Abstract: There is provided a diluting mechanism for an exhaust fuel including: a fuel inlet provided for supplying the exhaust fuel that is exhausted from the device using the fuel to the dilution chamber; a diluent inlet provided for supplying a diluent to the dilution chamber; a diffusion flow path provided in the dilution chamber for mixing the exhaust fuel that is supplied from the fuel inlet with the diluent that is supplied from the diluent inlet; a fuel exhaust port for exhausting the diluted exhaust fuel out of the dilution chamber through the diffusion flow path; and a nozzle that narrows a flow path, provided at the fuel inlet, in which the nozzle limits a supply quantity of the exhaust fuel to the dilution chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a method for stopping power generation of fuel cell system including: a fuel cell having a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode; a fuel container; and a fuel flow path for supplying a fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell, which enables suppression of a pressure difference between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode during a stop state of an operation of the fuel cell, the method including the steps of, during the stop state of the operation of the fuel cell: stopping supply of the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell; consuming a residual fuel in the fuel flow path by short-circuiting the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode or connecting a load between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode; and opening the fuel flow path to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure control valve including a movable part (1) which operates by a differential pressure, a first valve (3, 4, 5) for reducing a primary pressure to a secondary pressure, a second valve (10, 11) which operates to block a flow path between an inlet flow path (12) and an outlet flow path (8) for discharging the secondary pressure when the first valve operates to open the inlet flow path (12) for introducing a fluid having the primary pressure, and a transmission mechanism (2) which links the operation of the movable part with the operations of the first and the second valves, in which either one of the movable part and the first valve is separated from the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A method for rapidly judging abnormalities, such as a decrease in a residual fuel amount and valve leakage, using only one pressure detecting device, includes a step of detecting a pressure change per unit time by the pressure detecting device after switching the fuel cutoff device from a cutoff state to a flow state, and a step of judging, by a pressure state judging device, whether the fuel amount in a fuel tank is smaller than a predetermined residual amount by comparing the pressure change per unit time detected by the pressure detecting device with a predetermined pressure change.

Abstract: There are provided a pressure control valve which has sealing characteristics and durability, functions also as a temperature-dependent cutoff valve, and can be reduced in size; a method of producing the pressure control valve; and a fuel cell system having the pressure control valve mounted thereon. The pressure control valve includes a movable part which operates by a differential pressure, a valve part, and a transmission mechanism for transmitting an action of the movable part to the valve part, wherein either one of the movable part and the valve part is separated from the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided an inflammable substance sensor which can be installed in a small space and a fuel cell including the same. The inflammable substance sensor for informing the outside of detection of an inflammable substance includes an odorant releasing member for releasing an odorant due to a chemical reaction of the inflammable substance.

Abstract: In a case of consuming a power generation reaction inducing gas, which causes lowering in performance and degradation of a fuel cell during suspension of operation thereof, and in a case of performing warm up at a time of activation at low temperatures, in order to automatically perform short circuiting control, there is provided a fuel cell having a structure including a switch which is switchable in accordance with a state of containing water generated in a power generation portion.

Abstract: A combustible-gas sensor includes a detecting circuit having a bridge comprising a compensator for compensating for a change in external environment and a detector for detecting a concentration of combustible gas. The detecting circuit includes a device for measuring a current passing through the detecting circuit.

Abstract: A fuel cell with a shutoff device is provided. The substance shutoff device is for shutting down the communication of at least one of an inflammable substance and an oxidizer when the inflammable substance and the oxidizer are brought into contact with each other to thereby prevent further contact between the inflammable substance and the oxidizer. The substance shutoff device comprises a catalyst portion provided in contact with one of an inflammable substance flow path and an oxidizer flow path; and a shutoff means, which operates by heating through a reaction between the inflammable substance and the oxidizer in the catalyst portion to shut down the communication of at least one of the inflammable substance and the oxidizer.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device is provided which comprises a microchannel device for cutting out a certain amount of a sample from a micorochannel by controlling a valve opening. The fluid delivery device has a valve for controlling a flow of a fluid, comprising a flow channel for the fluid, and a valve in the flow channel, wherein the valve operates in accordance with a pressure difference between the upstream side and downstream side of the valve caused by the flow of the fluid through the flow channel, allowing the fluid to flow when the pressure difference is lower than a prescribed value P0, and intercepting the fluid not to flow when the pressure difference is P0 or more.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system including a fuel supply control mechanism which is disposed between the fuel tank and the fuel cell and capable of interrupting the supply of the fuel; and a temperature sensor provided to a circuit connecting the fuel supply control mechanism to the fuel cell, for changing a resistance value according to at least one of a temperature of the power generation of the fuel cell and a temperature of an electronic device supplied with electric power from the fuel cell, in which the fuel supply control mechanism is operated by a change in the resistance value of the temperature sensor so that the supply of the fuel is interrupted. The system enables more reliably interrupting a supply of a fuel by a passive structure in a control when a temperature of a power generation portion of a fuel cell exceeds an allowable range.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell including a fuel cell unit having a membrane electrode assembly having catalyst layers provided on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane, the membrane electrode assembly being sandwiched between an oxidizer electrode and a fuel electrode; the fuel cell unit further including a gas diffusion layer laminated on the catalyst layer on a oxidizer electrode side; a flow path forming member provided on the gas diffusion layer; and a support member surrounding a portion where the gas diffusion layer comes into contact with the membrane electrode assembly; the support member being disposed in a position between the flow path forming member and the polymer electrolyte membrane, the position being opposed, with respect to the polymer electrolyte membrane, to a sealing material disposed on a side of the fuel electrode, for sealing the fuel electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system which does not require a sensor or a circuit, can prevent itself from being dried in a low humidity state and enhance air permeability in an excessively wet state, and can be reduced in size. The fuel cell system generates an electric power by supplying fuel to a fuel electrode while supplying outside air to an oxidizer electrode through an air hole, and includes a gas permeation mechanism including a member which has air permeability increased when absorbing moisture than when being dry, in a flow path through which the outside air supplied from the air hole flows.

