Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a combined power source with power cells configured electrically independently. A switch arbitrarily changes connection paths of the power cells by selectively connecting terminals of the power cells through switching elements. A detector detects differences in electrical potentials between power cell terminals. An output detector detects a power consumption in a load and/or an output power of the power source. ON-OFF states of the switching elements are controlled by a control signal generated based on voltage signals representing detected differences in electrical potentials, power consumption, and output power. A connection status of each power cell is controlled so as to halt outputting of the power cell having the lowest output voltage if it is detected that a detected power value is equal to or lower than an output power preset based on a power generating capacity of the power source.

Abstract: An electric double layer capacitor with a low resistance value is disclosed. The electric double layer capacitor includes an electrochemical device in the inside of a housing container and capable of achieving charge and discharge via external terminals, wherein the electrochemical device includes a pair of electrodes, a separator disposed between the pair of electrodes, and an electrolytic solution with which the pair of electrodes and the separator are impregnated; when a volume between the pair of electrodes is designated as Ve, and a volume of a void in an inter-electrode part of the separator disposed between the pair of electrodes is designated as Se, an inter-electrode part void ratio Re is defined as Re=Se/Ve×100 (%); and when a thickness of the inter-electrode part is designated as L2 (?m), and a separator evaluation index Ie is defined as Ie=L2/Re (?m/%), a relation of Ie?1.0 (?m/%) is satisfied.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a combined power source with power cells configured electrically independently. A switch arbitrarily changes connection paths of the power cells by selectively connecting power cell terminals through switching elements. A voltage detector detects differences in electrical potentials between the power cell terminals. A controller controls ON-OFF states of the switching elements by controlling the switch by a control signal generated based on voltage signals representing the differences in electrical potentials detected by the voltage detector so as to isolate one of the power cells to stop a supply of electric power therefrom when a voltage generated in the power cell has dropped to a specified voltage or lower. The controller restarts the supply of electric power from the power cell whose power supply has been stopped when the duration of a down time of the power cell has reached a predetermined time or longer.

Abstract: Provided is an electric double-layer capacitor and the like, which may be easily manufactured. In a recessed container (2) constituting a package of an electric double-layer capacitor (1), a step portion (4) is formed. With this, the recessed container (2) has two parallel bottom surfaces which are not provided in the same plane, that is, a first bottom surface constituting a bottom portion of a recessed portion (13) and a second bottom surface constituting an upper surface of the step portion (4). The first bottom surface and the second bottom surface respectively have metallic layers (11, 9) formed thereon, which pass through the recessed container (2) toward an outside to respectively connect to terminals (12, 10). Electrodes (6, 5) are respectively connected to the upper surfaces of the metallic layers (11, 9).

Abstract: A hydrogen generator has a reaction chamber that contains a complex hydride capable of reacting with an aqueous acid solution to generate hydrogen. A storage chamber contains an aqueous acid solution that is supplied through a supply pipe to the reaction chamber to react with the complex hydride to generate hydrogen. The total weight of water contained in the aqueous acid solution is 0.2 times or more, but 3 times or less, than the weight of the complex hydride. A control device controls the supplying of the aqueous acid solution through the supply pipe to the reaction chamber based on a reference pressure such that the aqueous acid solution is repeatedly supplied to the reaction chamber when the reference pressure is greater than the internal pressure within the reaction chamber and not supplied to the reaction chamber when the reference pressure is less than the reaction chamber internal pressure.

