Abstract: In a fuel cell system, during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating an electric power, a fuel gas passage and an oxidizing gas passage are closed, and an inert gas supply device (54, 58) supplies an inert gas to an anode space (111) which is substantially isolated from outside, the anode space including the closed fuel gas passage and a space connected to the closed fuel gas passage, while an air supply device (67, 70) supplies air to a cathode space (112) which is substantially isolated from outside, the cathode space including the closed oxidizing gas passage and a space connected to the closed oxidizing gas passage. With this, the fuel cell system is capable of achieving high energy efficiency and of surely preventing degradation of electrodes during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating the electric power, irrespective of repeated start-up and stop.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (3); a fuel gas supply mechanism (10); an oxidizing gas supply mechanism (11); an electric power output unit (18); a cooling mechanism (12); and a controller (20) configured to carry out a first step in which the controller controls the electric power supplied from the electric power output unit (18) to at least one of an internal load (21) and an external load (17) such that a voltage of the fuel cell (3) temporarily becomes equal to or higher than a first voltage by which a sulfur compound adhered to a cathode (2b) oxidizes, and then, carry out a second step in which the controller causes the cooling mechanism (12) to cool the fuel cell (3) to condense steam in the fuel cell (3) and stops supplying the oxidizing gas from the oxidizing gas supply mechanism (11).

Abstract: Problems of acceleration of drying of electrolyte membrane and local reaction, etc. can be properly coped with to attain the stabilization of performance of fuel cell.

Abstract: A polishing composition contains a polishing accelerator, a water-soluble polymer including a constitutional unit originating from a polymerizable compound having a guanidine structure such as dicyandiamide, and an oxidant. The water-soluble polymer may be a water-soluble polymer including a constitutional unit originating from dicyandiamide and a constitutional unit originating from formaldehyde, a diamine or a polyamine.

Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a reaction gas can be utilized efficiently for an electrode reaction even when a gap is formed between an anode-side sealing member and the end face of an anode and between a cathode-side sealing member and the end face of a cathode, and sufficient power generation performance can be ensured with a simple constitution. At least one of the anode-side sealing member and the cathode-side sealing member of the fuel cell includes an annular body, and at least one deformable protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the annular body.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell power generation system that exhibits superior efficiency of power generation and durability. The fuel cell power generation system includes: a fuel cell 4 including a fuel electrode 2, an oxidant electrode 3, and an electrolyte 1 on which the fuel electrode 2 and the oxidant electrode 3 are formed; an output control unit 11 that controls an output of the fuel cell 4; and a determination unit 12 that determines, based on an integrated amount of impurities contained in an oxidant gas and supplied to the oxidant electrode 3, a time at which the fuel cell 4 is brought into an open circuit state. The output control unit 11 halts power generation of the fuel cell 4 for a predetermined period of time every time determined by the determination unit 12, thereby bringing the fuel cell 4 into the open circuit state.

Abstract: A fuel cell cogeneration system of the present invention includes: a cell (10); a fuel gas discharging manifold (122) which is formed to extend in a thickness direction of the cell (10) and through which an anode off gas unconsumed in an anode (2A) flows; an oxidizing gas discharging manifold (124) which is formed to extend in the thickness direction of the cell (10) and through which a cathode off gas unconsumed in a cathode (2B) flows; and a cooling medium discharging manifold (126) which is formed to extend in the thickness direction of the cell (10) and through which an off cooling medium having recovered heat from the cell (10) flows, and the fuel gas discharging manifold (122) and/or the oxidizing gas discharging manifold (124) are formed between the cooling medium discharging manifold (126) and a separator end closest to the cooling medium discharging manifold (126).

Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) is disclosed, which has a fuel gas generator (3) configured to be supplied with raw fuel, water and fuel for combustion to generate fuel gas by utilizing the combustion heat of the fuel for combustion; a fuel cell (1) configured such that the fuel gas is supplied to fuel gas routes (b1, 1a, c1) and oxidizing gas is supplied, thereby generating electric power; heating medium routes (b2, 1d, c2) configured such that the fuel gas is supplied thereto instead of being supplied to the fuel gas routes; a route switching device (4) configured to switch the destination of the fuel gas between the fuel gas routes and the heating medium routes; and a controller (8).

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (1) having an electrolyte membrane (2), an anode (3) and a cathode (4) sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (2), a cathode gas passage (98) through which an oxidizing gas is supplied to and discharged from the cathode (4), and an anode gas passage (97) through which a fuel gas is supplied to and discharged from the anode (3); a fuel gas channel having an anode gas passage (97) and through which the fuel gas is supplied to and discharged from the anode (3); and an oxidizing gas channel having the cathode gas passage (98) and through which the oxidizing gas is supplied to and discharged from the cathode (4).

Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a reaction gas can be utilized efficiently for an electrode reaction even when a gap is formed between an anode-side sealing member and the end face of an anode and between a cathode-side sealing member and the end face of a cathode, and sufficient power generation performance can be ensured with a simple constitution. At least one of the anode-side sealing member and the cathode-side sealing member of the fuel cell includes an annular body, and at least one deformable protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the annular body.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that is subjected to a purge operation of supplying an inert gas to an anode and/or cathode upon shut-down of the fuel cell. The differential pressure ?P is defined as ?P=Pa?Pc where Pa is the pressure in an inlet-side flow path leading to the anode and Pc is the pressure in an inlet-side flow path leading to the cathode. The differential pressure during the purge operation is controlled such that the differential pressure during operation ?Po and the differential pressure during the purge operation ?Pp satisfy the relation: 0<?Po×?Pp. This makes it possible to reduce the stress exerted on a solid electrolyte membrane and improve the long-term reliability of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An operation method of a fuel cell system of the present invention has a water layer forming step in which before starting supply of at least one of the reducing agent and the oxidizing agent in a supply start operation of at least one of the reducing agent and the oxidizing agent, the water supplier supplies water to form a water layer so as to clog at least one of at least a portion of the reducing agent supply path which is located upstream of the reducing agent supply end in a flow direction of the reducing agent and at least a portion of the oxidizing agent supply path which is located upstream of the oxidizing agent supply end in a flow direction of the oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: cells (11), each of which includes an electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5) having a electrolyte layer (1) and a pair of gas diffusion electrodes (4a, 4b) sandwiching a portion of the electrolyte layer (1) which portion is located on an inner side of a peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer (1), an annular peripheral member disposed at the peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer (1), a pair of electrically conductive separators (6A, 6B) which sandwich the electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5) and the peripheral member, and damage detecting wires (31); and a fuel cell stack (100) formed by stacking the cells (11), wherein: the damage detecting wires (31) are formed on components constituting the cell (11) other than the electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5); and the damage detecting wires (31) are connected to one another to form an open circuit by stacking the cells (11).

Abstract: A fuel cell (101) of the present invention includes: a stack (1) formed such that one or more reacting portions (P) which generate electric power and heat by a reaction of a reactant gas and one or more heat transferring portions (H) which exchange heat with the reacting portions (P) by flow of a heat medium are arranged adjacent to each other in a stack direction of cells (2) by stacking the cells (2); a first heat medium supply manifold (8A) through which the heat medium is supplied to the heat transferring portions formed at both end portions (E) of the stack in the stack direction; a second heat medium supply manifold (8B) through which the heat medium is supplied to the heat transferring portions formed at a remaining portion (R) of the stack which portion is a portion other than the end portions of the stack; and a heat medium discharge manifold (9) through which the heat medium is discharged from the heat transferring portions.

Abstract: To provide a polishing composition which can satisfy both suppression of the surface topography and a high stock removal rate, in a polishing step in the production of a wiring structure. A polishing composition comprising abrasive grains, a processing accelerator, a dishing inhibitor and water. Here, the abrasive grains comprise at least first abrasive grains and second abrasive grains; the ratio of an average primary particle size DL1 of the second abrasive grains to an average primary particle size DS1 of the first abrasive grains, DL1/DS1, is 5>DL1/DS1>1; the degree of association of the first abrasive grains is from 1.8 to 5; and the degree of association of the second abrasive grains is at most 2.5.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating an electric power, a fuel gas passage and an oxidizing gas passage are closed, and an inert gas supply device (54, 58) supplies an inert gas to an anode space (111) which is substantially isolated from outside, the anode space including the closed fuel gas passage and a space connected to the closed fuel gas passage, while an air supply device (67, 70) supplies air to a cathode space (112) which is substantially isolated from outside, the cathode space including the closed oxidizing gas passage and a space connected to the closed oxidizing gas passage. With this, the fuel cell system is capable of achieving high energy efficiency and of surely preventing degradation of electrodes during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating the electric power, irrespective of repeated start-up and stop.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that is subjected to a purge operation of supplying an inert gas to an anode and/or cathode upon shut-down of the fuel cell. The differential pressure ?P is defined as ?P=Pa?Pc where Pa is the pressure in an inlet-side flow path leading to the anode and Pc is the pressure in an inlet-side flow path leading to the cathode. The differential pressure during the purge operation is controlled such that the differential pressure during operation ?Po and the differential pressure during the purge operation ?Pp satisfy the relation: 0<?Po×?Pp. This makes it possible to reduce the stress exerted on a solid electrolyte membrane and improve the long-term reliability of the fuel cell.

Abstract: Problems of acceleration of drying of electrolyte membrane and local reaction, etc. can be properly coped with to attain the stabilization of performance of fuel cell.

Abstract: The deterioration of the catalyst can occur during prolonged storage, occasionally causing the deterioration of the durability of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The method of polishing a copper layer of a substrate is capable of improving a stock removal rate, etc. The method comprises the steps of: supplying a substrate onto an polishing pad of an polishing plate with a copper layer facing the polishing pad; pressing the substrate onto the polishing pad, with a backing pad, by a press head; relatively rotating the press head with respect to the polishing plate, with supplying polishing slurry onto the polishing pad. The backing pad is made of a material whose Asker C hardness is 75-95 and whose compressibility is 10% or less. The polishing slurry includes a chelating agent for chelating copper, an etching agent for etching the surface of copper layer, an oxidizing agent for oxidizing the surface of copper layer, and water.