Abstract: A combustible gas detector which has low power consumption, low noise and high speed response and which enable miniaturization, a process for producing the combustible gas detector, and a fuel cell system equipped with a combustible gas detector are provided. The combustible gas detector for detecting a combustible gas includes a catalyst for reaction with the combustible gas, a first displacement unit including a flexible member which is displaced with catalytic combustion by the reaction of the catalyst with the combustible gas, and electrical contacts which are switched by the displacement of the flexible member in the first displacement unit.

Abstract: There are provided a fuel cell system and a purging method for a fuel cell system, in which an impurity in a fuel flow path can be discharged with high efficiency by a simple structure, and lowering in output can be suppressed, thus enabling size reduction. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a power generating portion; a fuel reservoir for supplying a fuel to the fuel cell; a fuel flow path for allowing the fuel in the fuel reservoir to flow in the fuel cell system; a pressure control mechanism for controlling a fuel gas pressure in the fuel flow path to be higher than a normal operating pressure; and an impurity discharging mechanism, which is operated based on a control due to a higher pressure of the pressure control mechanism to discharge the impurity in the fuel flow path to an outside of the fuel cell.

Abstract: There is provided a substance shutoff device for shutting down the communication of at least one of an inflammable substance and an oxidizer when the inflammable substance and the oxidizer are brought into contact with each other to thereby prevent further contact between the inflammable substance and the oxidizer. The substance shutoff device comprises a catalyst portion provided in contact with one of an inflammable substance flow path and an oxidizer flow path; and a shutoff means, which operates by heating through a reaction between the inflammable substance and the oxidizer in the catalyst portion to shut down the communication of at least one of the inflammable substance and the oxidizer. A fuel cell using the inflammable substance shutoff device is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system including a supply port, a supply-side main flow path, a discharge-side main flow path, a plurality of branch flow paths, and a discharge port, wherein with respect to each of the branch flow paths, the magnitudes of flow path resistances of predetermined portions of the flow paths satisfy specified mutual relationships. Thereby, a fuel cell system is provided that can effectively expel impurity gas that resides/accumulates in a power generation cell, even at a small flow rate of low-pressure hydrogen gas.

Abstract: In order to provide a set pressure controller capable of easily controlling a set pressure, releasing a load in an environment at a predetermined temperature or higher and realizing a compact structure, a valve having the pressure controller, and a fuel cell equipped with the valve having the pressure controller, the pressure controller for controlling a set pressure of a valve includes a movable part to be driven by a differential pressure, wherein the pressure controller is attachable to the valve, and the pressure controller attached to the valve provides the movable part with a predetermined displacement to control the set pressure.

Abstract: Provided is a relief valve that is small in size and has a simple structure in which a flow path is provided so as to penetrate a diaphragm or a support portion of the diaphragm, and an outlet is located at an opposite side of an inlet through the diaphragm. The relief valve for pressure adjustment is made of a semiconductor wafer and operates in a case where a pressure at a fluid inlet is higher than a pressure at a fluid outlet by a pressure higher than a set pressure value, the relief valve including a flow path communicating the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet and a diaphragm for opening and closing the flow path by deformation utilizing a differential pressure between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the flow path penetrates the diaphragm or is disposed at a side surface of the diaphragm, the diaphragm and the valve seat are in contact with each other, and the flow path is opened and closed by deformation of the diaphragm.

Abstract: The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention is constituted of a block copolymer having an ion-conductive block. In the membrane, the ion-conductive block 12 forms ion-conductive domains 14 in a cylindrical shape arranged parallel to the thickness direction d of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane has high ion conductivity, and capable of generating high output without humidification by a humidifier or at a low humidity.