Abstract: This invention provides a regenerator material having a high specific heat, particularly in the temperature range of 10 to 25K, and a regenerator and a refrigerator comprising the regenerator material. The present invention specifically provides an HoCu-based regenerator material represented by general formula (1): HoCu2-xMx (1), wherein x is 0<x?1, and M is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al and transition metal elements (excluding Cu), as well as a regenerator and a refrigerator comprising the regenerator material.

Abstract: This invention provides a regenerator material having a high specific heat, particularly in the temperature range of 10 to 25K, and a regenerator and a refrigerator comprising the regenerator material. The present invention specifically provides an HoCu-based regenerator material represented by general formula (1): HoCu2-xMx (1), wherein x is 0<x?1, and M is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al and transition metal elements (excluding Cu), as well as a regenerator and a refrigerator comprising the regenerator material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerator material whose filling rate can be improved and falls within a suitable range, and which can thus easily reduce the pressure loss of a refrigerant gas in the regenerator; and a method for producing the regenerator material. The regenerator material of the present invention comprises a sintered body of rare earth element-containing particles, wherein the sintered body has a porosity of 30 to 40%. The regenerator material production method of the present invention comprises the step of sintering rare earth element-containing starting material particles, wherein D50 and D90/10 of the starting material particles are respectively 100 to 320 ?m and 1.5 to 2.5; wherein D10, D50, and D90 indicate the average particle sizes that respectively correspond to the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of the total number of particles in the particle size distribution curve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerator material having a high specific heat in a temperature range of 10K or higher (in particular, a temperature range of 10 to 20K), as well as a regenerator and a refrigerator provided with the regenerator material. Specifically, the present invention provides a regenerator material represented by general formula (1): Er1?xRxNi1+? (1), wherein x is 0<x<1, ? is ?1<?<1, and R is at least one member selected from Y and lanthanoids (excluding Er), as well as a regenerator and a refrigerator provided with the regenerator material.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell consuming the hydrogen stored in the high-pressure hydrogen tank as fuel gas, a hydrogen supply line connecting the high-pressure hydrogen tank to the fuel cell, a primary decompressing means provided on the hydrogen supply line, a secondary decompressing means provided in the downstream side of the primary decompressing means on the hydrogen supply line, a hydrogen storage alloy tank saving a hydrogen storage alloy and thermal-exchangeably connected to the fuel cell, a hydrogen pipe connected between the primary decompressing means and the secondary decompressing means, and supplied for hydrogen transfer between the hydrogen supply line and the hydrogen storage alloy tank is provided, and a controlling means for introducing the hydrogen of the first prescribed pressure into the hydrogen storage alloy tank from the hydrogen supply line through the hydrogen pipe during the warm-up of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of heat exchange of a liquid fuel type fuel cell system. The apparatus includes: an electricity generating unit to generate electricity when a fuel is supplied to an anode and oxidizer is supplied to a cathode; a first flow path unit connected to an outlet of the cathode; a second flow path unit connected to an inlet of the anode; a heat exchanging unit to exchange thermal energy between fluids passing through the first flow path unit and the second flow path unit; a third flow path unit connected to the inlet on an anode and bypassing the heat exchanging unit; and a first valve to control flow ratios of fluids passing through the second flow path unit and the third flow path unit. The method of heat exchange includes: sensing the temperature of the electricity generating unit; and controlling a flow path of the third flow path unit depending on the temperature of the electricity generating unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control device and a control method thereof capable of simply and accurately controlling concentration of fuel without using a fuel concentration sensor detecting concentration of fuel, includes a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell generating electric energy by electrochemically reacting a fuel mixture of fuel and water with oxidizer; a fuel supplier supplying the fuel to the fuel cell; and a control device first increasing the supply amount of the fuel by a predetermined amount when a first point of a first current and a first voltage output from the fuel cell is positioned out of a reference current-voltage curve and then increasing and decreasing any one of the supply amount of the fuel and the supply amount of the water in response to a moving direction of a second point of a second current and a second voltage output from the fuel cell.

