the arm sections so as to have a C-shaped cross-section. Space between the connecting section of the first plate spring, and membrane electrode assembly and the end plates functions as a first cooling air flow passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack of the present invention includes: a membrane electrode assembly, formed by stacking an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and a sealing structure for preventing a fuel that is supplied to the anode electrode and a gas containing an oxidizer that is supplied to the cathode electrode from leaking in a direction different from a stacking direction of the membrane electrode assembly, and has a configuration where pressing force of the sealing structure on the anode electrode side is set larger than pressing force on the cathode electrode side. There are provided a fuel cell stack having a sealing structure excellent in assembly property and replacement property, and a fuel cell using the same.

Abstract: A hybrid power supply unit, comprises a high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group and a high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group different in discharge characteristics connected to each other in parallel. The high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group has a 0.2 C discharge capacity per cell greater than that of the high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group, and the high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group has a rate of 5 C discharge capacity per cell to 0.2 C discharge capacity per cell (5 C discharge capacity/0.2 C discharge capacity) greater than that of the high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group.

Abstract: A power supply system 10 comprises a power supply 100 which supplies power to a load device 200; an electrical storage device 300 which supplies power to the load device 200 in place of the power supply 100 when the power supply 100 is stopped; and a power supply control device 500 which controls the supply of power from the electrical storage device 300 to the load device 200 by monitoring a state of the electrical storage device 300 and detecting an abnormal state of the electrical storage device 300. Upon acquiring disaster information predicting stoppage of the power supply 100, the power supply control device 500 shortens a monitoring period for monitoring the state of the electrical storage device 300, so that the state of the electrical storage device 300 can be reliably monitored during stoppage of the power supply 100, and thereby backup functions can be continued over as long a time period as possible.

Abstract: A battery pack includes: a secondary battery; a positive electrode terminal for connecting a positive electrode of the secondary battery to an external electric device; a negative electrode terminal for connecting a negative electrode of the secondary battery to the electric device; a communicator for communicating with the electric device; a communication terminal adapted to be used in connecting the communicator to the electric device to send a signal for the communication; and an electric power receiving terminal for receiving an electric power from the electric device to operate the communicator, wherein the communicator is operated by the electric power received by the electric power receiving terminal.

Abstract: A secondary battery deterioration judging device is provided with an overdischarge detecting section for detecting the overdischarge of a secondary battery, the deterioration of which is to be judged, a computing section for integrating a value indicating the deterioration of the secondary battery while the overdischarge is detected by the overdischarge detecting section, and a judging section for judging a deterioration state of the secondary battery based on an integration value obtained by the computing section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power source system that increases the power supply capacity of a power source device and continuously supplies the power necessary for a load device when a power source device stops. A control unit has a state quantity setting unit that sets a first target state quantity indicating a state of charge of the power storage device that is to be a target value when charge and discharge of the power storage device are controlled. When the power source device stops, the state quantity setting unit can change the first target state quantity to a second target state quantity that is to be a target value exceeding the first target state quantity and can increase the target state quantity of the power storage device. As a result, when the power source device stops, charge and discharge of the power storage device are controlled on the basis of the target state quantity exceeding that during the operation of the power source device.