Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell constructed by plural stacked cells, a circulation path through which a thermal medium is circulated into each cell, a heater for heating the thermal medium, a bypass path through which the thermal medium is circulated into a part of each cell while bypassing the other part thereof, and a flow control valve for controlling a flow amount of the thermal medium circulated in the bypass path. The thermal medium can be circulated into only the part of each cell in a warm-up operation, so that the part of each cell is collectively heated. An amount of the thermal medium circulated into the other part of each cell is controlled, so that all of each cell is finally warmed up in the warm-up operation.

Abstract: A measuring method first calculates the conductivity of an electrolyte membrane based on measured output voltage and output current of a fuel cell. The water content of an oxidant channel as an index of present water content (PWC) of the fuel cell is calculated based on the calculated conductivity and the other measured physical quantities of the fuel cell. Further the method calculates the water content of the oxidant channel after the inside of the fuel cell reaches a steady state as an index of future water content (FWC) using the measured physical quantities. The PWC index and FWC index are compared, and it is finally determined, based on the result of the comparison and the difference between the previous and present values of the conductivity, whether the water content of the fuel cell is short or excessive at the present time.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a heat-generation amount detection device for detecting a heat generation amount in a fuel cell, and an evaporation amount controller for controlling an evaporation amount of water in the fuel cell based on the detected heat generation amount. The heat generation amount is detected based on an output electric power of the fuel cell, an output current thereof or a temperature thereof. The evaporation amount of water in the fuel cell is controlled by adjusting at least one humidification amount of hydrogen and oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell, or by adjusting at least one flow amount of hydrogen and oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of controlling condition of an assembled battery mounted in a self-generation electric vehicle. The method is comprised of the following steps: detecting battery voltage and battery current repeatedly; estimating a constant-power voltage on the basis of the battery voltage and the battery current; setting a target voltage; comparing the constant-power-discharge voltage with the target voltage to provide a difference therebetween; and charging or discharging the battery to reduce the difference when the battery is not operated. The constant-power voltage is set as a function of a remaining capacity of the battery when a preset constant power is charged to or discharged from the battery.

Abstract: A method and device for determining whether a battery for a hybrid vehicle is fully charged includes: detecting the battery current, providing a unit of stored battery energy, detecting Joule heat loss and battery temperature, calculating changes in the battery Joule heat loss and battery temperature while the battery is charged by the unit of stored energy and a ratio between the Joule heat loss and temperature changes, and comparing the ratio of the Joule heat loss and temperature changes with a predetermined level.

Abstract: A reduction in the discharge voltage, caused due to a memory effect of a battery, is checked during a discharge operation. An initial discharge characteristic curve, representing an initial relationship between the discharge voltage and the discharge amount of the battery, is parallel shifted so as to coincide with the actual discharge condition, thereby obtaining an estimated discharge characteristic curve in a non-discharged region.

Abstract: A battery condition detecting method is provided which includes the steps of setting a current required during standard discharge of a battery as a set current, detecting a discharge current and a voltage of the battery, determining a battery voltage when the battery discharges the set current based on the discharge current and the voltage of die battery, and projecting an actual voltage of the battery based on the battery voltage determined.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for a rechargeable storage battery is disclosed which charges the battery at a constant current. The charging apparatus monitors a variation in voltage of the battery during charge and finds a minimum value thereof to estimate the amount of capacity of the battery consumed before charge for determining the charge time required for charging the battery fully based on the estimate of the amount of capacity and the temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A battery condition detecting method is provided which includes the steps of setting a current required during standard discharge of a battery as a set current, detecting a discharge current and a voltage of the battery, determining a battery voltage when the battery discharge the set current based on the discharge current and the voltage of the battery, and projecting an actual voltage of the battery based on the battery-voltage determined.