Abstract: Hydrogen stored in a high-pressure tank 21 is supplied to a metal hydride (MH) tank 31 to be occluded. Cooling water of a cooling system C1 for a fuel cell 10 is heated through the heat generated at this time to warm-up the fuel cell. By such a configuration, the fuel cell can be warmed up without consuming the valuable hydrogen.

Abstract: A hydrogen supplying apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle is driven by electricity generated at a fuel cell by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen stored in a hydrogen storage tank and oxygen. The hydrogen supplying apparatus includes: a hydrogen supply passage for supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank to the fuel cell; a bypass passage arranged in parallel with the hydrogen supply passage and for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell; a purifier provided in the bypass passage, the purifier purifying hydrogen to be supplied to the fuel cell; and a switch valve selectively switching the hydrogen supply passage and the bypass passage.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen storage metal alloys having a body-centered cubic structure-type main phase enabling the adsorption and desorption of hydrogen is provided which comprises the steps of: (1) melting a starting alloy brought to a predetermined element ratio to form a uniform heat (melting step), (2) keeping the homogenized alloy heat at a temperature within a range just below the melting point of the alloy for a predetermined time (heat treatment), and (3) rapidly cooling the alloy after the heat treatment (quenching step).

Abstract: A fuel cell hydrogen recovery system comprises a primary hydrogen absorbing tank adapted for storing hydrogen discharged from a fuel cell and a secondary hydrogen absorbing tank adapted for storing part of hydrogen that is supplied to the fuel cell. The primary hydrogen absorbing tank and the secondary hydrogen absorbing tank are provided so that heat can be exchanged therebetween. Part of hydrogen that is supplied to the fuel cell is supplied to the secondary hydrogen absorbing tank, so that the primary hydrogen absorbing tank is heated by hydrogen absorbing heat generated when hydrogen is absorbed therein, whereby hydrogen absorbed in the primary hydrogen absorbing tank can be re-supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for absorbing and releasing hydrogen comprises applying repeatedly hydrogen pressurization and depressurization to a hydrogen storage metal alloy of a body-centered cubic structure-type phase exerting a two-stage or inclined plateau characteristic in a hydrogen storage amount vs hydrogen pressure relation in an appropriate fashion to absorb and release hydrogen. At least at one stage during the release of hydrogen, the temperature (T2) of the above-mentioned hydrogen storage metal alloy is made higher than the temperature (T1) of the hydrogen storage metal alloy during the hydrogen absorption process (T2>T1). This enables the release and utilization of occluded hydrogen at a low-pressure plateau region or an inclined plateau lower region.

Abstract: A boil-off gas processing system for reliably burning a boil-off gas. The system processes a boil-off gas produced from a liquid hydrogen tank which is built in a hydrogen fueled vehicle. The system includes a mixing device for introducing air into a discharge passage through which the boil-off gas from the liquid hydrogen tank passes and for mixing the air and the boil-off gas and outputting a mixed gas; a catalytic combustor for burning the mixed gas which was mixed by the mixing device, the catalytic combustor having an inlet through which the mixed gas is introduced and an outlet for discharging combustion gas; an electric heater provided at the inlet side of the catalytic combustor; and a control section for controlling energizing of the electric heater.