Abstract: Provided are an electrolytic solution for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery each of which not only has heat resistance enough to resist reflow soldering but also can maintain the discharge capacity of the battery even in a low-temperature environment. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with an electrolytic solution 50 including a solute and a solvent containing a polyethylene glycol dialkyl ether and an ethylene glycol dialkyl ether, a positive electrode 12, a negative electrode 26, and a separator 30 formed of glass fibers and placed between the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 26.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve has a first pressure deformation portion connected to and receiving a pressure on a fuel demand side, a second pressure deformation portion opposed to the first pressure deformation portion and receiving a predetermined pressure, first and second flow passages, and a communication passage communicating the first and second flow passages to each other. A valve member has a connecting portion connecting the first and second pressure deformation portions together, and has a valve element provided at the connecting portion and configured to close the communication passage when moved toward the second pressure deformation portion. When the pressure on the fuel demand side is lower than a predetermined value, the valve element does not close the communication passage, but when the pressure on the fuel demand side is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the valve element closes the communication passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell has cell units and a manifold for uniformly supplying an anode fluid to the cell units. The manifold has a fluid supply plate with a flow conduit for feeding an anode fluid, and a plate structure having a flow space and openings arranged in a preselected direction. The flow space receives an anode fluid fed from an opening part of the flow conduit, reduces a flow rate of the anode fluid, and disperses the anode fluid at the reduced flow rate along a plane direction orthogonal to the preselected direction. The block group is arranged between the openings and the opening part so that the flow space is disposed between the block group and the opening part. The block group comprises blocks spaced apart from one another to form paths for dispersing into the openings the anode fluid dispersed by the flow space at the reduced rate.

Abstract: In a fuel cell power source system comprising a fuel cell, a fuel supplier for supplying a fuel to the fuel cell, an electricity storing member capable of charging and discharging an energy, and a control circuit for controlling outputs of the fuel cell and the electricity storing member and the fuel supplier for supplying a power to an external load, there are provided a method of operating the fuel cell power source system and a fuel cell system promoting safety of the fuel cell system and reducing a deterioration in the fuel cell by removing the fuel remaining at inside of the fuel cell after stopping the fuel supplier. At an initial stage of supplying the power to the external load and inside of the fuel cell system, the power is supplied from the electricity storing member, and the electricity storing member is charged by using an output outputted from the fuel cell by generating the power by the fuel cell by using the fuel remaining at inside of the fuel cell system after stopping the external load.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve has a first pressure deformation portion which receives a pressure on a fuel demand side, a second pressure deformation portion opposed to the first pressure deformation portion and which receives a predetermined pressure, first and second flow passages, and a communication passage communicating the first and second flow passages with each other. A valve member connects the first and second pressure deformation portions together and has a valve element that closes the communication passage when moved toward the second pressure deformation portion. When the pressure on the fuel demand side is lower than a predetermined value, the valve element does not close the communication passage, but when the pressure on the fuel demand side is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the valve element closes the communication passage.

Abstract: Provided is an electric double layer capacitor capable of simply connecting a current collector to an external electrode at a low cost and ensuring a sealing property of a container. The electric double layer capacitor includes: a container in which an opening of a concave portion is sealed; an electrolytic solution and a pair of electrode active materials which are accommodated inside the container; and a pair of conductive films which is respectively and electrically connected to the pair of electrode active materials and is formed from a bottom surface of the concave portion to a surface of the container through an opening edge.

Abstract: A fuel cell has cell units and a manifold for uniformly supplying an anode fluid to each of the cell units. The manifold has a feed port through which an anode fluid is supplied, a first buffer section in fluid communication with the feed port for receiving the anode fluid and for reducing a flow rate of the anode fluid, a second buffer section in fluid communication with the first buffer section for receiving the anode fluid from the first buffer section at the reduced flow rate and for further reducing the flow rate of the anode fluid, and a block group formed of blocks spaced apart from one another to form flow channels in fluid communication with the second buffer section and through which the anode fluid at the further reduced flow rate flows. An array of fine openings is disposed in fluid communication with the cell units for receiving the anode fluid at the further reduced flow rate flowing through the flow channels so that the anode fluid is uniformly supplied to each of the cell units.