Abstract: A map charging index representing discharge characteristics of a battery is obtained based on a battery voltage under a predetermined discharging operation. The map charging index indicates 100 at a first battery voltage obtainable immediately after the battery starts the discharging operation from a fully charged condition and also indicates 0 at a second battery voltage obtainable when the battery substantially ceases the discharging operation. An accumulative charging index is calculated by subtracting a charged capacity from a temporary full-charge capacity of the battery. The temporary full-charge capacity is corrected based on a difference between the map charging index and the accumulative charging index, thereby obtaining a corrected full-charge capacity. And, a dischargeable capacity of the battery is calculated by subtracting the discharged capacity from the corrected full-charge capacity.

Abstract: The receiver dryer includes a cylindrical body with fluid inlet and outlet ports that allow fluid communication between the interior of the body and the refrigeration circuit. The body includes a concave section. The concave section extends downwardly of the bottom portion of the body. A fluid outlet pipe extends into the interior of the concave portion. Therefore, the receiver dryer can reduce the refrigerant volume in the refrigeration circuit without decrease of the refrigerating capacity, since the receiver dryer promotes separation of liquid and gaseous refrigerant. Thus, the receiver dryer can be made compact.

Abstract: An injection apparatus for a hot-chamber die-cast machine including a cylindrical sleeve; a plunger body slidingly movably disposed in the sleeve and having a circumferential groove on an outer cylindrical surface and passages extending from a pressurizing face to the groove. Divided seal rings fit loosely in the groove of the plunger body in such a manner that the divided rings are urged radially outwardly by the pressure of the molten metal in the sleeve through the passages when the plunger body is moved. The divided rings satisfy the following conditions:t.sup.3 .ltoreq.4.5.times.10.sup.2 (mm).times.D.sup.2 .times.P/Ewhere t: thickness (mm) of the divided rings, E: Young's modulus (Pa) of the divided rings, D: inner diameter (mm) of the sleeve, and P: pressure (Pa) which should be exerted onto the molten metal when injected.

Abstract: Semiconductor chips are mounted in a supporting semiconductor substrate, with matching anisotropic (crystal plane) faces on the chips and substrate. The chips may extend above the substrate to facilitate connection together.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a profiled product having fins such as an impeller having vanes which cannot be formed directly by casting a preliminary product having fins of the desired shape, a concave filled out portion being provided at one side of the root of each fin along the length of each fin depending upon the required final shape of the fin, while a corresponding cut out portion is formed at the opposite side of the root of each fin at the position corresponding to the above filled out portion, and then applying a force to each fin so as to cause plastic deformation thereof at the position where the concave filled out and cut out portions are provided thereby permitting the location of the root of each fin to be displaced toward the side provided with the filled out portion by the amount corresponding to the variation in the amount of the filled out and cut out portions to form the required final shape of each fin.

Abstract: Metal powder having low oxygen and carbon contents and suitable for powder metallurgy may be obtained by using, as an atomizing medium, a special composition containing an alcohol having 1-4 carbon atoms and water as its essential components when impinging the atomizing medium against a molten metal in a state isolated from the ambient air to produce the metal powder.

Abstract: The method of die casting a metallic cast product having a hollow metallic member embedded therein by locating the hollow member in position in a casting cavity and injecting molten metal into the cavity around the hollow member including confining a pressure resisting medium within the interior of the hollow member by seals prior to injecting the molten metal into the cavity, thereby positively preventing the hollow member from being collapsed by the pressure of the molten metal injected into the cavity. The pressure resisting medium is sealingly confined within the hollow member by tightly applying a sealing plug to the respective open ends of the hollow member after the pressure resisting medium completely fills the hollow member. One of the sealing plugs may be movable in response to the increase in the internal pressure of the pressure resisting medium.

Abstract: A die assembly for squeeze casting of metals wherein a tubular reinforcing die is set on a base, a forming die consists of split dies is inserted in internal contact with the reinforcing die and the surface in internal contact with the reinforcing die is tapered so as to be narrower downward so that, in case a downward force is applied by a sealing die to a molten metal poured into the forming die, the split dies may be pushed in downward along the tapered surface to prevent the molten metal from spitting out.