Abstract: A fuel cell hydrogen recovery system comprises a primary hydrogen absorbing tank adapted for storing hydrogen discharged from a fuel cell and a secondary hydrogen absorbing tank adapted for storing part of hydrogen that is supplied to the fuel cell. The primary hydrogen absorbing tank and the secondary hydrogen absorbing tank are provided so that heat can be exchanged therebetween. Part of hydrogen that is supplied to the fuel cell is supplied to the secondary hydrogen absorbing tank, so that the primary hydrogen absorbing tank is heated by hydrogen absorbing heat generated when hydrogen is absorbed therein, whereby hydrogen absorbed in the primary hydrogen absorbing tank can be re-supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for absorbing and releasing hydrogen comprises applying repeatedly hydrogen pressurization and depressurization to a hydrogen storage metal alloy of a body-centered cubic structure-type phase exerting a two-stage or inclined plateau characteristic in a hydrogen storage amount vs hydrogen pressure relation in an appropriate fashion to absorb and release hydrogen. At least at one stage during the release of hydrogen, the temperature (T2) of the above-mentioned hydrogen storage metal alloy is made higher than the temperature (T1) of the hydrogen storage metal alloy during the hydrogen absorption process (T2>T1). This enables the release and utilization of occluded hydrogen at a low-pressure plateau region or an inclined plateau lower region.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell consuming the hydrogen stored in the high-pressure hydrogen tank as fuel gas, a hydrogen supply line connecting the high-pressure hydrogen tank to the fuel cell, a primary decompressing means provided on the hydrogen supply line, a secondary decompressing means provided in the downstream side of the primary decompressing means on the hydrogen supply line, a hydrogen storage alloy tank saving a hydrogen storage alloy and thermal-exchangeably connected to the fuel cell, a hydrogen pipe connected between the primary decompressing means and the secondary decompressing means, and supplied for hydrogen transfer between the hydrogen supply line and the hydrogen storage alloy tank is provided, and a controlling means for introducing the hydrogen of the first prescribed pressure into the hydrogen storage alloy tank from the hydrogen supply line through the hydrogen pipe during the warm-up of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen storage metal alloys having a body-centered cubic structure-type main phase enabling the adsorption and desorption of hydrogen is provided which comprises the steps of: (1) melting a starting alloy brought to a predetermined element ratio to form a uniform heat (melting step), (2) keeping the homogenized alloy heat at a temperature within a range just below the melting point of the alloy for a predetermined time (heat treatment), and (3) rapidly cooling the alloy after the heat treatment (quenching step).

Abstract: A method for absorbing and releasing hydrogen comprises applying repeatedly hydrogen pressurization and depressurization to a hydrogen storage metal alloy of a body-centered cubic structure-type phase exerting a two-stage or inclined plateau characteristic in a hydrogen storage amount vs hydrogen pressure relation in an appropriate fashion to absorb and release hydrogen. At least at one stage during the release of hydrogen, the temperature (T2) of the above-mentioned hydrogen storage metal alloy is made higher than the temperature (T1) of the hydrogen storage metal alloy during the hydrogen absorption process (T2>T1). This enables the release and utilization of occluded hydrogen at a low-pressure plateau region or an inclined plateau lower region.

Abstract: A hydrogen supplying device for a fuel cell includes a hydrogen occlusion tank in which a hydrogen occlusion alloy is contained, the hydrogen occlusion alloy being capable of occluding and discharging hydrogen which is used as fuel for a fuel cell; a hydrogen tank in which hydrogen to be supplied to the fuel cell can be stored in a compressed state; a heating unit which supplies heat to the hydrogen occlusion tank; a hydrogen supply line through which a flow of hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen occlusion tank and a flow of hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank can be merged to be supplied to the fuel cell; and a flow rate controlling device which controls a flow rate of hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen occlusion tank and/or a flow rate of hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system 4 in which electricity is generated by a fuel cell 4 supplied with the hydrogen gas created from a reforming reaction and the electricity is supplied to an external load 12, an electric buffer CAPA for storing surplus electricity or supplementing insufficient electricity is located between the fuel cell 4 and the external load 12, and a hydrogen buffer MHB for accommodating surplus hydrogen gas and supplementing insufficient hydrogen gas is located between a reforming device 2 and the fuel cell. Where electricity consumption in the load 12 increases abruptly, necessary electricity is supplied with the assistance of the electric buffer CAPA and hydrogen buffer HMB.