Abstract: An electric double-layer capacitor is provided in which an upper end portion of a recessed container is sealed by a sealing plate. An electrode and an electrode are accommodated in a hollow portion formed by a recessed portion and the sealing plate. One step portion is formed in the middle of one inner peripheral surface of the recessed portion, and another step portion is formed in the middle of the other opposing inner peripheral surface. The one step portion and said another step portion are formed at the same height, and upper surfaces of those step portions exist on the same plane.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve comprises a first pressure deformation portion which receives a pressure on a fuel demand side, a second pressure deformation portion opposed to the first pressure deformation portion and which receives a predetermined pressure, first and second flow passages, and a communication passage for allowing the first and second flow passages to communicate with each other. The first and second flow passages and the communication passage are provided in a space between the first and second pressure deformation portions. A valve member has a connecting portion which extends through the communication passage and connects the first and second pressure deformation portions together, and has a valve element which is provided at the connecting portion and closes the communication passage when moved toward the second pressure deformation portion.

Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus 1 is constructed in which when work 3 is close to a supply hole 7, a strut 22 is pushed to open the supply hole 7, and when erosion of the work 3 progresses to cause the strut 22 to protrude, the supply hole 7 is closed with a seal member 24, so that products do not stay on the work 3, a reaction solution 12 is not fed to portions other than the work 3, and even if the attitude of the apparatus is changed, a hydrogen production reaction can be controlled appropriately.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuel battery comprising a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode-side catalyst body and a cathode-side catalyst body disposed respectively on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel guide part in which the anode-side catalyst body is disposed opposite to the anode-side catalyst body on the opposite side where the anode-side catalyst body faces the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and which guides a fuel which has been externally supplied toward the center of the face of the anode-side catalyst body.

Abstract: Provided are an electrolytic solution for an electric double layer capacitor capable of providing an electric double layer capacitor having stable quality, an electric double layer capacitor using the electrolytic solution, and a manufacturing method for the electric double layer capacitor. The electrolytic solution includes a supporting electrolyte, sulfolane, and a linear sulfone. It is preferred that the electrolytic solution further include an organic fluorine compound. Further, it is preferred that the supporting electrolyte contain 5-azoniaspiro[4.4]nonane tetrafluoroborate, and the content of 5-azoniaspiro[4.4]nonane tetrafluoroborate be 1.5 to 3.6 mol/dm3.

Abstract: Provided is an electric double-layer capacitor and the like, which may be easily manufactured. In a recessed container (2) constituting a package of an electric double-layer capacitor (1), a step portion (4) is formed. With this, the recessed container (2) has two parallel bottom surfaces which are not provided in the same plane, that is, a first bottom surface constituting a bottom portion of a recessed portion (13) and a second bottom surface constituting an upper surface of the step portion (4). The first bottom surface and the second bottom surface respectively have metallic layers (11, 9) formed thereon, which pass through the recessed container (2) toward an outside to respectively connect to terminals (12, 10). Electrodes (6, 5) are respectively connected to the upper surfaces of the metallic layers (11, 9).

Abstract: In a fuel cell 200, comprising: a membrane electrode assembly 204 equipped with an electrolyte membrane 201 and an anode catalyst 202; a supply member 240 for supplying an anode fluid to the membrane electrode assembly 204; and a gas diffusion layer 230 provided between the supply member 240 and the membrane electrode assembly 204, the supply member 240 is provided with an anode fluid flow path 241 for supplying the anode fluid toward the membrane electrode assembly 204, an opening of the anode fluid flow path 241 on a discharge side thereof for the anode fluid is provided in contact with the gas diffusion layer 230, and a region A for storing a gas pushed away by supply of the anode fluid is provided on a side of the gas diffusion layer 230 facing the supply member 240.

Abstract: Hydrogen generation materials are a complex hydride which generates hydrogen upon hydrolysis, and an aqueous solution comprising water for causing the hydrolysis, and an accelerator dissolved therein for accelerating a hydrogen generation reaction. A method of hydrogen generation by a hydrogen generator comprises a first step S1 of detecting that the internal pressure of a reactor is lower than a reference pressure, and supplying the aqueous accelerator solution to the reactor; a second step S2 of dissolving the complex hydride in the aqueous accelerator solution to cause a hydrogen generation reaction; and a third step S3 of detecting that the internal pressure of the reactor is higher than the reference pressure, and stopping the supply of the aqueous accelerator solution, and repeats the flow from the first step S1 to the third step S3.